The Leg

The Leg are an alternative rock band based in Edinburgh made up by Daniel Mutch (Vocals, Guitar), Pete Harvey (Cello, Piano) and Alun Scurlock (previously Thomas, Drums). The band formed from members of Khaya and Desc, following the break-up of the latter in 2005. The band have released four albums, first with SL Records and then Song, By Toad Records.

This article is about the rock band. For the American football player nicknamed "the Leg", see Greg Zuerlein (American football). For the protagonist of a ballad, see Jock the Leg and the Merry Merchant. For other uses, see Leg (disambiguation).
The Leg
OriginEdinburgh, Scotland
GenresIndie rock, alternative rock, lo-fi
Years active2006 (2006)–present
LabelsSL, Song, by Toad
Members
  • Daniel Mutch
  • Pete Harvey
  • Alun Scurlock
Websitewww.ihatetheleg.co.uk

Biography

The Leg were formed in 2006 by Dan Mutch, Pete Harvey and Alun Scurlock. Mutch and Harvey began playing together as members of Khaya, an acclaimed Edinburgh band who released a number of albums in the late 1990s and early 2000s, along with Greg Dodgson, John Mackie, Caroline Evens and Richie Anderson.[1] The band gained national attention after recording two 'Peel Sessions' with legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel in 1999 and 2000.[2]

Following the demise of Khaya in 2001, Mutch, Harvey and Mackie formed Desc, being joined by Alun Scurlock and Helena MacGlip.[3] Desc released one album, Up Here In The Heat, before disbanding in 2005.[3] After the break-up of Desc, Mutch, Harvey and Scurlock continued as The Leg.[4]

Music

Their first release was '8 Songs by the Leg: A musical tribute to the Forest of Dean', self-released in 2006. The record received little but positive attention in the media, and was described as 'mildly unhinged, but truly original' by The List.[5]

Their full-length debut album, What Happened to the Shrunken Tina Turner followed in 2009, released by SL Records. The album was reissued by Song, by Toad Records in 2013 as part of the label's fifth anniversary box-set release.[6]

In 2012 The Leg released An Eagle to Saturn with Edinburgh independent label Song, by Toad Records. The album received strong positive reviews in publications such as The Skinny and The Herald.[7][8] The album was described as 'staggeringly brilliant' by The Scotsman, who likened the band to artists such as Tom Waits, Nick Cave and Captain Beefheart.[9] The album was named as number 15 in The Herald's top 50 Scottish albums of 2012.[10]

Follow up album Oozing a Crepuscular Light was released in 2013. The album again received positive reviews from The List and The Herald.[11][12] The album was named number 35 in The Herald's best Scottish albums of 2013.[13]

In 2020, they released their fifth studio album Chromatic Perversion on Tenement Records.

Side Projects

Alongside their work as The Leg, the band are involved in a number of other projects. They have released three albums with Edinburgh musician Paul Vickers, under the name Paul Vickers & The Leg.

Pete Harvey has played cello with a number of artists, including Modern Studies. Alun Thomas also plays drums with Withered Hand.[14]

Discography

The Leg

  • 8 Songs by the Leg (2006)
  • What Happened to the Shrunken Tina Turner? (2009/2013)
  • An Eagle to Saturn (2012)
  • Oozing a Crepuscular Light (2013)
  • Chromatic Perversion (2020)

Paul Vickers & The Leg

  • Tropical Favourites (2008)
  • Itchy Grumble (2010)
  • The Greengrocer (2014)
  • Jump (2019)

References
  1. "Khaya biography". SL Records. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  2. "Khaya Peel Sessions". John Peel Sessions. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  3. "Desc biography". SL Records. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  4. "The Leg biography". Song, by Toad Records. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  5. "Review: 8 songs by The Leg". The List. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  6. "Review: Five Years/Five Records, Song, by Toad". The Scotsman. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  7. "The Leg - An Eagle to Saturn". The Skinny. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  8. Morrison, Alan (6 May 2012). "Recent Scottish CD releases". The Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  9. "Albums to look out for in 2012: The Leg". The Scotsman. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  10. "2012 review: Top 50 albums of the year". The Herald. 30 December 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  11. Cooper, Neil. "The Leg - Oozing A Crepuscular Light". The List. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  12. Morrison, Alan (3 November 2013). "The Leg: Oozing A Crepuscular Light (Song, By Toad)". The Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  13. Morrison, Alan (29 December 2013). "The Scottish albums of 2013". The Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  14. "Withered Hand interview". Is this music?. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
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