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LEATHER LEONE: ‘I’m Gonna Step Back From Music’ And ‘Figure Out What My Next Chapter Is’
Heavy metal singer Leather Leone, best known as the frontwoman of David T. Chastain's band Chastain in the 1980s, has announced she is stepping back from music to figure out her next steps. Speaking to Ada of Poisoned Rock, she said she is tired of chasing opportunities such as festival slots and touring, describing herself as "the underdog" in an industry she has never felt fully embraced by, despite her decades-long career.
Leone explained that since her 2022 solo album "[We Are The] Chosen", she had spent four years pushing to break onto the festival circuit without the support of a manager or booking agent, and has now decided to stop pursuing new opportunities, though she remains open to festival appearances. She also reflected on the modern music business's reliance on self-promotion, the increasingly extreme sound of contemporary metal that has seen her passed over for tours, and a past conversation with Jefferson Airplane's Grace Slick about how differently the industry treated artists in earlier decades.
In short
- Leather Leone is stepping back from actively pursuing music work.
- She cites exhaustion from years of "clawing" for festival slots without a team.
- She remains open to festival appearances but is done chasing opportunities.
Explained simply
Leather Leone is a veteran heavy metal vocalist best known as the frontwoman of Chastain, a band that became prominent during the 1980s. She has maintained an active career in music for several decades since that era.
The heavy metal music industry is built on touring and festival appearances, which are typically secured through managers and booking agents. Leone has struggled to access these opportunities despite her decades of experience, which she attributes partly to changes in the industry and how it operates.
Leone's situation illustrates broader shifts in the music business since the 1980s, including how veteran artists from earlier eras can find themselves sidelined as musical trends and industry mechanisms evolve. Her career offers insight into why even experienced musicians may face challenges sustaining their work in a competitive and changing industry landscape.