Ted Leo

Last updated

Ted Leo
Ted Leo Coachella.jpg
Leo performing at Coachella 2006
Background information
Birth nameTheodore Francis Leo
Born (1970-09-11) September 11, 1970 (age 54)
South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Genres Punk rock, hardcore punk, power pop, indie rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, piano
Years active1989–present
Member of Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, The Foreign Correspondents
Formerly ofCitizens Arrest, Chisel, Puzzlehead, The Sin-Eaters, The Both, Trendinista 5000, TV Casualty, Water
Website tedleo.com

Theodore Francis Leo (born September 11, 1970) is an American singer and musician. He is the frontman and lead guitarist of the rock group Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, and in 2013, he and Aimee Mann formed the indie rock duo The Both. [1]

Contents

Early life

Born in South Bend, Indiana, Leo grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey, where his family was from and spent many formative years in the hardcore punk scene of New York City during the 1980s and early 1990s. [2] [3] He graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange in 1988 and the University of Notre Dame in the fall of 1993 with a degree in English. [4]

Career

Ted Leo performing in December 2015, wearing Scott Miller button Ted Leo 2015 Christmas show Brooklyn.jpg
Ted Leo performing in December 2015, wearing Scott Miller button

Leo was a founding member of the New York punk band Citizens Arrest in 1989. In the 1990s, Leo played in bands that included Chisel, Puzzlehead, and the Sin-Eaters.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists was formed in 1999 in Washington, D.C. The group recorded six studio albums between 1999 and 2010. Leo has also maintained a consistent presence as a solo performer since the 1990s. [5]

In 2011, Leo joined TV Casualty, a Misfits tribute band. They released a self-titled 7" with proceeds going to the Attic Youth Center in Philadelphia. [6]

In early 2013, Leo and Aimee Mann formed a duo called The Both, after Leo had toured with Mann for several months as her supporting act. He and Mann began writing songs together, and in March 2013, the duo performed their first show together as the Both (originally formatted as #BOTH). Their self-titled debut album, The Both , was released in April 2014.

Leo released his debut solo album The Hanged Man on September 8, 2017. [1] [7] The album was inspired by several years of career and personal hardships, including the loss of a daughter in 2011 due to a late-term miscarriage in which Leo's wife was forced to go into premature labor. [1] [8]

For the 2019 animated television film Steven Universe: The Movie , Leo collaborated with Rebecca Sugar and Stemage to write the song "Independent Together". In the film, Leo voiced the role of Steg, a fusion of Steven Universe and Greg Universe. As Steg, Leo performed "Independent Together" alongside Aimee Mann (who reprised her role as Opal from the Steven Universe television series) and voice actress Deedee Magno Hall (as Pearl). [9]

Family and personal life

Leo grew up in New Jersey before moving to South Bend to attend Notre Dame, where he formed Chisel. [10] He then moved to D.C., and briefly moved to Boston thereafter. [10] Leo has lived in Rhode Island since 2005, [11] and he also maintained an apartment in New York City until 2016. [10] [1]

Leo met his wife, musician, and visual artist Jodi Buonanno, in the late 1990s when both were touring in bands. [1] [11] She is credited with clapping, whistle, and background vocals on the Hearts of Oak album, as well as bass on The Tyranny of Distance.

His brothers, Chris and Danny Leo, are also musicians and have been members of bands such as Native Nod, The Lapse, The Van Pelt, The Vague Angels, and The Holy Childhood.

Leo is a vegan, and has served as a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. [12] [13] He has made frequent radio appearances as a contributor to programs on WFMU, such as The Best Show with Tom Scharpling .

