Fred LeBlanc of Cowboy Mouth on Punk Rock and Positivity

Fred LeBlanc believes the most punk rock thing you can do is be positive. As the frontman, drummer, and driving force behind Cowboy Mouth’s legendary live shows, Fred has made it his mission to create something bigger than the music itself, seeking to create something that pulls people in, lifts them up, and sends them out feeling like they’ve just been part of something wild, cathartic, and joyful. Whether he’s playing to a crowd of 150,000 or one guy at a bar, Fred brings the same energy: explosive, heartfelt, and rooted in connection.

This lifelong passion has been the driving force behind his prolific music career and created a deep sense of personal responsibility to stay true to himself. In this special episode of Southern Character, Fred sits down with James to unpack his wild and winding journey from Oscar the Grouch trash can drumming as a child to massive stadium shows, and the deeply personal philosophy behind the music that’s kept him going for more than three decades.

From Silence to Singing in Church

When you’re the frontman of Cowboy Mouth and the spiritual center of a live show that feels more like a revival than a rock concert, it’s easy for people to assume you were born for the stage. But for Fred LeBlanc, that road started in silence. Born deaf and with underdeveloped lungs, Fred’s first three years were spent deaf until his mother placed him on speakers so he could feel the music, effectively teaching him to hear and sing opera, show tunes, and church hymnals before he could talk.

Fred describes his childhood in New Orleans as chaotic but loving. The youngest of four and raised mostly by his mother while his father served in the military, Fred instinctively followed his passions from an early age. He recalls his obsession with Oscar the Grouch and a Christmas where his only wish was for a big green garbage can. His mother delivered, and that can became both a hiding place and a drum. A love for rhythm evolved, and by the time he was in high school, Fred knew he wanted to be a great drummer.

Rhythm, Rebellion, and the Roots of Punk

After getting a job at a unique record store at the age of 11 that gave him access to far from mainstream music, Fred forged his own path forward, working at the record store and studying the sounds of musicians like Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, and Patsy Cline, to name a few, and honing in on what really inspired him. A friend demanded that he sit down and listen to an album from The Clash, which sparked a love of alternative rock and punk and a new interest in an emotion-first sound, driven by his anti-establishment spirit in general, which would eventually inform Cowboy Mouth’s unique sound today.

In the early ‘80s Fred played with Paul Sanchez in a garage band called Godot which eventually became the Backbeats before breaking up. Fred started playing with a band of Tulane students called the Mistreaters that mostly played frat parties and met the band Dash Rip Rock while playing the same venues. He noticed how good the band was and connected with the band’s founder Bill Davis in studio, where they really clicked and recorded some demos. 

Soon after, Fred moved to Georgia to forge connections in the prolific music scene around Athens in the mid ‘80s while moonlighting at Jiffy Lube to make ends meet. One night, Bill gave him a fateful phone call and asked him to come play with Dash - so Fred quit his job and moved back to New Orleans, only to find out that nobody in the band, including the existing drummer, knew he’d been invited to play with them. After playing one song for them, he was officially in the band, and they headed out on tour. As the band gained momentum and the sound changed, Fred found himself feeling disconnected from the synth-driven commercial sounds of the time, and set out to pursue something more authentic. 

Building Cowboy Mouth: It’s About the Audience

One of Fred’s most powerful realizations came from an unlikely source: Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. It taught him that performance isn’t about you, but rather, it’s about the people that you’re performing for. That mindset shaped how he leads Cowboy Mouth, turning every show into something larger than life not just to entertain, but to lift the room, shift the energy, and remind people to believe in themselves. A passion for playing to their audience fuels Cowboy Mouth’s unique, high-energy performances, creating a timeless sound that crosses generations and continues to bring people together.

Still Loud, Still Joyful

Fred isn’t just trying to just, “keep the ’90s going.” He still tours because the music means something to him, and because connecting with a crowd never gets old. After decades in the business, his drive isn’t about ego. It’s about joy. It’s about throwing a party people want to be part of.

More than three decades since Cowboy Mouth first hit the stage, Fred LeBlanc is still going full throttle. Alongside longtime bandmate John Thomas Griffith, Fred is joined by bassist Brian “Bruiser” Broussard and guitarist Frankie G, each bringing their own edge to the band’s signature sound. 

Fred calls Brian the engine of the band, praising his aggressive, no-nonsense style of bass playing that mirrors Fred’s own drumming. Frankie, on the other hand, brings a versatile energy and he “needed to be in the band,” as Fred puts it. That’s the thread that ties them all together: not just strong talent, but a hunger to be part of something electric.

They’ve got a new record of cover songs on the way, aptly named Cover Your Ass, and Fred’s just as fired up about making music as ever. He credits the band’s chemistry and raw authenticity with keeping the music fresh, but also sees it as an opportunity to keep growing, continuing to deliver on the promise of bringing great energy to their crowds.

And the Beat Goes On

Fred LeBlanc has built a life and a legacy out of pounding drums, heartfelt lyrics, and a crowd connection that feels more spiritual than staged, and his journey demonstrates a strong faith in his instincts and passion for crafting great experiences for the band’s audience. And what’s more is that after all this time, he’s still in love with the work, and he’s still ready to turn up, lean in, and give a room full of strangers exactly what they didn’t know they needed.

Catch the full conversation on Southern Character to hear Fred tell it in his own voice—stories, laughter, and all. Available here on Retire Southern or wherever you podcast.