Leslie West of Mountain performs at J and R in NYC!!!

[HispanicImpression]

Leslie West = Rock God

[drumsanddrumming]

I think Leslie West told John MacLaughlin that he would give up all his feel for MacLaughlins skill of the neck and MacLaughlin told Leslie W that HE would give up all his technique for leslie Wests feel..

[aussiegoosebumps]

Drag ya guts down to Australia Leslie. Reckon it will do ya the world of good..

[shaneomeezy]

Agreed, he is hooked up to a J ann R Shop Amp right in the store. Raw as it gets! With his Sig Dean Guitar!! Rock on Fatman!

[chevyaljogo]

who cares about skill, without soul it sounds like garbage

[pobinr]

totally run of the mill cliched blues rock player with very average technical ability. I don't know why people rave about West ?

Just naive & undiscerning about music I guess.

[depper]

Hahahaha, naive.... hahahahahahaha....

The only thing we are naive about is as little education as you sound like you have of this subject matter, you have far LESS then that.

[greggmcc]

Leslie has admitted that there are many guitar players that are technically much better then him. However, Leslie plays with alot of feel and emotion and gets a sweet tone from his guitar. Great guitar is more then playing fast and being technical. I dont think you could concider Keith Richards a great guitar player , but he has written some of the great rock songs ever. Some of the greatest guitar songs came from simple riffs and have stood the test of time. Leslie was a hard rock pioneer!

[jbyrd0861]

so true...I am 29...I had a much older friend/coworker tell me that leslie west was more impressive on stage than jimi hendrix in his opinion...My buddy had seen hendrix and leslie west live back in the day...jimi twice...mountain way more...maybe he was a little bias but oh well.

[jeepdad56]

Saw LW in Asbury Park in 76 ..unforgettable....Mountain fan 40 years!

[awesomejohnnet]

Leslie is "Finally" getting the recognision he deserves..

his new signature model Dean Guitar sounds great.. God bless him he just got over cancer hes 63, Im glad he got his second comming..

[lukegotro]

wuts the song?

[DrewAnti1960]

nantucket slegh ride

[dessertjeff]

I wonder what Leslie would sound like thru a Tom Scholz Rockman amp at full throttle ?? Probably pretty sweet.....

[ppearlcaster]

Watch the 8-part interview of Leslie!!!(on YouTube)

One of the best rock interviews I've ever seen.

[ledzep94]

i just played in a charity concert with him last night at the bergen performing arts center in englewood new jersey. it was quite an experience

[johnglefler]

What a giant. I went to see Mountain at Easttown in Michigan back "in-the-day". Corky was flinging sticks in the audience, every few beats. Felix was crooning with his beverage of choice at hand, and Leslie was doing what he does. Spankin' the strings off his guitar. What a joy! I wish I could see it again.

Cheers

[gizzard4455]

I saw Mr. West back  in 1972 in

Mt. Pleasant Michigan.... He was Great.

He still is Great.

Eric Clapton is ok but, Mr. West is Great.

[burnthermit]

my god what a legend

[letsgocubs13]

Pretty crunchy.

[Hotbeefson]

Not to be a bother but can someone kindly tell me the name of this song?

[thetakinetic]

Nantucket Sleighride

[aciddropD]

nantucket sleighride

[toecutterr6]

Wow man,AWESOME!!! wonder if he is using SUNN tube amps?

[depper]

No actually Leslie was using a crappy little Peavey amp right off the shelf from J&R Music World. That's what made this sound even more incredible in person! :) This man's signature tone is in his HANDS.

[jlsmsu12]

I do know that Leslie plays with only three fingers (index, middle and ring). Does that have something to do with his signature tone that Van Halen and Zakk Wylde have attempted to rip off over the years?

[depper]

Eddie Van Halen is a very close and dear friend and protege of Leslie. Eddie has a knack AT TIMES to slow it down and play with great tone and vibrato, like he did on Mississippi Queen which you can find on youtube. Zakk went to Leslie recently in fact to seek knowledge. However, I've yet to see him learn a thing, and has a history of horrible tone as is also witnessed on youtube playing Mississippi Queen.

