Solo
Neil Leyton
Solo records since 1999: Down Secret Avenue with the Last Lovers (1999), From the Brighter Side of Her Midnight Sun (2003) and The Betrayal of the Self (2006), with guests Nicke Andersson (The Hellacopters) and Dregen (Backyard Babies), followed by the Elite Nylon compilation (2008).
Recent singles include “(I Got a Call From) Michael Maker” (2022) and “Singerman” (2023), followed by “Ordinary Matter” (2025) on Pond Inc., Edward Pond’s netlabel.
Band
Lusitanian Ghosts
A Portuguese-Swedish chordophone collective fronted by Neil Leyton together with Micke Ghost, built around traditional Portuguese string instruments and rock n roll. The debut album came out in 2019, followed by Exotic Quixotic (2021), recorded on analogue tape at Clouds Hill in Hamburg.
In 2025 the Ghosts played Folk Alliance in Montreal, an immersive show at Lighthouse Artspace in Toronto, and a special concert with the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra at Lisbon’s Tivoli Theatre. Next: Ljubljana Castle, 20 November 2026.
Photo: Beatriz Sequeira
Band
The Conscience Pilate
The Toronto art-glam indie band Neil Leyton co-founded and wrote for from 1995. Re-formed in 2023 by Leyton and Edward Pond, TCP has been releasing a string of new singles, including “Army of Devils” and “Break Like Waves”, and returned to the stage in Toronto in 2024 at the Dakota Tavern and the Horseshoe.
Band
Passion d’Flower
Formed in high school in Toronto, with Neil Leyton on bass. The band’s first cassette album, Flowers in the Rain, came out in 1992, followed by Return of the Ugly Warrior, recorded in 1994 and released in 1999 on Fading Ways, the label Leyton founded in Toronto. The band re-formed in 2019 and released the singles “Radio”, “Thirteen”, “Fifteen” and “47” (2019–2021).
Side projects & collaborations
Galore
Guitar on Parader (2003), the album by Barry Walsh’s Canadian power pop outfit.
The Point
A 2007 side project with The Hellacopters’ Nicke Andersson, released as a 7″ single. Leyton also co-wrote and sang “Deja Vu” on the debut Imperial State Electric album (2010) and guested live with the band in Spain and Sweden.
Pretty Volume
A side project with Ky Anto, recorded at Halla Music in Toronto (2003), with photos by the legendary Barrie Wentzel.
Crash Kelly
Live guitar for Sean Kelly’s Canadian rock band on a UK tour with The Quireboys.
The Testimonials
A lockdown single with The Sinisters’ Steve Scarlet, “Hide Away” (2020).
Joana Alegre
Electric guitar on Joana Alegre’s single “OCO” (2026).