Dave can be seen in a Meet the Players session on Sunday August 4th at midday at Cafe Corner, Ground floor
Dave Leslie graduated from the tennis-racquet to the guitar at age 9 and has been obsessed with guitars and things that make them louder, ever since. In August 1989 while cutting his teeth on the Sydney pub-circuit, he was invited to attend a jam with singer Suze DeMarchi, who had just returned from London and was looking to put together a rock outfit. He had no idea what a life-changing jam this was going to turn out to be.
In September, Baby Animals was born. The unsigned Baby Animals came to widespread attention when The Angels picked them up for support on the ‘Dogs are Talking’ National tour. Their self-titled debut album, produced by ex-pat Aussie, Mike Chapman ( The Knack, Suzi Quatro, Divinyls..) and recorded in Woodstock, up-state New York, became the second biggest selling Australian album for 1992 and went on to reach 4x Platinum at home and sell over 800,000 copies world-wide. It was eventually knocked-off by Jet as the highest selling debut album in Australian history.
The band won three Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Awards in 1991 (Best Debut Single for `Early Warning’, Best Debut Album and Best Album). `One Word’ was later nominated for 1992 Australian Song of the Year at the Australian Performing Right Association (APRA) Awards. Baby Animals then turned their attention overseas. The band toured the USA and Europe, taking in support slots to Bryan Adams (on his successful 1991 UK tour) and Van Halen, during which a very excited Leslie was presented with a guitar as a gift from Edward Van Halen.
Second album Shaved and Dangerous (August 1993) produced by American Ed Stasium (Ramones, Living Colour ), was a more adventurous progressive rock album. It had less of a commercial feel and Leslie layered the songs with snaking guitar solos. It made its debut at #2 on the National chart. Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) also co-wrote and played guitar on one song and produced 3 tracks on the album. The band toured extensively throughout the US playing clubs and a major support slot to Robert Plant. The band has also done shows with Paul Rogers, Big Country, Chris Whitley, Extreme, INXS.
An album of acoustic songs was recorded by Dave & Suze in LA (produced by Justin Stanley) for Liberation Blue in 2007 and in 2013 the band, with Mick Skelton on drums and Dario Bortolin on bass, recorded a new rock album “This Is Not The End” produced by David Nicholas (Elton John, INXS, Blur). T.I.N.T.E debuted at #19 on the ARIA charts and as of late 2013 the band is about to embark on yet another National tour, (Feed the Birds tour) with many MI Audio products in tow.
Dave has also played with Jimmy Barnes, Richard Clapton, Ross Wilson, The Angels, Shannon Noll and has guested on many albums and countless jingles.