Wednesday, September 24, 2014

First/Last-Leanne Kingwell


"She bought her first guitar in high school and formed her first band while earning a degree in Graphic Arts at University. Thus began a decade-long odyssey of constant live gigs that honed her performance and song-writing skills and took Leanne from small Underground venues to Centre Stage Stadium shows."

Leanne Kingwell is an Australian hard rocker who latest album is entitled "Choking on Halos". Dubbed 'the Queen of Aussie rock', she recently released the acclaimed video for the title song and I really want to thank her for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.


The first album you ever bought?
A rock compilation called “FULL BOAR” that I bought with my Christmas money when I was 8 because it came with this wicked  poster of a nasty looking punk Pigs Head wearing Ray-Bans… Ray-Bans became my signature eyewear for quite some time. The poster disappeared mysteriously from my bedroom wall one day. (Mum had hated it from the moment she saw it.) I was pretty upset so she replaced it with a "My Little Pony" poster. This damaged me for life.

Your last album bought?
Verdi and Mozart “Greatest Hits” compilations. Needed the de-stress. Working two time zones recording in L.A. was taking a toll. It's a proven fact their music has all sorts of soothing, therapeutic effects on body and brain. I'll be first in line for tix when they tour.

Favorite album of all time?
Pink Floyd's "The Wall". Simply the best public psychoanalysis session ever.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Without a doubt, Keith Richard's solo album. WTF were you thinking, Keef?

First concert attended?
David Bowie ‘Glass Spider Tour’.

Last concert?
30 Seconds to Mars, Gibson Amphitheatre, L.A. It was great to see a show in that famous venue before they pulled it down.

Favorite concert ever?
Nirvana, at The Palace in my neighbourhood. They were yet to break big in Australia. Still playing smaller venues and building the buzz. Seeing them at The Palace was like Nirvana were playing our local pub. Unforgettable.

Least favorite concert?
Um…. the one where my guitar got left behind at a venue by lead guitarist of my band, who was carrying it around as a spare. He got drunk. Left the gig. Hadn't realised he'd left it there till I asked him where it was 2 weeks later. Moral of the story, never lend your Axe to a dick-head. He'll never love it like you do. Do I still sound angry?


Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
I've never been there but I'm sure it's a wonderful place.

Thanks, Leanne. Hi from the other side of the globe! Can I be the first to claim the album title, "Never Lend Your Axe to a Dick-Head"!?!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Now you mention it… "Never Lend Your Axe to a Dick-head" is a cool album title! You can have it as thanks for inviting me to First/Last with you, Hugh. Fun to relive past musical lives answering these questions... Greetings to Pittsburg from Oz. :)