Barry Leef


After chart topping success with mid-60s Wellington pop band The Simple Image, singer and guitarist Barry Leef crossed the Tasman and became one of Australia’s most sought after session singers and admired band leaders.

The former Blenheim boy, who was at one stage in the running to join Frank Zappa’s band, reckons he was too much of a perfectionist to make it as a solo recording artist. Yet his voice is known across Australia on dozens of high rotate TV and radio jingles. 

Barry Leef (second from left) in a pre-Simple Image band, The Shades, in Blenheim
Harry Leki, Barry Leef, Gordon Wylie, Ron Gascoigne
Retaliation in Wellington: Nicky Bagnall, Barry Leef, Phil Pritchard and Mike Darby
Photo credit: Ken Cooper collection
Barry Leef - Standing On Shaky Ground (2009)
Barry Leef
Barry Leef at Ali Baba's Wellington, circa 1969
Photo credit: Kevin Furey collection
Barry Leef in Sydney in the 1970s
Barry Leef - Don't Let Me Down (live in 2009)
The Simple Image at The Sydney Stadium in 1970 with members of The Four Tops: Wayne Allen is second from the left, centre front is Barry Leef, behind him is Cass Gascoigne and second from right is Harry Leki.
Retaliation with Phil Pritchard, Nicky Bagnall, Barry Leef and Mike Darby, about to head to Melbourne and Sydney in 1969
Barry Leef - I'm A Man (live, 2009)
Barry Leef in the 1970s
Barry Leef at HMV Studios
Photo credit: Photo by Barry Clothier. Grant Gillanders Collection
Barry Leef and bassist Victor Rounds
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