Birth name Thomas Wishart Name Thomas Leer Instruments Vocals, keyboards Role Musician | Years active 1978–present Genres Synthpop, New Wave Associated acts Pressure, Act | |
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Music groups The The (1979 – 1983), Act Albums The Bridge, The Scale of Ten, Soul Mining, Burning Blue Soul, Laughter - Tears and Rage Similar People Robert Rental, Claudia Brucken, Matt Johnson, Zeke Manyika, Johnny Marr Profiles | ||
Thomas leer chasing the dragon m2p
Thomas Leer (born Thomas Wishart, 1953, Port Glasgow, Scotland) is a Scottish musician. He has released a number of albums and singles as a solo artist, and was also one half (the other being Claudia Brücken) of the 1980s electropop band Act.
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Thomas leer private plane 1978
Biography
Born in Port Glasgow, Scotland, Leer played in several local experimental pop groups in the early to mid-1970s, moving to London 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 synthpop and Krautrock bands such as Can. That year, he self-financed his debut single, "Private Plane". Although it was recorded in his own apartment and was only issued in 650 copies on his own label, it gained significant attention, with NME naming it "Single of the Week". In 1979, he 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, Laughter, Tears and Rage, before splitting up, with Brücken pursuing a solo career. Leer retired at this point, but returned in 2003 with a new album and in 2009 on the track "Tonight", from the Stefano Panunzi album A Rose and continues to be musically active.
Singles
Albums
