The Sledge/Leather Project

The Sledge/Leather Project
Origin San Francisco, California
Genres Heavy metal
Years active 2011–present
Labels Metal Up Records
Associated acts Rude Girl
Malibu Barbi
Chastain
Warbride
WeaponsVan
Allison Chains
Website SledgeLeather.com
Members Leather Leone
Sandy Sledge
Matthias 'Matthew' Weisheit
Scott Warren
Rick Lambert
Christopher Davidsson
Past members Betsey Stephens
Brett Baugh
Jimmy Bain

The Sledge/Leather Project is a Californian heavy metal group founded in 2011. They released their debut album, Imagine Me Alive, in early 2012. The group was originally founded by former collaborators Leather Leone (vocals) and Sandy Sledge (drums), who were previously known for their work together in metal band Rude Girl in the 1980s. German musician Matthias 'Matthew' Weisheit plays guitar in the group, Scott Warren plays keyboards (Dio, Heaven & Hell), Rick Lambert plays guitar and Christopher Davidsson plays bass.[1]

Founding members

The two founding members of The Sledge/Leather Project first met in the early 1980s, when they were both founding members of the all-female metal band Rude Girl in San Francisco, California. Leather Leone handled vocals, and Sandy Sledge played drums.[1] The band quickly began headlining in the Bay Area metal scene, sharing stages with locals such as Megadeth and Suicidal Tendencies. Within six months of playing at clubs, the band was asked to sign a seven-year record deal with CBS/Columbia, with Black Sabbath's manager Sandy Pearlman slated to produce.[2]

However, the band split beforehand, with members going into separate projects. Leone began working with guitarist David Chastain, joining his band Chastain as lead vocalist. In six years she recorded five albums with him, performing with bandmates from groups such as Cannibal Corpse, King Diamond, and Alice Cooper.[2]

She released her solo album, Shock Waves, to a positive reception in 1989 on Roadrunner Records,[2] releasing For Those Who Dare after that. Chastain produced both.[1] She also guest sang on two tracks by Sandy Sledge's new project Malibu Barbi.[2] After a final tour in 1991, Leather disappeared entirely from the music scene.[1] She was dubbed "The Voice of the Cult," and is the only female vocalist to have been compared to Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson, and Geoff Tate.[2]

Sledge moved to Los Angeles, where she graduated with honors from PIT at the Musicians' Institute in Hollywood. She played drums for a number of musicals, did session recording, and recorded two albums with Gary Hempsey and Pat Lydon of Lost Breed. She also formed and put out a CD with WeaponsVan, which she cowrote with Lydon. She drummed with Alice in Chains tribute band Allison Chains. She formed the power prog metal band Malibu Barbi was with singer Steve Gelardi, and others. They released two songs with producer Sylvia Massy, who had previously worked with TOOL. That recording session featured Leather on vocals and Lois LaRue of Rude Girl on guitar.[2]

Founding

In 2010, Leather was moved by the death of her close friend and mentor Ronnie James Dio, and recontacted Sledge. Dio had long encouraged the duo to keep performing together, through Rude Girl or other projects. The two formed the new band Sledge Leather Project.[2]

The recorded a demo tribute of Dio's song "Egypt," and after a positive response, were booked for the Keep It True festival in Germany on April 29, 2011, where they played to a packed house despite never having performed a live show.[1] They recorded a DVD of the performance, which also featured bassist Betsey Stephens and guitarist Brett Baugh.[3] According to a review after the performance, "Leather Leone is the supreme heavy metal force, a female fronted assault on all senses."[1]

Classically trained metal guitarist Matthias 'Matthew' Weisheit joined the band after the festival. To record the debut album Imagine Me Alive, they also recruited Scott Warren and Jimmy Bain of Dio.[3]

Band members

Current

Former

Discography

Albums

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Interview with Leather Leone by EC". Maximum Metal. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Home". SledgeLeather.com. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Former DIO Members Featured On LEATHER LEONE's SLEDGE LEATHER Debut". Blabbermouth.net. March 17, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-15.

External links