The Romaniacs was a Canadian rock band based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Their music combined Eastern European, Gypsy jazz, and pop.^[1] They made extensive use of costumes and props, including a large map, during their live shows.^[2]

History

The Romaniacs formed in 1984. They performed at first in clubs and small venues, telling an invented story of their ethnic history of the band members.^[3][4][5]

The band toured extensively in Canada and the United States.They had a long stint at the Saskatchewan Pavilion at Expo 86 in Vancouver, and that year released their first recording on cassette, entitled Ethno-Fusion. The group also toured Australia in 1988, including a week-long appearance at the Canada Pavilion during the World's Fair in Brisbane.^[6][7] That year they released their first album, World on Fire.^[8]

In 1990 the band contributed the song "Ecstasy of the Martyr" to the compilation album Polka Comes to Your Haus.^[9] The Romaniacs disbanded in 1995.

Personnel

• Calvin Cairns (aka Myron Joseph, king romaniac) – violin
• Steve Bengtson (aka Steffy Levine) – mandolin and vocals
• Scott White – upright bass
• William (Billy) Butler – guitar
• Danny Greenspoon (aka Zoltan Flamingo Romaniac) – guitar
• Jim Vivian – upright bass
• Victor Bateman – upright bass
• Ron Thompson – guitar
• Richard Baker – guitar

Discography

• Ethno-Fusion
• World on Fire^[10]
• The Ecstasy of the Martyr (a compilation released only in Japan)

References

Bibliography

• The Canadian Society for Traditional Music. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
• Scott White's past details from scottwhite.net. Retrieved 10 May 2007.