Leisure Class is an American rock band. Formed in Detroit in 1977 as Mr. Unique & the Leisure Suits, the band got their start as the opening act for The Mumps (featuring Lance Loud) and local favorites like Flirt and Destroy All Monsters. They released their debut record, the four-song EP, "Mr. Unique & the Leisure Class" in 1983. Dennis Loren, reviewing it in the Metro Times, found "something to offend everyone".Loren, Dennis. "Mr. Unique and the Leisure Class", Detroit Metro Times, March 1983.
The band moved to New York City in 1984 and made their debut at CBGB. They also played at 8BC, SNAFU, the Henry Street Settlement, The Kitchen, the Gas Station, the Lone Star Roadhouse, Under Acme, Woody's, Beowulf, and Tramps. Their performances featured, at various times, writer Herbert Huncke, impaled goat heads, and a two-story prison (designed and built by conceptual artist and photographer Misha Gordin).
The limited edition two-CD compilation, Leisure Class Recordings 1979–1994 was released in 2004. The following year, Leisure Class was profiled on the National Public Radio show, Day to Day.Kay, Trey. "The Rise, Fall and Reunion of The Leisure Class", Day to Day, National Public Radio, August 23, 2005. Lead singer and lyricist Dimitri Mugianis was the subject of the 2009 documentary film by Michel Negroponte, I'm Dangerous With Love.I'm Dangerous With Love (official site) The 2010 compilation Parents Night at the Leper Colony was called "a splendid one hour introduction to this criminally overlooked band".
Lineups 1977–1978 Dimitri Mugianis – Vocals Glenn Johnson (Wild Man Fischer) – Drums, Vocals Jeff Mullins – Guitar Brian Garwood – Bass Ted Moniak (Kevin Renick, Randy Herman and the Sceptre of Benevolence) – Mandolin, Guitar, Vocals
1978–1979 Dimitri Mugianis – Vocals Glenn Johnson – Drums, Organ, Vocals James Myers – Guitar, Bass Dave Rice (Algebra Mothers, L-Seven, The Blind) – Guitar, Bass Ted Moniak – Mandolin, Vocals
1979–1980 Dimitri Mugianis – Vocals Glenn Johnson – Drums, Vocals Howard Glazer aka John E. Louder – Guitar Bob Godwin aka Scotch Hiballs – Bass
1981 Dimitri Mugianis – Vocals Glenn Johnson – Drums, Percussion, Piano, Vocals Dan Porvin – Guitar Michael Tudor aka Sal Monella – Guitar Greg Gilmore – Bass Dan Matuszczak aka Matthew J. Karp – Saxes, Flute, Bass Clarinet Stan Johnson – Trumpet
1981–1983 Dimitri Mugianis – Vocals Glenn Johnson – Drums, Percussion, Piano, Organ, Harmonica, Tin Whistle, Vocals Dan Porvin – Guitar Michael Tudor aka Sal Monella – Guitar Chris McGorey (Dog Latin) – Bass Dan Matuszczak aka Matthew J. Karp – Saxes, Flute, Bass Clarinet Stan Johnson – Trumpet Guy Zublin – Trumpet
1984–1989 Dimitri Mugianis – Vocals Glenn Johnson – Drums, Percussion, Piano, Organ, Synthesizers, Tin Whistle Dan Porvin – Guitar Sal Monella (Michael Tudor) – Guitar Marc Dannenhirsch – Guitar Chris Hunt – Guitar Dave Boonshoft (John Phillips, Naked Music, Aguilar Amplification) – Bass Ric Frank (Jambalaya Brass Band) – Tenor Sax and Flute Mike Walters – Tenor Sax and Flute J. J. Silva (Ten Wheel Drive) – Trumpet, Trombone Leonard Belota – Trumpet Leif Arntzen – Trumpet Pat McCarty – Trombone Paul Romero – Vocals Kevin Weist (The Lemmings, The Groove Barbers) – Vocals Melissa Schaffer – Vocals David Lawton – Vocals
1990–1995 Dimitri Mugianis – Vocals Glenn Johnson – Drums, Percussion Dan Porvin – Guitar Al Korosy (Dion) – Guitar Dave Boonshoft – Bass Bob Marx – Tenor Sax and Flute Russ Johnson – Trumpet Pat McCarty – Trombone Paul Romero – Vocals Kevin Weist – Vocals David Lawton – Vocals Angel Jemmott (Angela on Sesame Street) – Vocals
Discography Mr. Unique and the Leisure Class (Leisureco LC 1) 1983 Leisure Class Recordings 1979–1994 (Leisureco LC 002) 2004 We Went and Recorded It Anyway: The Best of Pop-Punk and Power Pop 1977–84 (Brutarian: BRUT CD-009) 2009 Parents Night at the Leper Colony (Leisureco LC 003) 2010
References
External links Official Leisure Class website Glenn Johnson interviewed November 15, 2009 on Outsight Radio Hours Parents Night at the Leper Colony review, I-94 Bar, December 2010 Parents Night at the Leper Colony review, DisAgreement, May 24, 2011 Parents Night at the Leper Colony review, MotorCityRocks, June 20, 2011 I'm Dangerous With Love page from the Internet Movie Database Dimitri interviewed on Crimetown podcast, Episode 9, 2019.