Posted on 12/23/2020 2:37:00 PM PST by Impala64ssa
Leslie West, co-founder and guitarist of pioneering hard rock band Mountain, has died at age 75.
The Los Angeles Times confirmed his death through a publicist. Rolling Stone and Variety are also reporting that West has passed.
The news was initially shared by West's long-time associates at Dean Guitars, though no other details were given. The Times report mentioned heart issues, while Rolling Stone said West went into cardiac arrest on Monday at his home near Daytona, Fla., and "never regained consciousness" after being taken to the hospital.
Dean Guitars CEO Evan Rubinson also offered personal condolences, describing West as “a man that I truly loved more than most — the funniest, most honest guy I’ve met.”
He'd suffered a series of other health issues in recent years: In 2011, West's lower right leg was amputated following diabetes complications. But he continued to record and perform throughout his life.
West was born Oct. 22, 1945 in New York City and launched his career as a member of the Vagrants. The R&B/soul act earned a pair of minor regional hits in the mid- to late '60s, including a cover of Otis Redding's "Respect" — but in 1969, West left to record his debut solo LP, Mountain.
While credited to West alone, that album essentially served as a launching pad for Mountain the band. Former Vagrants producer Felix Pappalardi — who'd also helmed projects by the Youngbloods (their self-titled record) and seminal power-trio Cream (Disraeli Gears) — contributed bass, keyboards and production
Recruiting keyboardist Steve Knight and drummer N.D. Smart, they adopted the Mountain moniker — and in August 1969 played their third show at the Woodstock Festival. Drummer Corky Laing soon replaced Smart, and the quartet released their debut LP, 1970's Climbing!, featuring the signature, cowbell-heavy single "Mississippi Queen."
Amid multiple lineup shifts, Mountain released several more albums during their prime '70s run, including 1971's Nantucket Sleighride, the part-studio/part-live Flowers of Evil from the same year and 1974's Avalanche. West and Laing also teamed with former Cream bassist Jack Bruce to form the blues-rock supergroup West, Bruce and Laing, releasing two studio LPs and one live set.
While Mountain originally disbanded in 1974, West and Laing revived the group several times over the next several decades, remaining the sole consistent members. They released four more studio albums, including the 2007 Bob Dylan covers record, Masters of War, which featured guest spots from Ozzy Osbourne and Warren Haynes. West was productive in the new millennium, despite his health issues. He made numerous guest appearances, including a guitar cameo on a "Mississippi Queen" cover from Osbourne's 2005 covers LP, Under Cover.
He remains one of the most revered guitarists to ever play, influencing later generations of rock stars. In December 2020, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl teamed with producer Greg Kurstin for a new update "Mississippi Queen."
"I'm no great guitarist, technically," West told Guitar World in 1987. "I only play with these two fingers [index and ring]. But you wanna know why people remember me? If you take a hundred players and put them in a room, 98 or 99 of 'em are gonna sound the same. The one who plays different, has some of his own – that's the one you're gonna remember."
Awesome blues player. Did magic things on the guitar.
Saw him live in the early 70’s. He was back-to the audience, and ... sublime sounds.
RIP, Mr. West. See you soon!
Thanks Leslie. Travel well.
“Felix is gonna’ do a song written by Jack Bruce - who you’ve heard of - it’s called: Theme from an Imaginary Western....”
A lot of people have died this year. Here is another one.
Surprised he lived this long.
“1971’s Nantucket Sleighride” - I might still have that LP
Yeah uh, It’s a little known fact that Mountain was originally name Mole Hill. -—Cliff Claven
LOL
“Mississippi Queen”
One of the chord progressions every budding guitar player HAD TO endure back in the day.
used to play that over and over and over and over . . . .
Rock On
Here he is playing with the greatest rockers of all time.
Yawn.
RIP.
Yes, including Chad Stuart, of the 1960s British Invasion group, Chad & Jeremy. He died on Dec. 20.
damn... RIP
He lived life with the gas pedal mashed to the floor, came into the garage at full speed veering sideways screaming, “ THAT WAS ONE HELL OF A RIDE!”
I saw a Mountain concert at the UGA coliseum in school year 70/71. The Nantucket Long Boat Ride was a 20 minute boogie about a whale with a harpoon towing a boat load of hunters. The band put on a great concert. It did seem like the drummer was bouncing his drum sticks off of his drums and over his shoulders about every 60 seconds. And yet another drum stick would automatically appear. The band was high energy. One of the best concerts ever.
If Mississippi Queen isn’t the greatest rock guitar tone ever I’ll eat my Lee Paul Junior.
RIP man.
Mountain / Theme For An Imaginary Western
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZwv8wH-C0Q&list=RD0l_x0xH9fLM&index=4
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.