Natalie Good

Being in a band for me was like having five husbands," Natalie Merchant says. "The divorce was pretty amicable, but I was definitely a young bride who grew out of the marriage." Merchant is describing her motives for quitting 1 0,000 Maniacs, the rock group for which she sang and wrote songs for 1 2 years. The Maniacs' recording career ends this month with the release of an album of their performance on MTV Unplugged.

About to turn 30 years old, Merchant has also ended a longtime romantic relationship, cut her hair, and split from her manager and her lawyer. Not since General Sherman has anyone burned so many bridges at one time. "There's actually a sense of great relief and optimism now," she says. "And also just a feeling of independence. That was my main motivation." Since the breakup, she has duetted with Michael Stipe and with David Byrne on a four-track CD, performed with Billy Bragg, joined Jimmie Dale Gilmore for a song on The Tonight Show, and collaborated with R.E.M. on a track for Born to Choose, a new album benefiting abortion rights. It seems the new divorcee is eager to play the field. "That's right," Merchant laughs. "I'm kind of dating all my old boyfriends."

BILL FLANAGAN