Andy Leek - Biography

Biography

Andy began his musical career while still at school fronting progressive punk band The Wailing Cocks. The band attracted a modicum of publicity via two singles on independent label Birds Best, recording two sessions for John Peel's Radio 1 show, Kid Jensen Live and on Radio 2's In Concert Live. At the age of 21,andy joined Dexys Midnight Runners in late November 1979, playing on early recordings such as the hit single "Geno" and four other tracks on their debut album Searching for the Young Soul Rebels. Just before the band were at No. 1 in the charts with this track, Andy left due to being physically attacked on several occasions by the drummer in the band.

Two earlier songs Andy had recorded with the Wailing Cocks were then licensed to Beggars Banquet Records for release as a double-A-sided solo single: "Move On (In Your Maserati)" / "Ruben Decides".These were both played on Radio One and were single of the week in Sounds.

In early 1981, Andy teamed up with fellow ex-Dexys member Kevin "Al" Archer in his new band The Blue Ox Babesin which Andy played piano. harmonium, harmonica. and sung backing vocals. but this new venture fell apart in 1982 due to the well publicised fact that Kevin Rowland stole the whole sound and image and new direction of the band to make the 'too rye aye' album. This devastated Kevin Archer and ruined the band's chances of success and consequently Andy then moved to Glasgow. Some months later on the strength of a demo tape of 16 new songs, Beggars Banquet paid for an album's worth of new material but this lay dormant until their belated release as Midnight Music on Andy's own Undiscovered Classics label in 2009. One song from these sessions, "Twist In The Dark", was recorded by Frida from Abba for her 1984 solo album Shine, via a recommendation from Leek's friend Kirsty MacColl. Frida's version was also issued as a single around the world and she described this song as her favourite song she had recorded outside of Abba.

For the rest of the 1980s, Leek pursued his own career as a musician, as well as writing a musical interpretation of a Dylan Thomas poem which was recorded and released by Tom Jones, and acting alongside Billie Whitelaw and David Van Day as an aspiring songwriter in the Tony Klinger-produced 1985 movie Promo-Man. A short-lived deal with indie label Fascination Records in 1984 led to two singles credited to Andde Leek: "Soul Darling", with Specials producer Dave Jordan, and a version of Abba's "Dancing Queen" produced by Tony Visconti.

In 1988 after signing a publishing and management contract with hit n run music, Atlantic Records in New York signed Andy and then Andy independently enlisted George Martin to produce his 1988 album, Say Something. It was recorded in Martin's A.I.R. Studios with such musicians as Steve Howe of Yes, Clem Clempson, Luis Jardim on percussion, Alan Murphy of Level 42 on guitar, Peter-John Vettese (keyboards, from Jethro Tull), and veteran bassist Mo Fostera 36 piece orchestra on various tracks and the London Community Gospel Choir on the Epic Golden Doors.Unbeknown to Andt until recently the title track 'Say Something' reached number 1 in The Lebanon during the war in Beirut and was adopted as an anthem of inspiration throughout the civil war by many people there.In 2007, Lebanese DJ/Producer aXess remixed "Say Something".

Andy has since recorded two further albums, Eternity Beckons (including the single "All Around The World", which proved popular in Germany) and the self-produced Sacrifice And Bliss (which yielded the single "Forgotten People") Both of which are now being released on his own label.Eternity Beckons was also briefly available on a small Spanish label, Ouver Records. The song Forgotten people was also released on a compilation album which made it to number one in Spain. After a period studying musical composition at Cardiff University, Andy formed his own "party band" Andy Leek & The Blue Angels, who have now played many successful shows, mostly at charity balls. Leek has also appeared on various TV shows: The James Whale Show, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Later with Jools Holland and Children In Need three years running.

Andy has now remixed the album Say Something now entitled say 'something revisited' for re-release later this year and has just released 'Whats the problem' from this as a single already attracting much attention. He is also busy recording songs for a new solo album and wrting his biography, though punctuation is not his strong point.