Pandora's Box (US)
Biography
In the pantheon of late '80s rock mythology, few bands emerged from the shadows with quite the theatrical swagger and unabashed ambition of Pandora's Box. Born from the fertile creative mind of Jim Steinman – the bombastic mastermind behind Meat Loaf's operatic epics – this American outfit represented both a bold artistic statement and a fascinating commercial experiment that would ultimately prove too grandiose for its own good.
The genesis of Pandora's Box can be traced to Steinman's restless creative spirit following his success with "Bat Out of Hell." Never one to shy away from excess, Steinman envisioned a project that would push his trademark sound – a heady cocktail of Wagner-meets-Springsteen grandeur – into even more theatrical territory. The result was a band that functioned more as a rotating cast of performers interpreting Steinman's increasingly elaborate rock operas.
At the heart of this ambitious undertaking stood Elaine Caswell, a powerhouse vocalist whose pipes could handle Steinman's notoriously demanding compositions. Caswell, who had previously worked as a backing singer for various artists, found herself thrust into the spotlight as the primary voice of Pandora's Box. Her ability to navigate Steinman's emotional extremes – from whispered vulnerability to full-throated rock goddess wailing – made her the perfect vessel for his cinematic vision.
The band's musical style was quintessentially Steinman: epic, overwrought, and utterly shameless in its pursuit of emotional transcendence through sheer volume and melodrama. Drawing from classic rock, Broadway theatricality, and Phil Spector's wall of sound, Pandora's Box crafted songs that felt less like traditional rock compositions and more like soundtracks to imaginary blockbuster films. Every track was a three-act play, complete with quiet introspective moments, building tension, and explosive climaxes that seemed designed to be performed in football stadiums.
Their sole album, "Original Sin," released in 1989, stands as both their masterpiece and their epitaph. The record featured Steinman's typically grandiose compositions, including the standout track "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," which would later become a massive hit for Celine Dion. The album showcased Steinman's ability to craft songs that were simultaneously ridiculous and genuinely moving, with Caswell's vocals providing the emotional anchor for his flights of fancy.
Despite critical appreciation for the album's ambitious scope and undeniable craftsmanship, "Original Sin" failed to connect with mainstream audiences. The late '80s music landscape was shifting toward grunge and alternative rock, making Pandora's Box's theatrical excess feel increasingly out of step with the times. Radio programmers struggled to categorize their sound, and MTV found their aesthetic too earnest for an era increasingly defined by irony and understatement.
The band's live performances were legendary affairs – part rock concert, part Broadway revue. Steinman's vision extended beyond the music to encompass elaborate staging, costume changes, and theatrical elements that would have made Andrew Lloyd Webber proud. These shows attracted a devoted cult following, but never achieved the widespread commercial success that their ambition seemed to demand.
Following the commercial disappointment of "Original Sin," Pandora's Box gradually dissolved, with Steinman moving on to other projects and Caswell pursuing her own musical endeavors. The band's brief existence became a footnote in rock history, remembered primarily by Steinman devotees and collectors of late '80s curiosities.
However, the band's influence proved more lasting than their commercial impact might suggest. "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" became a standard, covered by numerous artists and proving that Steinman's songwriting genius could transcend any single project. The theatrical approach to rock music that Pandora's Box embodied would later find expression in artists like Muse and My Chemical Romance, who similarly embraced bombast and emotional excess.
Today, Pandora's Box exists as a fascinating artifact of an era when major labels were still willing to bankroll artistic vision over commercial viability. Their story serves as both a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and a testament to the power of believing in your artistic vision, regardless of market forces. In an age of focus groups and algorithmic playlists, there's something refreshingly audacious about a band that dared to be this magnificently, unapologetically over the top.