Discography

with Citizens Arrest

with Puzzlehead

with Animal Crackers

with Chisel

with Hell No

with Trendinista 5000

with Water

with Ely Parker and the CIAs

with The Sin-Eaters

with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

with TV Casualty

with The Both

with The Foreign Correspondents

Solo

Collaborations

Compilation appearances

Related Research Articles

Radio 4 were an American punk band based in Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 1999, they claimed their music is "made in New York, is about New York, and sounds like New York".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aimee Mann</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1960)

Aimee Elizabeth Mann is an American singer-songwriter. Over the course of four decades, she has released ten studio albums as a solo artist. She is noted for her sardonic and literate lyrics about dark subjects, often describing lost or lonely underdog characters. Her work with the producer Jon Brion in the 1990s was influential on American alternative rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lookout Records</span> American independent record label

Lookout Records was an independent record label, initially based in Laytonville, California, and later in Berkeley, focusing on punk rock. Established in 1987, the label is best known for having released Operation Ivy’s only album, Energy, and Green Day's first two albums, 39/Smooth and Kerplunk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Leo and the Pharmacists</span> American rock band

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are an American rock band formed in 1999 in Washington, D.C. They have released six full-length studio albums and have toured internationally. Though the group's lineup has fluctuated throughout their career, singer/guitarist Ted Leo has remained the band's main songwriter, creative force, and only constant member. The group's music combines elements of punk rock, indie rock, art punk, traditional rock, and occasionally folk music and dub reggae. Their most recent album, The Brutalist Bricks, was released on March 9, 2010.

<i>Shake the Sheets</i> 2004 studio album by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

Shake the Sheets is the fourth studio album by the Washington, D.C. rock band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, released in 2004 by Lookout! Records. It was the band's last album for the Lookout! label. A music video was filmed for the single "Me and Mia", a song about a friend of frontman Ted Leo who's battled an eating disorder.

<i>The Tyranny of Distance</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

The Tyranny of Distance is the second album by American rock band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, released in 2001 by Lookout! Records. It was the group's first album as a full band, as their previous album tej leo(?), Rx / pharmacists had been a solo effort by singer/guitarist Ted Leo. The album's title comes from a lyric in the Split Enz song "Six Months in a Leaky Boat", which the band later covered twice: first as a Leo solo on the EP Tell Balgeary, Balgury Is Dead in 2003, and again as a full band on 2005's Sharkbite Sessions.

<i>Treble in Trouble</i> 2000 EP by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

Treble in Trouble is an EP by the Washington, D.C. rock band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, released in 2000 by Ace Fu Records. It was the group's first release as a full band, following a debut album which had essentially been a Ted Leo solo release. Following that album Leo assembled a backing band called The Pharmacists and recorded this EP, which was much less experimental than his solo releases and structured more in punk rock and indie rock. It includes versions of two songs Leo had written with his previous band, the Sin Eaters. It was also the first release Brendan Canty of Fugazi would be producing releases of theirs.

<i>tej leo(?), Rx / pharmacists</i> 1999 experimental rock album by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

tej leo(?), Rx / pharmacists is the debut album by the Washington, D.C. rock band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, released in 1999 by Gern Blandsten Records. Though considered the band's first album, it is actually a solo effort by Ted Leo with some contributions by Jodi Buonanno of The Secret Stars. The following year Leo would assemble a backing band including Buonanno, which he named The Pharmacists. The album blends rock music with elements of dub reggae, with many instrumental tracks, samples, and audio experimentation. This is exemplified in the various tracks entitled "(version:)," which are versions and remixes of "Release Form," a song originally written by Buonanno for The Secret Stars. The track "(version: to decline to take a shower)," for example, consists of Leo singing the song while showering. In other instances, Leo samples himself, such as "Walking Through," which contains a sample of "Congressional Dubcision," and "Out of Step '88!," which samples a radio interview that Leo did for campus radio station WFVI at the University of Notre Dame.

The Lapse was an American indie band formed in late 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chisel (band)</span> American punk rock band

Chisel is an American punk rock band from the United States. In their original run, the group released two full-length albums and a compilation of early recordings on Gern Blandsten before disbanding in 1997. In 2022, their music began being reissued by The Numero Group. Later that year, they reunited to play the Numero Twenty festival and a series of shows around the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gern Blandsten Records</span> American independent record label

Gern Blandsten Records is an independent record label based in Paramus, New Jersey.

Weston is a punk rock band hailing from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1990, they took their name from singer Dave Weston's family, since his parents allowed them to practice in their basement. The band never found mainstream success but their energetic and irreverent live shows earned them legendary status amongst their peers as well as their fans. Following their major label debut, the band split up. It was announced on October 17, 2006, that Weston would be reuniting for three shows in late December. This led to even more reunion shows in following years and a live album released December 2009.

