(Copied from Warren's Facebook - I hope he doesn't mind. RB)
RIP Leslie West
I remember hearing Mountain, as a kid, for the first time. My first experience was either Mississippi Queen or Nantucket Sleighride—not sure which-—I was 10 or 11 years old. Mississippi Queen was on the radio a lot during that time period and my oldest brother had the Nantucket Sleighride album. It completely floored me. It was heavy. It was Melodic.It was soulful—but most of all, it was unique. Leslie’s voice, huge and powerful, juxtaposed against Felix’s voice which was soft and smooth and although Leslie was clearly the better singer, this variance from song to song kept your attention and painted a much wider picture than either one of those sides of their music would have done without the other. The songs matched the voice. Felix’s songs were sophisticated and melodically clever, where Leslie’s were just straight from the gut—barrelhouse blues re-imagined.
Leslie’s style as a guitar player was not only powerful but unique as well. He had warm, rich tone and a beautiful, wide vibrato that sounded like a human voice. That combined with his note selection and spacious phrasing really gave him that vocal-like quality that I’ve always personally been drawn to (as I’ve mentioned many times). His ability to choose the right notes and not overplay was in an odd way like a rock version of BB King. As I’ve also mentioned many times it was important to me, as a singer and a guitar player, to not only try to find my own voice as a guitarist but to have that voice match my singing voice. BB King was someone I often cited as an example and Leslie was a great example of that as well. He was quoted as saying (and I paraphrase) “I’m a big guy—I need a big sound.” And man did he ever have a big sound. I always knew what he meant by that statement. In addition to being a big guy, his voice was so massive that it would totally be strange (and possibly wrong) to have a normal, clean, polite guitar sound—hence that creamy tone that we all fell in love with.
Leslie and I became friends in the mid-nineties, shortly after the first Gov’t Mule record came out. As a new three-piece band that was making its mission to bring back the concept of the "power trio” we had made it no secret that we were influenced by Mountain. I was a fan of Leslie’s playing and singing, Matt was a fan of Corky’s drumming, and Woody was a big fan of Felix’s bass playing (and his beautiful distorted tone). But Woody, who was quite the guitar player himself, was also a huge fan of Leslie. One day in early 2000, out of the blue, I got a call from Leslie saying he loved what we were doing and that we should do something together. I informed him of our upcoming gig at Irving Plaza in New York City and invited him to come to rehearsal and join us for the gig. Upon walking into the rehearsal room it was obvious that he was one of those larger than life characters. We joked around a bit, told a few stories to break the ice, and then we launched into Mississippi Queen. Goddam!—That voice! I’m a loud singer by most standards, but when Leslie sang into my microphone it hurt my fucking ears. It was so fucking powerful and as captivating as the first time I had heard it 25 years before. That rehearsal led to a friendship. Leslie joined us for that show and several other times through the years including at the One For Woody concert after Allen Woody passed away. I joined Mountain on stage several times and made a guest appearance on their Masters Of War album. It was always an honor and a pleasure and we swapped a lot of stories through the years. One of the things he told me was that before he made his first solo album (called Mountain—with Felix Pappalardi as producer) he used to play a lot of notes—too many by his own account—and that Felix told him “I don’t want to hear you play anything you couldn’t sing.” He took it to heart and said it was the best advice anyone ever gave him and that it was the beginning of forging his legendary style. It’s nice to have friends like that, as Allen Woody would say, “in the trenches together.” I know there are some young guitar players out there playing a million notes that may not have listened to Leslie West. Do yourself a favor and check it out. You’ll be glad you did. - WH
Great, thanks for posting
Leslie participated in the Who’s Next sessions - never knew this until it was on the Who’s Next box set that came out mid 90s or so - have never heard it, will someday
Leslie talked to Ronnie Van Zant one time about the possibility of joining LS - it’s out there, was in Rolling Stone I think - Ronnie rejected the idea - they were at a bar somewhere
Great comments by Warren - Mountain is a highlight both on Atlanta Pop & Woodstock II - a cover doesn’t go off much more into orbit than their 20 minute Stormy Monday
As Warren said, Leslie Was An Original
Leslie participated in the Who’s Next sessions - never knew this until it was on the Who’s Next box set that came out mid 90s or so - have never heard it, will someday
Leslie talked to Ronnie Van Zant one time about the possibility of joining LS - it’s out there, was in Rolling Stone I think - Ronnie rejected the idea - they were at a bar somewhere
Great comments by Warren - Mountain is a highlight both on Atlanta Pop & Woodstock II - a cover doesn’t go off much more into orbit than their 20 minute Stormy Monday
As Warren said, Leslie Was An Original
i heard the LS story before and heard that leslie west wanted his name featured somehow like "LS featuring leslie west" or something and so ronnie passed
Sometimes I wonder what I like about Warren best: His guitar playing or his eulogies.
