The chequered history of Leafhound is now into its long awaited third act. The original band’s sole 1971 album ‘Growers of Mushroom’ became a cult classic with original LP’s going for many thousands of pounds. Then in the mid-2000s lead singer Peter French put together a new line-up, who within a couple of years made an excellent sophomore album in ‘Unleashed’. But despite continuing to play shows every so often, a follow up third album never arrived…..until this year when ‘Once Bitten’ was finally issued.

I was at the official album launch show at the Camden Underworld a couple of months back, but this show at the Eel Pie Club, where Pete is a regular with them and other bands was a homecoming of sorts. It made for a more special atmosphere, intimate and relaxed and the band’s energy feeding off being surrounded by familiar faces.

Five songs from the new album were dropped into the set, including opener ‘Yippee Kay Ay’, inspired by Bruce Willis, which was as loud and raucous as I’ve known Leafhound before the first trip to the debut in ‘Drowned My Life In Fear’.

Another new song was actually one which Pete wrote some time ago with Carmine Appice of Vanilla Fudge and Duane Hitchings. ‘Cinderella’ marked a departure of style, at times either funky or psychedelic (notably in Luke Rayner’s use of the effects pedals) while another trend I noticed on this and some other songs compared to before was greater use of backing vocals, especially from Pete’s son Dominic on the drums.

There was a pair from ‘Unleashed’ in ‘Stop Look and Listen’ (which always reminds me of Cream’s ‘Tales of Brave Ulysses’ mixed with Blackfoot’s ‘Train Train’) with a particularly fine solo from Luke and ‘Overtime’. Pete’s classic blues rock voice has weathered very well over the years and the evergreen feel was accentuated by the fact he still carries off the rock star look, leather trousers and all.

After another trip back into the vintage sounds of ‘With A Minute To Go’, ‘Barricades’ exemplified the band interplay that Leafhound have always been so good at since I first saw the reformed version, together with another wah wah solo from Luke, then the first set closed with another new song in the hard rocking ‘Burn The House Down’, where for once Pete’s voice was slightly drowned out by the musical backing.

The set length was more generous than the album launch. Luke again shone as the second set opened with ‘The Man With The Moon In Him’, the tell-tale sign he is in the zone being when he raises his head to the sky as it drawing from divine intervention, and a new song in ‘Chain Gang’. Like a number of the new songs, it was less bluesy and more out and out hard rock- indeed they would have fitted comfortably in the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.

‘Sad Road To The Sea’ showed off that brilliant musical interplay notably between bassist Peter Herbert (whose bouncing up and down threatened the low ceiling) and Dominic, before what will probably always be my favourite Leafhound song in ‘Too Many Rock And Roll Times’, once again coming over as a mix of Cream and Blackfoot.

In a different mode, a final new song in ‘Thought Police’ was less about the music than the lyrics, railing against modern social trends. Their best known song ‘Freelance Fiend’, which the current line up have re-recorded for the new album, boasted its usual colossal riff, then after ‘105 Degrees’, the set closed with the title track of the legendary debut, though Pete had to recount that it was about a story of a man who poisoned his wife rather than the widely assumed stoner theme. It featured a virtuoso display from Dominic, attacking the cymbals and tom-toms as if his life depended on it.

When called back for an encore, they joked they hadn’t any more rehearsed material, but still played one time set opener ‘Stagnant Pool’, with another of those vintage riffs. With this seamless mix of songs across all three albums, Pete French’s evergreen vocals and brilliant musicianship this was as good a Leafhound show as I’ve seen over the years and, excuse the pun, proof that there is life in the old dog yet.

Review and Photos by Andy Nathan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 16 November 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This 600th show was first broadcast on 18 November 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 1 December 2025

We feature all the artists selected in this sequence in 2025.

Featured Albums w/c 1 December 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.