THE LEEPERS - Back In The Day [UK mod revival 1979] 2010 Detour Records DRCD057

 

The Leepers were no different from all the other hopefuls all looking for stardom except they had the look, the attitude and two great song writers in their ranks in the way of Gary Simpson & Pete Helmer along with Paul Helmer playing bass and Sav on drums. One of Petes other brothers (John) had already found fame in the up-and-coming Brighton based band The Piranhas.. With MOD sweeping the country back in 1979, the band had a shared interest in the 60s. The lifestyle, the music, the scooters AND above everything else THE CLOTHES! The band were courted by several record labels but sadly no deal followed. By late 1980, the Mod scene started changing. The smartly dressed Mods started wearing more elaborate clothes with frilly shirts and sequins. This new scene was Psychedelia. The band didnt see it as selling out, just a natural progression to what had also happened in the sixties. They changed their name to Le Mat and brought in new member Mark Mifsud-Bonnici to add a new direction to the band by introducing violin & Keyboards. With this new line up, they signed to Whaaam Records and released one single and one album.

The Leepers