Released in April 1974, Kamikaze represents Deke Leonard's claim to solo career chart fame, spending a brief week at number 50 during 13-20 April 1974. It was recorded at Rockfield in a series of four-day stints between June 1973 and January 1974, and mixed at Chipping Norton and Olympic studios.

Unlike his first solo album 'Iceberg' where he brought in numerous musicians as the desire took him, Deke had by now settled down with a more stable recording line up of Brian Breeze on guitar, Martin Ace on bass and Keith Hodge on drums. Dave Charles eventually replaced Keith Hodge on the later sessions. The approach paid off, and Deke had found a worthy sparring partner in his old schoolmate Brian Breeze. Of the album Deke says; "I enjoy it because there are a lot of guitar playing memories - more blowing, less structured."

The song 'Louisiana Hoedown' was written by Memphis Bend drummer Tommy Riley. Riley and Lincoln Carr - also from Memphis Bend - played on the record. It was, according to Deke, written about the Manband; "Tommy came to see us at the Paget Rooms, went home and wrote a song about going to a Manband gig: there are references in there if you listen." Another song, 'The Devil's Gloves', acted as an unofficial audition for the next Manband bassist Ken Whaley who Deke had recommended to Micky Jones. He passed the audition.

Some tracks other than those listed were also recorded at Rockfield, but haven't yet made it into the public domain; 'Lies, Lies, Lies', which included Memphis Bend again, 'Steel Painting Man', and 'The Four Corners Of Hell' all remain unreleased. 'She's A Cow' was issued as the B side to the 'Louisiana Hoedown' single, while 'I'm A Lovetaker' eventually surfaced as a Man B side in 1976. 'Afterburner Boogie' was included on Deke's 'Unfinished Business' collection in 1994.

The cover is again from Pierre Tubbs, and Keith Morris supplied the photo on the front. Originally Deke had suggested reversing the Iceberg cover, calling the new album 'Bristol Fighter' and picturing an iceberg on the front. The next idea was for Deke to be pictured with a Jumbo jet taking off over his head. He and Pierre set off for Luton Airport. "I don't know whether you've ever stood behind a Jumbo jet when it takes off?" Deke later reflected, "I lost both my eyebrows, Pierre went deaf in one ear, and we both ran around in circles in the heat-haze, shouting for our Mummies." The pictures that made the grade eventually were taken in Pierre's parents back garden in Leatherhead. Not quite the Burmese jungle but almost. Incidentally, the Japanese text on the rear cover has been translated as; "This album, which is dedicated to lovers of cricket all over the world was completed using the new invisible sound process."

As soon as Kamikaze was in the can Deke rejoined the Manband. By the time it was released their next album 'Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics' had been recorded and would follow it onto the shelves a month later.

(www.manband-archive.com)