Leonardo's Bride
| Company type | Pop group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, extended plays, singles |
Leonardo's Bride was a pop group originating from Australia, established in 1992. The lineup consisted of Abby Dobson (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Dean Manning (electric guitar, piano, Wurlitzer, Hammond organ), Jon Howell (drums), and Patrick Wong (bass guitar, backing vocals, cello). Their discography includes two extended plays—Debut (released 12 May 1992) and Temperamental Friend (issued 6 October 1994)—alongside two full-length albums: Angel Blood (28 April 1997) and Open Sesame (June 2000). The band ultimately dissolved in 2001.
At the 1997 ARIA Awards, Leonardo's Bride received three nominations connected to their album Angel Blood and the single "Even When I'm Sleeping". This particular track secured the "Song of the Year" accolade at the APRA Music Awards of 1998. The group briefly reunited in March 2013 to perform at the Byron Bay Bluesfest.
1989–1995: Early Years and EP Releases
The origins of Leonardo's Bride trace back to 1989 when Abby Dobson and Dean Manning began performing as a duo in Sydney. By March 1990, the pair was collaborating on songwriting and embarked on an extensive tour through Europe and the United States. They played more than 250 shows in various clubs and bars across cities such as New York City, Paris, London, and Santorini. Their style, combining acoustic folk with pop elements, garnered favorable reviews for its mix of folk balladry and lively pop rhythms.
In 1992, the duo expanded into a full band by adding Alex Hewetson on double bass and Antero Ceschin on drums, officially forming Leonardo's Bride. That same year saw the independent release of their debut EP titled Leonardo's Bride, which included four tracks featuring the eponymous song that inspired their name. Towards the end of 1993, personnel changes occurred: Mark Howard replaced Hewetson on bass guitar, David Sanders took over drums from Ceschin, and John Gauci joined to handle keyboards and Hammond organ duties. By 1994, the lineup had solidified with Dobson, Manning, Gauci, Patrick Wong on bass guitar, and Jon Howell on drums.
Their sophomore EP, Temperamental Friend, was launched in October 1994 through PolyGram’s Id label. Throughout 1995, Leonardo's Bride toured extensively across Australia supporting acts like The Badloves, as well as internationally alongside Big Geraniums in Ireland.
1996–1998: Release and Success of Angel Blood
Leonardo's Bride signed with Mushroom Records in 1996 and commenced work on their debut album Angel Blood, which was produced by Justin Stanley (known for his work with Noiseworks). The lead single from this project, "So Brand New", appeared late that year. Upon its release on 28 April 1997, the album reached number 25 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Australian music historian Ian McFarlane characterized the record as "light and plaintive folk-acoustic guitar-pop infused with 1960s pop ballad influences and jazzy touches," emphasizing Dobson’s unique vocal delivery. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1997, Angel Blood earned nominations for 'Breakthrough Artist – Album' as well as 'Best Cover Art'.
The follow-up single "Even When I'm Sleeping", released in June 1997, climbed to number four on the ARIA Singles Chart and achieved gold certification for shipping over 35,000 copies. It received a nomination for 'Single of the Year' at the ARIA Awards and won both 'Song of the Year' and 'Most Performed Australian Work' at the APRA Music Awards of 1998. The album’s final single "Buddha Baby" also secured a spot within the Top 40 charts. During 1997, Leonardo's Bride supported Everything but the Girl during their Australian tour.
In April 1998, Leonardo's Bride contributed a rendition of "This Girl's in Love with You" to the tribute compilation To Hal and Bacharach. By this time John Gauci had departed from the band citing "constant pressure". Later that year in October, Angel Blood saw its release in the United States market. The band toured across the United Kingdom before returning home to participate in Mushroom 25 Live, where their live performance of "Even When I'm Sleeping" was featured on associated live recordings and video releases. They wrapped up 1998 with a brief tour supporting Neil Finn.
1999–2001: Open Sesame and the band's dissolution
Between 1999 and 2001, Leonardo's Bride worked on their sophomore album, Open Sesame, which was co-produced alongside Justin Stanley and James Cadsky (of Ghostwriters). The lead single, "Sonic," debuted in April 2000 and was praised as "an outstanding and lively folk-pop track." The full album was released in June but failed to enter the top 50 charts. It later became available in the United States in October of the same year. In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) honored "Even When I'm Sleeping" by naming it among the Top 30 Australian songs ever. Later that year, following a concert in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, Leonardo's Bride officially parted ways. Two live recordings from their performance at Sydney's The Basement were included on the compilation A Night out... - Live at the Basement (2001), featuring various artists.
Dobson later shared insights about the band’s lengthy collaboration and difficulties in advancing, mentioning her health struggles with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic fatigue syndrome as contributing factors by the time of their separation.
2002–present: Subsequent activities
Following the breakup, Dobson teamed up with Paul Mac for his album 3000 Feet High and embarked on a solo career in 2002, releasing the single "Don't Ask for More," which appeared on The Secret Life of Us volume 2 under Liberation Music. Her first solo album, Rise Up, was launched in late 2007, featuring the lead track "Shining Star."
Dean Manning unveiled his solo project Diplomatic in 2003 and went on to establish Holidays on Ice with Angie Hart (formerly of Frente!). This collaboration produced three albums: Playing Boyfriends & Girlfriends (2005), Pillage Before Plunder (2009), and The Luxury of Wasted Space (2014). Manning also continues to pursue his career as a visual artist. Jon Howell founded the blues ensemble Chase the Sun, releasing their debut record in 2009. Patrick Wong shifted focus to traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, practicing professionally in Newcastle.
In January 2013, Leonardo's Bride announced plans to perform at the Byron Bay Bluesfest during Easter. That same year, Dobson auditioned for Season 2 of The Voice (Australia), but did not advance; judge Delta Goodrem did not recognize Dobson or their well-known song "Even When I'm Sleeping."
Albums
| Title | Album information | Chart rankings | Certifications (sales thresholds) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS |
NZ | |||
| Angel Blood |
|
25 | 35 |
|
| Open Sesame |
|
75 | — | |
Extended plays
| Title | EP information |
|---|---|
| Leonardo's Bride |
|
| Temperamental Friend |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Chart rankings | Certifications | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS |
NZ | ||||
| "So Brand New" | 1996 | — | — | Angel Blood | |
| "Even When I'm Sleeping" | 1997 | 4 | 34 |
| |
| "Buddha Baby" | 40 | — | |||
| "Sonic" | 2000 | — | — | Open Sesame | |
ARIA Awards
| Year | Category | Entry | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Single of the Year | "Even When I'm Sleeping" | Nominated |
| Breakthrough Artist – Album | Angel Blood | Nominated | |
| Best Cover Art (Simon Anderson, Dean Manning) | Nominated |
APRA Awards
| Year | Category | Entry | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Song of the Year | "Even When I'm Sleeping" (Dean Manning) | Won |
| Most Performed Work | "Even When I'm Sleeping" (Dean Manning) | Won |