Back in 2007 someone from this board gave me free tix to see mountain at the starland ballroom here in NJ. There were maybe 50 people in the venue. Leslie west was amazing that night...RIP
Yes I too remember reading in Circus and Rolling Stone I think it was that Leslie West was interested in joining or playing with LS as featured addition to their lineup. But Ronnie Van Zant said no.
Probably Ronnie didn't want someone that could challenge his leadership of LS.
Wasn't it shortly after Ed King when AWOL while on tour? Ed failed to show in either Richmond or Norfolk Virginia.
One magazine back then reported how steamed Ronnie was and quoted Ronnie saying something like " if I find him I'm going to kick his butt man. I mean it."
Perhaps having West in the band would have been awkward for Ronnie who apparently didn't want anybody he had to tiptoe around.
Similar to Eric Clapton joining the Allman Brothers and perhaps giving Duane someone who could be temperament and perhaps would want special billing. Duane was the leader and sparkplug of the ABB and Ronnie was for LS.
And LS and ABB were never the same without them but of course both bands continued to have strong shows and great players joining over the years.
And ironically I remember Eric Clapton saying in an interview some years back that when Duane Allman died he would have replaced Duane IF the band had asked.
Clapton wouldn't have stayed long though and Gregg and Dickey would have a superstar to navigate around perhaps.
Clapton at the time of Duane's death didn't want to be the star or leader of a band so it may have not have fit into the ABB as just another member. But Clapton was so famous. More famous than anyone in the ABB. Clapton is God graffiti was being painted around by then.
Clapton did join Delaney and Bonnie and Friends without special billing while going through this period.
Dickey Betts sometimes would relate a dream he had over and over. The ABB had been on the road without Duane for weeks then was on a bill with Delaney and Bonnie. And there was Duane Allman playing in their band. After they finished Dickey would rush up to Duane and say " Hey man there you are!! Where in the world have you been??"
Also I just recently read what Ginger Baker said when Jimi Hendrix sat in with Cream. Jimi was playing with his teeth, behind his neck, incredible energy, whammy bar bending notes that had not existed to that point etc.
Said when they got back stage Clapton's hands were shaking and he struggled to light a cigarette. Then he yelled at the manager " Why didn't you tell me he was that f****** good!!!???"
But Clapton and Jimi soon became good friends. I've seen an interview with Clapton and he said the last time he saw Jimi they were in the audience of a show and in separate boxes. Clapton said he would look over just to see him occasionally. Afterward Clapton wanted to tell Jimi he bought a left handed Stratocaster at a pawn shop and he was giving it to Jimi. But Clapton couldn't find Jimi in the after show crowd.
Then Clapton had tears well up and he broke down when he said suddenly he got the news Hendrix had died and he never saw him again or gave him the guitar.
I thought it was very touching.
Returning the thread to Leslie - Peanut butter and ketchup are both fine and delicious, but together - probably not so good. Leslie West with Skynnard - for me, that just wouldn't have worked. Paul Rogers and Queen - both great acts, but I personally thought that was a bad fit. Leslie West was a STAR! He was a bona fide frontman - not a secondary player or sideman. You'll never get me to say that he was "the best", but he was his own thing. He became an inspiration to many players (Van Halen, Warren Haynes et al) - he was imitated. As we discussed in a couple of other threads - lots of players can learn the licks of great players, but only a few have the ability to become standouts. Leslie West was certainly one of these types.
Another Leslie story: I watched a DVD - either a Leslie show or a Mountain (Leslie, Corky and a few sidemen) playing at a very small theater in Petaluma, California (I think). Small crowd - but during one of Leslie's moments a probably well-intending fan walked right up to him and held out his cell phone. "Say "hello" to my friend, John (I think was the name). Without missing a beat, Leslie grabbed the phone and yelled into it, "hey, John - FOCK YOU!" - and then threw the phone to back of the room. I thought that was freakin' hilarious!
I was at the One For Woody show and Leslie came out for a couple of songs. I don't recall whose set it was in but he gets on stage and says something along the lines of (and I am paraphrasing), "Allen Woody had it and he's still f***ing got it!". I remember thinking he was kind of being a little over the top given the circumstances but I guess that was just him.
I saw Mountain in the mid 90s at a blues festival in Pontiac, MI (suburb of Detroit). It was held at this huge expanse over a parking lot downtown if you can believe that. They were the last band to play before Buddy Guy. My God, they were LOUD! Leslie was quite the showman. RIP. Great band.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
Lee I just wanted to say about Leslie....Leslie had it and Leslie West has still friggin ' got it!!!
