LESLIE WEST
October 22, 1945 – December 23, 2020
Some of the biggest names in rock music have paid tribute to Leslie West, the guitarist and vocalist who made his name in the early 70s with pioneering New Yorkers Mountain. West died following a cardiac arrest at his home near Daytona, Florida. He was 75 years old.
Best known for their 1970 hit Mississippi Queen, covered by artists as diverse as Ozzy Osbourne and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Mountain made their mark at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, and went on to become one of the biggest attractions of the early 70s. Their heavy, sludgy blues served as a template for heavy metal. After a combination of rock-star extravagance, drugs and rampant egos broke up the band after just three albums, the last being 1971’s Flowers Of Evil, West and Mountain drummer Corky Laing formed the power trio West, Bruce And Laing with ex-Cream bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce.
Born Leslie Weinstein, West’s music career began when he joined Long Island rock’n’soulers in 1967. Pappalardi produced West’s solo debut, , in ’69, and went on to become the bassist with the band of the same name.
