Free Republic

True Who aficionados, though, know the rest of the story where this song is concerned, and are often just as fond of the original version of the song, which the Who’s Next version wasn’t. The song was originally recorded several months prior to Who’s Next, as a four-minute electric version with Townshend singing lead and playing rhythm guitar, and the lead solos performed by Leslie West, the guitarist for New York power trio Mountain (“Mississippi Queen”). The Who (apparently without Roger Daltrey) was recording at the Record Plant in New York, and Townshend reportedly didn’t want to spend time on...

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...

Some classic rock songs from 'back then' have a distinctive sound in the intro, a rhythmic pattern that would probably make a good ringtone on our cell phones of today. One of those songs that could instantly set the mood was "Mississippi Queen, by the group Mountain, from 1970. The band consisted of four guys; Leslie West, Corky Laing, Felix Pappalardi and David Rea. This song, their most successful, reached #21 in the Billboard Hot 100 record chart of 1970. There are many other good songs with the everyday Cowbell in the intro including; #1. Moby Dick, by Led Zeppelin...

Rock guitarist Leslie West, who rose to fame in the '70s power trio Mountain, has had his lower right leg amputated in a life-saving operation related to his diabetes, his wife said on Monday. West, 65, underwent the emergency surgery after being admitted to a hospital in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Saturday when his leg started to swell and his foot went septic. "The doctors tried for two days to save it to no avail. The decision to amputate was one that was necessary to save his life as the infection was spreading throughout his body," his wife, Jenni West, said...