Ted Leo
Encyclopedia
Theodore F. Leo called "Ted," as a short form of "Theodore," is an American punk rock
/indie rock
songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, though he is most known for his singing and guitar playing. Leo has been in many bands, including Citizens Arrest
, Chisel
, the Sin-Eaters, the Spinanes, and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
, his current group. He has also kept up a consistent presence as a solo performer since the late 1990s.
Though born in Indiana, Leo grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey
, where his family is from, and spent many formative years in the hardcore punk scene of New York City during the 1980s and early 1990s. He graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School
in West Orange
in 1988 and the University of Notre Dame
in the fall of 1993 with a degree in English
. His brothers Chris Leo and Danny Leo are also singer-songwriters, and members of Native Nod
, The Lapse
, The Van Pelt
, Vague Angels and Holy Childhood. He is a vegan.
Ted is a fan of and frequent contributor to WFMU
, most notably to Tom Scharpling
's "The Best Show on WFMU."
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
/indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, though he is most known for his singing and guitar playing. Leo has been in many bands, including Citizens Arrest
Citizens Arrest
Citizens Arrest is a New York-based band that existed from 1989 to 1991 and reformed in 2010. The group often blended hardcore punk, Grindcore and Powerviolence styles. Their main inspiration in the early days of the band were from Boston area hardcore from the 1980s like DYS and SSD...
, Chisel
Chisel (band)
Chisel was a punk rock band from the United States that existed between 1990 and 1997. In that time, the group released two full-length albums and a compilation of early recordings.-Early years:...
, the Sin-Eaters, the Spinanes, and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are an American rock band formed in 1999 in Washington, D.C. and currently recording for Matador Records. They have released six full-length studio albums and have toured internationally...
, his current group. He has also kept up a consistent presence as a solo performer since the late 1990s.
Though born in Indiana, Leo grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey
Bloomfield, New Jersey
Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 47,315. It surrounds the Bloomfield Green Historic District.-History:...
, where his family is from, and spent many formative years in the hardcore punk scene of New York City during the 1980s and early 1990s. He graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School
Seton Hall Preparatory School
Seton Hall Preparatory School, generally called Seton Hall Prep, is a Roman Catholic boys' high school located in the suburban community of West Orange in Essex County, New Jersey, operating under the supervision of the Archdiocese of Newark...
in West Orange
West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange is a township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 46,207...
in 1988 and the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in the fall of 1993 with a degree in English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
. His brothers Chris Leo and Danny Leo are also singer-songwriters, and members of Native Nod
Native Nod
Native Nod were an emo band formed in the early 90's based in the New York / New Jersey area where they'd often play shows. In their short lifetime as a band they only released 9 songs, divided amongst the 3 seven inch EPs Bread, Answers, and Lower GI Bleed...
, The Lapse
The Lapse
The Lapse was an American indie band formed in late 1997. The band was first signed to Gern Blandsten, then Southern Records. The Lapse was the duo of then boyfriend/girlfriend Chris Leo and Toko Yasuda . They formed The Lapse after the breakup of their previous band, The Van Pelt...
, The Van Pelt
The Van Pelt
The Van Pelt is an American Indie band, who formed in 1993 at New York University. The band released two albums, Stealing From Our Favorite Thieves and Sultans Of Sentiment, on Gern Blandsten Records in 1996 and 1997 respectively...
, Vague Angels and Holy Childhood. He is a vegan.
Ted is a fan of and frequent contributor to WFMU
WFMU
WFMU is a listener-supported, independent community radio station headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, broadcasting at 91.1 MHz FM, presenting a freeform radio format...
, most notably to Tom Scharpling
Tom Scharpling
Tom Scharpling is an American radio host, comedian, television writer, producer and music video director. He is best known for hosting the weekly freeform radio call-in comedy program The Best Show on WFMU and for acting as a writer/executive producer for the TV show Monk.Scharpling is also noted...
's "The Best Show on WFMU."
With Animal Crackers
- Split 7" with Whipped (1991)
- Self Titled 4 Song 7" on Thrashing Mad Records
With Chisel
- Nothing New (April 1995; Gern Blandsten)
- 8 A.M. All Day (January 1996; Gern Blandsten)
- Set You Free (April 1997; Gern Blandsten)
With Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
- tej leo(?), Rx / pharmacistsTej leo(?), Rx / pharmaciststej leo, Rx / pharmacists is the debut album by the Washington, D.C. rock band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, released in 1999 by Gern Blandsten Records. Though considered the band's first album, it is actually a solo effort by Ted Leo with some contributions by Jodi V.B. of The Secret Stars...
(September 1999; Gern Blandsten) - Treble in TroubleTreble in TroubleTreble in Trouble is an EP by the Washington, D.C. rock band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, released in 2000 by Ace Fu Records. It was the group's first release as a full band, following a debut album which had essentially been a Ted Leo solo release...
(September 2000; Ace Fu RecordsAce Fu RecordsAce Fu Records is an independent record label founded in 1998 by Eric Speck and is currently located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.-Roster:*Acid Mothers Temple*Annuals*An Albatross*Aqui*The Dears*Devotchka*Ex Models*Illinois*Kaiser Chiefs*Man Man...
) - The Tyranny of DistanceThe Tyranny of Distance (album)The Tyranny of Distance is the second album by the Washington, D.C. rock band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, released in 2001 by Lookout! Records. It was the group's first album as a full band, as their previous album tej leo, Rx / pharmacists had been a solo effort by singer/guitarist Ted Leo...
(June 2001; Lookout! RecordsLookout! Records-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock...
) - Hearts of OakHearts of Oak (album)Hearts of Oak is the third album by the Washington, D.C. rock band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, released in 2003 by Lookout! Records. A music video was filmed for the single "Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?"-Track listing:...
(February 2003; Lookout! Records) - Tell Balgeary, Balgury Is DeadTell Balgeary, Balgury is DeadTell Balgeary, Balgury Is Dead is an EP released in 2003 by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, although it mostly comprises Ted Leo's solo work. The title track is carried over from the band's previous album, Hearts of Oak, as is "The High Party"...
(October 2003; Lookout! Records) - Shake the SheetsShake the SheetsShake the Sheets is the fourth album by the Washington, D.C. rock band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, released in 2004 by Lookout! Records. It was the band's last album for the Lookout! label...
(October 2004; Lookout! Records) - Living with the LivingLiving with the LivingLiving with the Living is the fifth album by the Washington, D.C. rock band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, released in 2007 by Touch and Go Records. It was the band's first album for the Touch and Go label and debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200 at number 109, selling about 8,000 copies in its first...
(March 2007; Touch & Go Records) - Rapid ResponseRapid ResponseRapid Response is an EP released by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists released in Fall of 2008. It was available exclusively on the internet, primarily sold through iTunes...
(September 2008; Touch & Go Records) - The Brutalist BricksThe Brutalist BricksThe Brutalist Bricks is the sixth album by the northeast American punk band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. It was released March 9, 2010 by Matador Records. It is the band's first album for Matador Records....
(March 2010; Matador RecordsMatador RecordsMatador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
) U.S. #114
Other Appearances
- This Bird Has Flown – A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber Soul (October 2005; Razor & TieRazor & TieRazor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
)