Dog Day Afternoon was founded by Stuart "Septic" Thompson in 1994.He took the name from the Al Pacino Film.
He was joined by his brother Steve on Bass and Dave Baker on Drums. When Steve moved to the UK, Dave turned to his classmates at the Durban Tech Music School. He recruited Clinton "Aussie" Richardson on lead guitar and Q on Bass.
Later that year Harry "Chainsaw" Washburn was appointed as Manager. With the exception of Peter Grant, Harry was the best Manager in History!
In late 1995 the band moved to the UK in persuit of a recording contract. The band name was changed to "Leash"
because Dog Day Afternoon was too long in a market where Oasis, Blur, Nirvana and Reef were the norm.
In mid-1996 Leash recorded a number of tracks for an ITV show called Helter Skelter.
One of the most powerful descriptions of the other side of Apardheid that the world wasn't told.
From birth everything in the media, at school and often at home too, promoted racial hatred.
At 18, tens of thousands of boys (all white boys not attending Uni after school) were conscribed.
They had choices though.
1: 2 Years in the National Forces (SADF)
2: 4 Years in the Police
3: 8 Years Locked Up in Prison
Many who chose the SADF never returned from Angola and those that did were never the same.
Of course the SADF was "never in Angola" and so parents were told their sons had commited suicide, by standing on a Landmine...
Probably our most popular song.
Sadly in late July of 1996, weeks after he raised thousands of pounds for a local Accrington boy that needed an opperation in the USA, Harry passed away. This video was posted on Youtube in his memory.