Leos Den Bandbio
Leos Den played turbulent concert years! They played on Europe’s biggest Reggae festivals like Cologne Summer Jam, Chiemsee Reggae, Bersenbrück Reggaejam …
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Their highlight for 2005 was without a doubt the tour support for „Groundation“ on their „Grounded Soldiers Tour“ where Leos Den could introduce their own style of Roots Reggae to an applauding massive. It was a success on all planes which melted the band together more than before. The rehearsals are tighter as is their live performance. Who knows the music of Groundation knows also that theyre not only inspiring to musicians alone.
Also a club tour in Paris with the local reggae band “Alma” was an exciting experience. Austrians and the people from Switzerland noticed Leos Den and then danced on their concerts as well as the local massive on many shows that the band was allowed to give to their growing supporter base.
Leos Den was found in 1992. Their live debut was in 1995 and since the end of 2003 the almost the whole band was formed new by the original members Rasflo (percussion, management, booking), sister progress (vocals) and U-Lee (keyboards) with other great musicians like Criss P. (guitar), Volker Heller (drums & production), sunOne (dj & singer) and Johannes Boehm (bass) which of course had an impact on the sound and the deepness of their music. They get backed up by an amazing hornsection played by Katjah Heinrich (sax) and Peter König (tombone). Leos Den will rise with quality of music and message which goes beyond common stereotypes.
Roots Reggae: Tight drum and bass riddims, African percussion, organic Hammond “offs”, filigree guitar licks and phat horn sections, combined with the German/English singjay style of sunOne and the melodic chants of Sister Progress. “It’s rare to hear such authentic anti-Babylon rhetoric in German language.” Not only is “the songwriting a revelation” (Quote: Norbert v. Franzsecky/musik-an-sich.de), the drive from within and the love for reggae music makes them so authentic: Roots Reggae Runnings in every aspect!
Leos Den show who they are whether live or on their album “Identification” (Soulfire Artists/Roughtrade) where german roots veteran and singer Uwe Banton (Movements, Ex Söhne Mannheims;) and Ganjaman, germanys top reggae producer and dj from Berlin, is featured. The new album for 2007 is already in the works…with some fine material!
Qutoes from the press:
… Lyrics on a high level, in German and English, melodic and packed with lots of power force Babylon to listen up and the massive to dance! An absolutely “Solid Foundation” album! …….big up magazine
…The music of this band from Wuerzburg “seems to come from the Bob Marley camp” the press rejoiced. You cant say it any better….Tollwood-Munich
…This music is roots, this music is message, this music has backbone! Whosoever loves live played vibes,….should own this album already……Armageddon Times – Switzerland
…Leos Den sound PHAT, you cant describe it otherways. Ten percussive, dubby and continually rootsy played tracks plus four versions should have the local rastaman listen up…Paul Schlagk – MK Zwo Berlin
Live Reference:
Summer Jam Cologne; International Africa-Festival 2004 & 2005 as headliner; support for the Californian roots reggae band „Groundation“ on their German Tour 06; Chiemsee Reggae Summer, Mali-Reggae Festival Hilpoltstein, Umsonst & Draussen Würzburg, Sunflower Festival Beratzhausen, Weinturm Open Air Bad Windsheim, Reggae Island Waiblingen, Bob Marley Memorial Jam Session, Rock Music Award des bayerischen Rundfunks und der Musik-Akademie Hammelburg (1. prize for outstanding musical achievements)
Zitate aus der Presse:
. Texte mit hohen Niveau, auf Deutsch und Englisch, melodiös und mit jeder Menge Power verpackt, bringen damit Babylon zum aufhorchen und die Massive zum Tanzen! Ein absolut "Solid Foundation" Album!!!. big up – magazin
. Die Musik dieser Würzburger Band scheint direkt aus der Schmiede Bob Marleys zu kommen, jubelte die Presse. Besser kann man es nicht sagen. Tollwood;München
.diese Musik ist Roots, diese Musik ist Message, diese Musik hat Rückgrat! Wer auf Live eingespielte Vibes steht,.sollte die Scheibe längst besitzen. Armageddon Times (CH)
. Leo’s Den klingt FETT, man kann es nicht anders beschreiben. Zehn perkussive, dubbige und durchgehend im Roots-Groove eingespielte Tracks plus vier Versions sollten den einheimischen Rastamann aufhorchen lassen. Paul Schlagk, MK-ZWO Berlin
.Die Würzburger schaffen es, deutsche Texte zu schreiben, dass man den Eindruck gewinnt, der Reggae sei an den Ufern der Donau entstanden. Die Scheibe gehört in JEDE deutsche Reggae-Sammlung – und dürfte auch Plattenschränken mit anderen Schwerpunkten gut zu Gesicht stehen. Musik an sich; Norbert von Fransecky
