Thomas Leer
Encyclopedia
Thomas Leer is a British
musician who as well as releasing a number of albums and singles in his own right, was also one half (the other being Claudia Brücken
) of the 1980s electropop band Act
. His single "Private Plane", which he recorded in his home, is considered a seminal example of DIY indie techno.
when the punk rock
scene was at its height. He formed the punk band Pressure, but by 1978 had moved on to music influenced by electro-pop and Krautrock
bands such as Can
. He self-financed his debut single, "Private Plane" that year, and in 1979 released the album The Bridge in collaboration with Robert Rental
. In 1981 he signed to Cherry Red
, his first release for the label being the 4 Movements EP
. After two further releases on the label he was signed by Arista Records
, releasing three further singles and his debut full-length solo album, The Scale of Ten in late 1985.
Two years later, he formed the duo Act
along with ex-propaganda
singer Claudia Brücken
, signing to ZTT Records
. The duo released four singles (including the minor UK hit "Snobbery and Decay") and an album before splitting up, with Brücken pursuing a solo career. Leer retired at this point, but returned in 2003 with a new album, and continues to be musically active.
Compilations:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musician who as well as releasing a number of albums and singles in his own right, was also one half (the other being Claudia Brücken
Claudia Brücken
Claudia Brücken is a German singer who fronted the synthpop groups Propaganda and Act. Since 1996 she has been working with OMD member Paul Humphreys, first without a name, since 2004 as Onetwo...
) of the 1980s electropop band Act
Act (band)
Act were a short-lived synthpop group signed to ZTT Records in the late 1980s, and comprising Thomas Leer and ex-Propaganda vocalist Claudia Brücken. Besides electro-pop and disco the group were also influenced by psychedelic rock and musical theatre...
. His single "Private Plane", which he recorded in his home, is considered a seminal example of DIY indie techno.
Biography
Born in Port Glasgow, October 1953, Leer played in several local experimental pop groups in the early to mid-1970s, moving to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
when the punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene was at its height. He formed the punk band Pressure, but by 1978 had moved on to music influenced by electro-pop and Krautrock
Krautrock
Krautrock is a generic name for the experimental music scenes that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s, especially in Britain. The term is a result of the English-speaking world's reception of the music at the time and not a reference to any one...
bands such as Can
Can (band)
Can was an experimental rock band formed in Cologne, West Germany in 1968. Later labeled as one of the first "krautrock" groups, they transcended mainstream influences and incorporated strong minimalist and world music elements into their often psychedelic music.Can constructed their music largely...
. He self-financed his debut single, "Private Plane" that year, and in 1979 released the album The Bridge in collaboration with Robert Rental
Robert Rental
Robert Rental was the stage name of Robert Donnachie , a pioneer of the post punk DIY industrial electronic music scene in the United Kingdom.-Biography:...
. In 1981 he signed to Cherry Red
Cherry Red
Cherry Red is a London-based independent record label formed in 1978.-History:Cherry Red grew from the rock promotion company founded in 1971 to promote rock concerts at the Malvern Winter Gardens...
, his first release for the label being the 4 Movements EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
. After two further releases on the label he was signed by Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
, releasing three further singles and his debut full-length solo album, The Scale of Ten in late 1985.
Two years later, he formed the duo Act
Act (band)
Act were a short-lived synthpop group signed to ZTT Records in the late 1980s, and comprising Thomas Leer and ex-Propaganda vocalist Claudia Brücken. Besides electro-pop and disco the group were also influenced by psychedelic rock and musical theatre...
along with ex-propaganda
Propaganda (band)
Propaganda is a German synthpop group, formed in 1982. They were one of the initial roster of acts signed to Trevor Horn's ZTT label, between 1984 and 1986, during which they released the critically acclaimed album A Secret Wish....
singer Claudia Brücken
Claudia Brücken
Claudia Brücken is a German singer who fronted the synthpop groups Propaganda and Act. Since 1996 she has been working with OMD member Paul Humphreys, first without a name, since 2004 as Onetwo...
, signing to ZTT Records
ZTT Records
ZTT Records is a record label founded in 1983 by NME journalist Paul Morley, record producer Trevor Horn, and businesswoman Jill Sinclair. The label's name was also printed as "Zang Tumb Tuum" and "Zang Tuum Tumb" on various releases....
. The duo released four singles (including the minor UK hit "Snobbery and Decay") and an album before splitting up, with Brücken pursuing a solo career. Leer retired at this point, but returned in 2003 with a new album, and continues to be musically active.
Singles
- "Private Plane" (1978) Oblique
- 4 Movements EP (1981) Cherry Red (UK IndieUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#39) - "All About You" (1982) Cherry Red (UK Indie #11)
- "International" (1984) Arista
- "Heartbeat" (1985) Arista
- "No 1" (1985) Arista
Albums
- The Bridge (1979) Industrial (with Robert RentalRobert RentalRobert Rental was the stage name of Robert Donnachie , a pioneer of the post punk DIY industrial electronic music scene in the United Kingdom.-Biography:...
) (UK Indie #9), reissued (1992) Grey Area - Contradictions double 12-inch mini-LPMini-LPA Mini-LP or Mini-album is a short album, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered "full-length".-History:...
(1982) Cherry Red (UK Indie #8) - Letter From America double 12-inch LP (1982) Cherry Red/Cachalot
- The Scale Of Ten (1985) Arista, reissued in expanded form (2004) BMG
- Conversation Peace (2003) Avatar
- Parts of a Greater Hole (2004) Karvavena
- From Sci-Fi to Barfly (2007) Future Historic
Compilations:
- Contradictions - The Cherry Red Collection (1994) Cherry Red