'If I wasn't sober, I'd be dead'

Reno, Nevada’s hometown hero, Red Leather, just wrapped up the first leg of his blazing Bet It All on Red tour. The alternative-rock singer-songwriter has been electrifying crowds across 50 stops nationwide, and his latest stop, a sold-out show at The Last Exit in downtown Phoenix, was no exception.

From the moment he appeared, the crowd was ready. Phones shot into the air as fans tried to catch a glimpse of him emerging like a gunslinger from a classic western. And Red Leather didn’t disappoint. He stormed the stage in his now-iconic getup: a crimson leather jacket, red bandana, and a sombrero dripping with tasseled fringe that shrouded his face. Mysterious. Badass. Straight-up Desperado.

He kicked things off with “El Dorado”, the seventh track from his breakout album RENO. The opening notes sent the crowd into a frenzy, bodies pressed shoulder to shoulder, a sea of red merch filling every corner of the room. Hardcore superfans even dressed head-to-toe in Red Leather cosplay, their outfits almost indistinguishable from the man himself. And when he sang? The audience sang back; every lyric, every word, like a choir of true believers.

For all his growing fame, Red Leather has built a reputation on mystery. Despite viral moments and a social media following that’s soared past a million fans, he’s never revealed his face, legal name, or age. What he does reveal, though, is poured straight into his music: raw honesty, vulnerability, and a refusal to shy away from heavy topics. His debut single, “The Only Time It Rains in Hollywood,” exposed the darker underbelly of chasing dreams in LA, shining a light on the homelessness crisis often hidden behind the city’s bright lights.

Part of what makes his story so magnetic is the reality behind the persona. Red Leather has been candid about his past struggles with addiction and a near-death overdose in a Las Vegas hotel room five years ago. Today, he proudly marks “I’m now 1,317 days sober.”

“I’m not trying to tell anyone how to live their life,” he said. “But the way I was using drugs and alcohol — if I wasn’t sober, I’d be dead.”

That honesty has struck a chord, particularly with fans who see his music as more than entertainment, it’s catharsis, community, and survival wrapped in melody.

And while his Phoenix stop may have wrapped up, Red Leather isn’t slowing down. Later this year, he’s set to cross the Atlantic to launch the second half of his tour in Europe. With his unmistakable West Coast vibe, unflinching lyrics, and aura of mystery, one thing’s certain: wherever he goes, the crowd is betting it all on red.

You can check out Red Leather’s album "Reno," which is now streaming on all platforms.