Leanne Cowie (nee Chock) is an Australian drummer. In 1984 she was an aimless 20-year-old who had escaped from Sydney to London with no particular plans, other than to not get a job and do something with music or writing.
The Scientists is an influential post-punk band from Perth, Western Australia, led by Kim Salmon, initially known as the Exterminators and then the Invaders. The band had two primary incarnations: the Perth-based punk band of the late 1970s and the Sydney/London-based swamp rock band of the 1980s. The lineup included Roddy Radalj (guitar, vocals), Boris Sujdovic (bass) and John Rowlings (drums). In September 1981, Salmon and Sujdovic reformed the band, with Rixon on drums and Tony Thewlis (ex-Helicopters) on guitar, and prepared to move to Sydney. For this version of the band, the musical direction of the band turned more towards swampy, psychedelic-tinged rock and roll, incorporating the influence of bands such as The Gun Club, the Cramps, Suicide, the Stooges and Captain Beefheart.
In 1985 The Scientists were stranded. On the eve of a major UK tour, their talented, yet difficult drummer Brett Rixon walked out on the band. A number of name “Rock” drummers were hired to replicate Rixon’s parts, however, it never sounded like The Scientists. The last thing this band wanted to do was “Rock”. In 1985, The Scientists’ sound was Dark, Primal, Beat Driven, Minimal and Swampy. As important as the Beat was, it couldn’t overpower the band. Leanne who volunteered to be their tour manager in 1984, secretly purchased Rixon’s drum kit and proceeded to learn the instrument through The Scientists’ repertoire. After a few more failed auditions, Leanne was finally asked to join the band. Instantly, The Scientists sounded like The Scientists. With Leanne as Rixon’s replacement, the band was able to tour and record a little longer. However, even with this vital transplant, the band’s days were numbered and by 1987 it was no more.
As is always the case in rock mythology, it took twenty years of being broken up before anyone would offer The Scientists money to play a show. The newly reformed Scientists (with Leanne on drums) played festivals throughout Europe and Australia. The band finally made their American live debut in 2010 with a one-off show at New York’s All Tomorrow’s Parties festival with the also recently reformed Iggy & The Stooges. The Scientists reformation at the beginning of the decade reignited Salmon’s interest in all things Dark & Primitive. Deciding to go with it, Salmon and Cowie entered a Melbourne studio and within a few days, True West was born.
Since True West’s release in Australia late in 2014, Kim & Leanne have played a number of shows and the reviews for both the live show and record have all been as you would expect. Fans and critics have taken to Kim & Leanne.
