Leader Cheetah
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Defunct | January 2016 |
| Headquarters | Adelaide , Australia |
| Products | Indie rock music |
Leader Cheetah was an indie rock ensemble originating from Adelaide, South Australia, established in 2007 by former members of the now-defunct local bands Pharaohs and Bad Girls of the Bible. Throughout their career, they toured across Australia and performed at notable festivals including Splendour in the Grass, Big Day Out, St Jerome's Laneway Festival, and Come Together Music Festival. Their initial full-length album, The Sunspot Letters, was launched in 2009, followed by a sophomore release titled Lotus Skies in 2011. The band also supported international artists such as Interpol, Dinosaur Jr., Dan Auerbach, Blitzen Trapper, and Elbow during various tours. Leader Cheetah disbanded in January 2016.
History
Formed in Adelaide in 2007, Leader Cheetah consisted of Daniel Crannitch handling lead vocals and guitar, his brother Joel Crannitch on drums, Mark Harding playing bass, and Dan Pash on lead guitar and backing vocals. Prior to this, the Crannitch brothers were part of Pharaohs, a dance-rock outfit, while Pash was affiliated with Bad Girls of the Bible.
Pash highlighted that their musical inspirations were rooted in classic 1970s songwriting, drawing from artists such as Neil Young and Crazy Horse.
Their debut album, The Sunspot Letters, was self-released in March 2009 and reached number 64 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The release was preceded by the single "Bloodlines". Following this, Leader Cheetah embarked on a national tour alongside Cloud Control. In the same year, lead singer Dan Crannitch made a guest appearance on SBS’s music quiz show RocKwiz.
The band’s second studio effort, Lotus Skies, arrived in July 2011 and entered the charts at number 98. The song "Our Love" included guest vocals from Holly Throsby.
In 2011, Pash faced hearing challenges caused by both damage and a congenital condition, necessitating ear protection during live performances. By December that year, Tom Spall joined the group to play violin during acoustic shows, replacing Pash.
Leader Cheetah officially ended their activities in January 2016, describing it as an appropriate moment to close their four-and-a-half-year chapter.
Following the split, Joel and Daniel Crannitch formed a new project called "The San Sebastian" based in Adelaide. Their debut album, Alive on the Black Sea, produced by Phil Ek, was released in May 2018.
Members
- Daniel Crannitch – vocals, guitar
- Joel Crannitch – drums
- Mark Harding – bass
- Dan Pash – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Tom Spall – violin
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Highest chart position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| The Sunspot Letters |
|
64 |
| Lotus Skies |
|
98 |
Fowler's Live Music Awards
Running from 2012 through 2014, the Fowler's Live Music Awards celebrated accomplishments within South Australia's live music industry. Since 2015, these awards have been rebranded as the South Australian Music Awards.
|-
| 2012
| Leader Cheetah
| Best Pop Artist
|
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