"Leopold and His Fiction Are Back, With New Music and Darling Destroyer's 10th Anniversary Ahead"
(Artist Update)
Written by: Cody Denning
Leopold and His Fiction is Back with new music, new shows and approaching the album Darling Destroyer’s 10th Anniversary Ahead.Today we’re sharing news we’ve been hoping for since our last report on Leopold and His Fiction.
When we last checked in, back in April 2024, Daniel Leopold had turned his attention to Jane Leo, the art pop project with Jane Ellen Bryant. There had been no statement about a return or an end for Leopold and His Fiction, but we hoped the culture of rock and roll would bring him home eventually. It looks like it finally did.
Born and raised in Detroit, Daniel Leopold found his way into music after discovering a two-string guitar in his grandmother’s basement as a kid. After moving to San Francisco to study creative writing, he channeled that literary impulse into songwriting and named the band after a character from a short story he was working on.
Leopold and His Fiction emerged in the mid-2000s with a self-titled debut in 2006, built a reputation as a powerful live act opening for acts like ZZ Top, Gary Clark Jr., and Dr. Dog, and released follow-ups including Ain’t No Surprise (2009) and 3 (2012). After a period focused on the folk project Cowboy and Indian, Leopold returned with the 2017 album Darling Destroyer, a bigger, grittier rock and roll statement rooted in his Detroit heritage that delivered.
The comeback started in April 2025 with the single “Easy,” released through Native Fiction Records. That August came “Crawling Out,” a two-song EP produced by Daniel himself. The momentum carried into 2026 with the singles “Misunderstood” in March and “Destruction.” The band has been back on stage with an all-new lineup, including a first show at Utopiafest in Texas.
The timing is no accident. In late January 2027, Darling Destroyer, the 2017 album that recaptured the band’s audience and gave us the fan favorite “I’m Caving In,” turns ten years old. For fans who waited through the quiet years, the wait is over, and a landmark anniversary is a fitting moment to welcome the band home.For the latest music and updates, head to the band’s website at leopoldandhisfiction.com.
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Keep rocking.
(Sources)
Website/EPK/Contact,
Spotify,
Youtube,
Meta,
Soundwave Music Media,
Apple Music,
Native Fiction Records,
Sonic Guild,
Austin.com
Austin Monthly Magazine,
Pollstar News,
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