Leslie West

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 23 Dec 2020 4:21 pm

Damn, there goes another one.

Lee Warren · Post by **Lee Warren** » 23 Dec 2020 5:27 pm

Yes, 2020 strikes again, dammit.
I was fortunate enough to see him in a small club setting, though it was after the heyday of Mountain.
Still, he was ‘on his game’, and could wring more tone and emotion out of one note, than so many of his contemporaries.
Rest easy Leslie West.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 24 Dec 2020 1:17 am

I grew up across the street from Leslie West in Rego Park N.Y.,He was a neighborhood legend along with Randy California.Leslie was a founding member of the Vagrants and the most soulful guitarist/singer I'd ever heard...Godspeed.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 24 Dec 2020 5:25 am

RIP Leslie, Never saw him play but did see him walk into the Bottom Line with Howard Stern once at a Flo and Eddie show about 30 years ago.

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 24 Dec 2020 5:35 am

Dang, thats sad news, they were one of my favorites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk9_WZdRDzQ

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 24 Dec 2020 5:45 am

Saw him with Mountain in '69 or so. He absolutely dwarfed his Les Paul Jr. - as he tore it up.

Rest in peace.

Chris Boyd · Post by **Chris Boyd** » 24 Dec 2020 6:02 am

I am so saddened by this. Leslie was such a great singer/guitarist.RIP Leslie and thank you for a lifetime of inspiration.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 24 Dec 2020 7:28 am

Damn and double damn.

First time I saw him was with Mountain at a Summerthing concert in Harvard Stadium, on the bill with Seatrain and Miles Davis - I think July 1970. He was absolutely ferocious on that Junior - super aggressive but also super tasteful. Saw him a couple of times after. The epitome of real rock and roll, totally his own man.

RIP Leslie.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 24 Dec 2020 8:03 am

Sorry to hear about this. I used to see him with the Vagrants in the '60's, back in New York.
Another one gone...

Barry Yasika · Post by **Barry Yasika** » 24 Dec 2020 9:50 am

One of the first rock songs I learned to play was Mississippi Queen. Awesome player, singer, songwriter and stylist. Such an influence on so many really great players I know.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 27 Dec 2020 2:32 am

RIP LW. Saw him with the Vagrants in Ct , mid to late 60's, then a few years later we caught him at the Palace Theater in Port Chester NY with Mountain several times. This was the period when he was on stage with a Gibson Melody Maker which for all practical purposes was a Les Paul Jr. I had one, who knew, it was my 1st electric. When I saw LW with one I was wishing I still had mine . I traded mine in at Manny's mid 60's , maybe LW had mine .

LW was indeed a Mountain, Iconic. Can never forget seeing him on stage. He woke us up that's for certain.

RIP Leslie West.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 28 Dec 2020 10:51 am

Rip LW. A fine singer and guitarist who left a mark on rock music in his prime. We lost another great one.

Ake Banksell · Post by **Ake Banksell** » 29 Dec 2020 1:48 am

I bought his very first LP named "Mountain" and I still think it was his finest work.

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