Native Nod was an American post-hardcore band formed in 1990 and based in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area. During their short stint as a group, they released a handful of songs, spread across a demo, three EPs, and appearances on compilations between 1990 and 1994. Many of these songs would later be collected and released as Today Puberty, Tomorrow The World in 1995.

Rye Coalition is a post-hardcore band based in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States. The band has released four albums, three EPs, a split 12-inch with Karp, and several singles. Described by member David Leto as "a loud rock and roll band with obvious punk influences and many classic rock influences", Rye Coalition has often been associated with genres such as emo and post-hardcore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Van Pelt</span> American indie rock band

The Van Pelt is an American indie rock band from New York City that were active from 1993 to 1997, and have reformed several times since.

(Young) Pioneers was an American folk punk band from Richmond, Virginia, active from 1993 to 1999. Composed of members of Born Against, Avail, and Universal Order of Armageddon, they released two albums and numerous singles on Vermiform and Lookout! Records. An overtly political band, their lyrics ranged from "superfluous nods to radical heroes like George Jackson and Carlos the Jackal" to "describ[ing] the relationship between struggling individuals and the machinery of oppressive politics".

1.6 Band was an American hardcore punk band consisting of Kevin Egan, Lance Jaeger, Vin Novara, and Mike Yanicelli.

The Both American musical duo

The Both is an American indie rock musical duo consisting of Aimee Mann and Ted Leo. They began collaborating in 2013 and released a self-titled album in April 2014.

<i>Set You Free</i> (Chisel album) 1997 album by Chisel

Set You Free is the second and final album by punk rock band Chisel originally released on June 6, 1997 on Gern Blandsten Records. In 2023, a remastered and expanded edition was released by The Numero Group.

<i>This Cant Exist</i> 2023 compilation album by Native Nod

This Can't Exist is a compilation album by American post-hardcore band Native Nod, released by The Numero Group in 2023. The album contains every released recording by Native Nod, except the track "Mr. President" from the Fear of Smell compilation and their demo tape.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Tedder, Michael (July 6, 2017). "Ted Leo Is Like You". Stereogum . Archived from the original on July 7, 2017.
  2. Cavalieri, Nate. "Biography: Ted Leo". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 14, 2015.
  3. Lomax, John Nova (April 16, 2007). "Gang of New Jersey: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists mingle rampant Europhilia with American Girl". The Village Voice . Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007. Bloomfield, Leo's hometown, is just west of New York City and just north of Newark.
  4. Almond, Steve (March 29, 2007). "Ted Leo". New Times Broward-Palm Beach . Retrieved March 10, 2011. It's virtually impossible to figure out how Ted Leo became, you know, Ted Leo. Born in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Leo graduated from Seton Hall Prep and received a degree in English from Notre Dame. He is now a strict vegan and plays socially conscious punk music.
  5. Timberg, Scott (February 18, 2011). "Ted Leo takes an extended solo". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015.
  6. "TV Casualty - TV Casualty". The Big Takeover. November 11, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  7. Chavez, Danette (July 6, 2017). "Ted Leo announces new tour and album dates". The AV Club. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018.
  8. Gormely, Ian (September 7, 2017). "Ted Leo Uses Hardship as Fuel for The Hanged Man". Exclaim! . Archived from the original on September 8, 2017.
  9. Trumbore, Dave (July 9, 2019). "First Poster for 'Steven Universe The Movie' Reveals the Looming Threat". Collider . Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 Duguay, Rob (December 8, 2015). "Interview: Now Christmas collaborators, Aimee Mann and Ted Leo find common musical ground". Vanyaland. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018.
  11. 1 2 Samons, Jamie (August 24, 2007). "The Independent Man: Punk Activist Ted Leo wants to know: Where have all the rude boys gone?". Rhode Island Monthly. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018.
  12. Boylan, J. Gabriel (April 2, 2007). "Never Mind the Politics, Here's Ted Leo!". New York Observer. Archived from the original on April 11, 2014.
  13. PETA2 (July 18, 2011). "Ted Leo's Living With The Living". Archived from the original on November 6, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)