Biography

One of the most critically acclaimed U.K. punk bands of the 1990s, Leatherface generated a lean, frenetic sound that owed more to the work of American acts like Hüsker Dü and Bad Religion than most of their U.K. peers, with imaginative melodies and thoughtful structures that set them apart from the template of acts like U.K. Subs and Charged G.B.H. Lead singer Frankie Stubbs' throaty rasp sounds like a cross between Lemmy and Joe Strummer, though his blend of lyrical introspection and social commentary was something very much his own, and the smart but streamlined attack of 1989's Cherry Knowle gave way to the multi-layered guitar work of 1991's Mush and 1993's Minx, and later, the atmospheric sophistication of 2000's Horsebox, recalling indie rock played at punk velocity. Hailing from Sunderland, an oceanside community in Tyne & Wear, England, Leatherface was formed in 1988 by guitarists Frankie Stubbs and Dickie Hammond, who initially bonded over the fact they both played Gordon Smith guitars. Blending their disparate styles -- a deep over-driven chug faced off against a fuzzy jangle that ran up and down the melodies -- they teamed with bassist Stuart Schooler and drummer Andy Laing and began jamming in Stubbs' garage. Naming themselves Leatherface after the lunatic slaughterhouse employee in the horror classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the band financed their early touring by selling magic mushrooms, and soon earned enough of a reputation that the indie punk label Meantime Records struck a deal with them to release their debut album, 1989's Cherry Knowle, named for a notorious British mental institution. Laurence Bell, an A&R man at Fire Records, heard Leatherface and was knocked out by their sound, and when he was given the chance to start his own offshoot label, Roughneck Records, Leatherface was his first signing. They released their second album, Fill Your Boots, in 1990, and the group toured relentlessly in support. Stuart Schooler left the lineup and Steven Charlton took over on bass. Seed Records, an alternative imprint of Atlantic, signed Leatherface for the U.S., and 1991's Mush, an immediate critical smash, became their first American release. However, while Leatherface's first U.S dates were well received, the album didn't fare well in the North American market and they were dropped before 1993's Minx was completed. Minx featured Andy Crighton on bass, who joined in time to be around when the group split after the touring cycle following Minx. 1994's The Last collected eight songs Leatherface completed shortly before their breakup, and that same year, Live in Oslo documented the fury of the band on-stage. After Leatherface split, Frankie Stubbs led the bands Jesse and Pope and became an in-demand producer and engineer at Ramshackle Studio, while Dickie Hammond played in H.D.Q. and Dr. Bison, and Andy Crighton joined Snuff. Meanwhile, the small cult following that embraced Leatherface in the United States continued to grow, and a number of American bands, including Hot Water Music, Dillinger Four, and Avail, were citing them as a key influence. In 1999, Leatherface reunited, with Frankie Stubbs and Andy Laing joined by guitarist Leighton Evans and bassist David Lee, and they released a split 12" with fans Hot Water Music that was released by the American BYO Label. Leatherface's side of the LP opened with the song "Andy," a tribute to Andy Crighton, who died by his own hand in 1998. A full-length album followed in 2000, Horsebox, which introduced new bassist David Burdon, and Leatherface toured extensively in support, including a number of dates in the United States where they shared stages with the bands they influenced. 2004's Dog Disco was recorded as a trio by Stubbs, Laing, and Burdon, and was followed by a long recording layoff, though the group continued to play live dates. Dickie Hammond returned to Leatherface for the recording of 2010's The Stormy Petrel, which introduced the rhythm section of Graeme Philliskirk on bass and Stefan Musch on drums, and the tour that followed was documented on 2011's Viva la Arthouse: Live in Melbourne. It proved to be Leatherface's final salvo; the band broke up in 2012, and Dickie Hammond died in November 2015. A few months before his passing, Fire Records released Razor Blades and Aspirin: 1990-1993, a compilation featuring the best moments from their first era. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi