The Fantastic Leslie

The Fantastic Leslie

The Fantastic Leslie was a four-piece band from Sydney, Australia. Comprising of Cameron Bruce, Andrew Hansen, Tom Gleeson and James Fletcher, this band was the starting point for three popular and successful comedians and musicians.

They formed in 1999, when all four were studying at Sydney University. Andrew Hansen was the guitarist, played the kazoo and was one of the vocalists, Cameron Bruce's expertise lay in the field of playing piano and vocals, Tom Gleeson was the drummer and James Fletcher played bass.

They released their EP "A Tiny Mark" on 1 July, 1999. [cite web
title=Message: The Fantastic Leslie CD Launch: 1 July 1999, Hopetoun Hotel
url=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/leslie/message/10
] [cite web | url=http://www.mp3.com.au/artist.asp?ID=346 | title=The Fantastic Leslie | publisher=mp3.com.au] "A Tiny Mark" consisted of six tracks- five original tracks as well as 'Moving Right Along', a song from The Muppet Movie. It was produced by Michael Carpenter, mastered by Don Bartley, and distributed through MGM Distribution.

"A Tiny Mark"

Tracks

* "Sea Shanty" was "Not strictly a sea shanty in the original pirate meaning of the term. More a pop/rock toe-tapper." [cite web | url=http://www.mp3.com.au/Track.asp?id=1160 | title=Sea Shanty | publisher=mp3.com.au]

* "First World Blues" , composed and sung by Andrew Hansen, was about how "People in the first world have their own problems. Having no souls, for instance." [cite web | url=http://www.mp3.com.au/Track.asp?id=1159 | title=First World Blues | publisher=mp3.com.au]

* "Great Life" , also composed and sung by Andrew Hansen, was "about how tough everything is, but how rock n roll makes it all better again." He aimed to give the song an Australian rock and roll feel. [cite web | url=http://www.mp3.com.au/Track.asp?id=1158 | title=Great Life | publisher=mp3.com.au]

* "Weatherman" was written and performed by Cameron Bruce. In an interview, it was revealed it was inspired by how "I once knew a guy who left nothing to chance. He used to plan his days around the weather and what he would eat for lunch. Now he wears a suit."

* "Turning to Gold" , which Cameron Bruce described as about "...that I hardly recognise the things that I see, I hardly know who this is talking to me...and those exact same words are used in the song."

* "Moving Right Along" was a "song from The Muppet Movie. You just tap your shoes, shake your booty, shut your eyes and think of Fozzie", according to Cameron Bruce.

Reviews

*"I'm hoping it turns out more like a giant splash than a tiny mark, because these boys deserve it....

*"... 'Weatherman' is an outrageously catchy, tightly written little pearler of a pop song....

*"... The CD opens with a burst of ecstatic groove, 'Turning to Gold' ... convincing rock 'n' roll gutsiness ... dangerously addictive....

*"... A real highlight of a tiny mark is its majestic ballad, 'First World Blues.' With dark lyrics and haunting chorus, Hansen's vocals take the band through this song from a whisper to a detonation.

*"... 'Sea Shanty' finishes with a dazzling piano solo from Bruce. I’ve seen this performed live, and it brought the house down.

*"... Yes, I’m raving. a tiny mark hasn’t moved from my CD player since I picked it up at the packed-out official launch."

*"Slick drum beats played on real skins by Tom Gleeson skip along with James Fletcher's rollicking bass lines that dare you to guess where they're headed....

*"... Could have a club full of dancers up boogieing their collective butts off and then slip next door and sit in with Woody Allen's for some jazz at Michael's Pub....

*"... 'First World Blues' is a soulful gem of a tune that delivers an emotional uppercut with harmonies that hit the mark....

*"... This refreshing blend of soaring melodies, sparkling piano riffs and a clever balance of silly, sentimental and stinging lyrics will leave you itching to get to a live gig."

Other Productions

Tom Gleeson left not long after releasing "A Tiny Mark" to pursue his comedy career, to be replaced by Bruce Braybrook. Gleeson was in "skitHOUSE", as well as numerous Australian Tours, Melbourne International Comedy Festivals and Adelaide Fringe Festivals. [ [http://www.last.fm/music/The+Fantastic+Leslie The Fantastic Leslie – Music at Last.fm ] ]

The band recorded only two other released tracks: 'The Fantastic Leslie Theme Song' and a cover of the Nick Drake song, 'At the Chime of the City Clock'. These were respectively released on "Grow Your Own 2000" [cite web
title=Grow Your Own 2000 Volume 5
url=http://www.mp3.com.au/Album.asp?id=1433 | publisher=mp3.com.au
] and "Jeremy Flies; A Tribute to Nick Drake". [cite web
title=Jeremy Flies - A Tribute To Nick Drake - 2CD Set
url=http://www.giftofsound.co.uk/do/product/CD_Rock/GSAD3301
]

They split in about 2003, when they were beginning to actively pursue their own careers. Andrew Hansen is a member of The Chaser team, who have produced six TV shows, Andrew being in five of them, including Logie Award winning "CNNNN" and AFI Award winning "The Chaser's War on Everything", as well as three musicals/stage shows, including "The Chaser's Age of Terror Variety Hour" which toured Australia in 2008.

Cameron Bruce, after leaving The Fantastic Leslie, was a third of comedy/musical trio GUD, along with Paul McDermott and Mick Moriarty, and progressed onto playing in his own and Paul Kelly's band, and playing keyboards for both "Good News Week" and "The Sideshow". Bruce is now the drummer in The Beautiful Girls. James Flectcher is now working for the BBC in London.

There are currently no plans for a reunion. Tom has said that they are all booked until February 2009, while Andrew has said that nothing is impossible when it comes to a gig.

References

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20010926013028/http://fantasticleslie.com/ The Fantastic Leslie Official Site]
* [http://www.mp3.com.au/artist.asp?id=346 The Fantastic Leslie at MP3.com]


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