LESLIE WEST
Mountain
Bruce, West, & Laing
Vagrants

Leslie West is widely regarded as one of the premiere guitarists in the history of rock & roll. His Woodstock performance with his band Mountain earned their distinctive style the nickname, "The Mound of Sound". In addition, West has collaborated with the likes of Mick Jones, Jack Bruce, and Mick Jagger.

Leslie first gained recognition as the lead guitarist for the Vagrants, a popular 1960s Long Island group. They recorded with Felix Pappalardi, a bass player who also produced Cream. After the Vagrants and Cream split up, Pappalardi played bass on and produced West's debut solo album, Mountain. Following its release, they teamed with drummer Norman Smart (soon replaced by Corky Laing) and keyboard player Steve Knight to form the band Mountain. Personifying the quintessential "Hard Rock" sound of the early 70's - the band's next album Mountain Climbing went Gold and featured the Top 40 single Mississippi Queen. Its follow-up, Nantucket Sleighride also went Gold. After releasing Flowers of Evil in 1972 Mountain broke up.

West and Laing joined with former Cream bassist Jack Bruce to form West, Bruce & Laing and the trio recorded two studio albums, Why Dontcha and Whatever Turns You On. When Bruce quit the band in the summer of 1973, West and Laing briefly formed Leslie West's Wild West Show. West, Pappalardi, Alan Schwartherg (drums), and Bob Mann (keyboards) then reformed Mountain, recording the double live album, Twin Peaks. This was followed by a Mountain studio album, Avalanche made by West, Pappalardi, Laing, and Knight. Then Mountain split again.

Leslie formed the Leslie West Band, releasing The Great Fatsby album which featured Mick Jagger on rhythm guitar. The next album, The Leslie West Band, was released in 1976 and featured Mick Jones, (later of Foreigner). West then re-formed Mountain with Laing and bassist Mark Clarke (Pappalardi had died in 1983) for Go for Your Life. West then participated in The Guitar Speaks and Night of the Guitars recordings of legendary rock guitarists for I.R.S. Records' Illegal subsidiary.

Leslie West still tours and records from his base in suburban New York.