| Thomas Leer | |
| Background: | non_vocal_instrumentalist |
| Birth Name: | Thomas Wishart |
| Birth Place: | Port Glasgow, Scotland |
| Instrument: | Vocals, keyboards |
| Genre: | Minimal wave, synthpop, new wave |
| Years Active: | 1978–present |
| Associated Acts: | Pressure, Act, The The (1983) |
| Website: | http://www.thomasleer.co.uk/ |
Thomas Leer (born Thomas Wishart; 1953 in 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.
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.[1] 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 flat and was only issued in 650 copies on his own label, it gained significant attention, with NME naming it "Single of the Week".[2] [3] 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.
An exhibition named From The Port To The Bridge, curated by music archivist Simon Dell, has documented the work of Thomas Leer and Robert Rental. It has been staged at Greenock’s Beacon Arts Centre in 2018, and in London at Horse Hospital in January 2022. The pivotal part of this exhibition is the recording and release of their 1979 album The Bridge, which was reissued by Mute in 2022.[4] [5]