Leslie West - Respect - The Depper Vagrants Tribute

[provital5]

I went to the Action House every week for years. I saw the Doors there before they had their first hit and got high with the band in the dressing after the show on Friday night. I went the next night and while the band was playing Jim Morrison whipped out something he shouldn't have and the band walked off the stage and that was that. Used to love the Vagrants and the Illusion and knew Leslie and Larry when their last name was still Weinstein. Leslie did a great version of Gimme Some Lovin' too

[GinoAtlanta]

The Action House, The Long Beach Inn...what great memories, The Rascals, Vagrants, The Rich Kids, The Bit 'A Sweet, The Illusion, The Vanilla Fudge..so many groups, so many local bands, some made the national scenes, some stayed home...a hell of a good time for all..

[woodhous]

@GinoAtlanta What he said! I was from upstate, but found myself at the Action House during a 1 week stay in Long Beach in '66. One way or another I caught all those bands. My musical Renaissance! The Vagrants came to Albany months later. My friends and I were let into the club early. We saw them warm up, saw a riff that Les developed right there and he got it into almost every lead in the night. Very few can appreciate what was going on down there. It was remarkable!

[saunders49]

Went ot Forest Hills High School with all of them. Roger was a close friend...we were in the same homeroom. They used to hang out at the Cue Club in Rego Park.. Whenever they would come in, we'd play Respect on the juke box. Those were the happiest days of my life!

[enlightenedjohnson]

The Action House was my favorite place to hear rock bands and drink (and in those days, drive!). The Vagrants, The Illusion, Vanilla Fudge were my favorites but I also saw Mott The Hoople and Moby Grape! What names... but what great music! Thanks for the post!

[lifinhead]

The best band ever not to "make it" - Action House, great memories - I live in Long Beach and whenever I drive past where it was located I smile....thanks for the song and the clips and keep on rockin' Mr. West!

[TheMrharleydude1]

That was cool

[spyguys]

Great guitar playing by Mr. West with such feeling in each note. Singing is excellent also!

[woodhous]

A very well-written little history, depper. I was an upstate NYer in '66, when I found myself in Long Beach for a week staying with a musician friend. The Action House and the Vagrants changed my (musical) life forever. The Vagrants, The Fudge, The Illusion, The Rich Kids, and, of course, the (inferior) Young Rascals. It was an epiphany. (Oops! Don't forget 'Billy Joel' and The Hassles.)

The big arrangements stunned me. The mini-skirts in the Action House didn't hurt, either.

[DYNODRUM]

@woodhous What ! [Inferior] Rascals -I,also was there /seen all these bands ,knew them well , and They [most ] Opened for The Rascals ",if " they were indeed Lucky. None of these Bands; at the time all Together, sold more records or had ANY # 1Hits as The Rascals did .They were Huge and I am from L.I.,Knew Leslie's Drummer ,One time I, was at a show, w/ three of these bands opening for them ,THREE. The Illusion were neighbors, and they came later on. Billy and Leslie got big much later also.

[camelguy12]

@woodhous those were great times..Nathans for hot dogs and fries after did'nt hurt either..IMO, Johnny and the Illusions rocked.Young people of today have no clue.I'm 63 :) And few may know.. The Fudge were called the Pigeons before..They used to play at Ungan's in the City..

[duster103]

i worked with Roger back in the 90's. great guy.!!!!!!

[cydonianman]

gotta give the big man respect :D

[depper]

Its Live Mountain fans! Check out the new Mountain Fan Club website! .. and Forum!

For the link check my page!!!

[gbrycki]

Great job, Depper. Bravo!

[DaddyBog]

The good old days at The Action House (Long Island, New York).

[eihwazone]

Agree with brunkhorst, great photos of the fantastic Vagrants and Wes. I saw Mountain in concert here in Atlanta, GA when I was too young to know any better. Loved Wes then, love him now. ;-)

[eihwazone]

Sorry, I should explain...I'm Spanish and sometimes I use the wrong expressions. I didn't mean disrespect, I meant I was like the song says..."little girl" sweet as honey, didn't know anything about anything, real young. But I think I know a little something now about good music!

[brunkhorst]

Great tribute clip and photos of The Vagrants!

Amazing that you have/found all those photos.

depper,thanks for all your great clips.

Brunk