Leather

Cincinnati, OH spawned the heavy metal quartet Leather, which took its name from vocalist Leather Leone. Long embedded in the local rock community, Leone had already established herself through her role in the city's prominent metal act Chastain and her position at the helm of the brief all-female group Malibu Barbie. In 1989 she joined forces with guitarist Michael Harris, whose résumé included Tyrant and Arch Rival, bassist David Harbar, and drummer John Luke He'Bert, who would later join King Diamond. Under the guidance of David T. Chastain, the lineup tracked the album Shock Waves for Roadracer. The resulting debut displayed competence, assurance, and above all weight, yet its lack of broad commercial traction prevented Leather from reaching any significant level of fame and ruled out a follow-up, prompting Leone to return to her customary frontwoman post in Chastain.