[AfroMan5900]

His tones on youtube are just horrible quality. I saw him with Mountain open up for Joe Satriani a few months back.. His sound is amazing, full-on bluesy, dirty tone.I think I saw him using a Buddha amp.

[depper]

Yes. His tone here is not top notch. That's because he's hooked into a crappy Peavey amp pulled right off the shelf of J&R's.

I dont believe you have heard all of Leslie's music on Youtube. Check my bio, and go thru some music. Theme From an Imaginary Western has the best tone I've ever heard from a guitar, recorded on the Night of the Guitar tour. Check it on my page!

[depper]

By the way I was in Harlem, New York for the Satriani tour. Leslie was on point and his tone was heavenly. He was playing his signature Dean, the same one he's playing here, hooked into his custom Budda amps (That was that White Cadillac you saw onstage!!)

[depper]

Secret of Leslie's tone? Definitely in his hands, and an inconceivable understanding of how pickups and amps create sound. Leslie's guitar technique is not his speed (as both EVH and Zakk will try to tell you), but in his ability to create a signature sound so pronounced, he can be singled out in a crowd, while you are blindfolded. Dont think so? Listen to Alvin Lee & Leslie West play "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On" on youtube.

[Azicpok1]

Should be considered a guitar god

[awesomejohnnet]

A great influence, fantastic player, great soul,

signature tone.. a legend big time... Leslie West a great great player... God bles him

[skippyriddle]

Now that's how you grow old.

[99cachorro]

Leslie West... a huge talent

[ninanwk69]

Love this song. I have the original vinyl album and its excellent!.

[depper]

Oh really.... how interesting.. and you find time to listen to all the Leslie West videos then post your bogus bullshit? So lets see you play better there Mr Blow Jangles.....

[bluesdacious]

Depper - you are a wanker

[depper]

At least I have a foot long pecker to "wank" their old man. Go listen to your blackface or blackfoot or whatever you call your favorite blues stupergroup... I'll hang with Leslie West. You and Velmous should get together and wank tongether!

[bluesdacious]

You are a tosser - fuck off

[depper]

a "tosser?" who says that? you need to hang out with some real homeboys... until then though, I recommend you double dose on that Rogaine and super-size those Depends.. and watch out for your Scooter, this lane isnt handicapped.... by the way, what in the blue HELL are you talking about, whats your point about this video... you 'done bit off more than you can chew on me old man...

[chrissy714]

ok- blocked and removed.

Kosher?

[depper]

Ahhh YES!! Thank you very much! You rock!

[milowitz]

STFU and flame elsewhere, assface.

[depper]

Why dont you post your GUITAR BRILLIANCE VEL, I DARE YOUR WORTHLESS arse! All talk, no brains.

[kingman54]

Velmous, Whats your problem with the fat man?

[depper]

Velmous is jealous that he cant play guitar as good as Leslie (he has said he plays BETTER!!!), and still wishes he could have a lady as sexy as Shay. Vel wants to be famous for ANYTHING other than being a complete Ass Clown. Too bad he's so good at being an Ass Clown... :)

[yaiknowscrewme]

leslie still rocks ..Felix is missed

[depper]

just delete this clown chrissy...

[depper]

im talking about velmous in case you werent sure...

[depper]

Hey Jaysong, that wasnt "a damn good sounding, crappy Peavey" that was a "damn good sounding Leslie West!" Leslie futzed with that amp for 20 minutes and still was pissed with the sound!! :) A TRUE tone master.

[Jasong9573]

Never met Leslie, might be a scumbag, but that was pretty cool. And if that is a crappy, $200 Peavey he was using, it is a damn good sounding, crappy Peavey!

[FranciscoXavier7]

Wednesday, San Francisco 1/23/2008, what an amazing Rock'n'Roll night, thanks to "Mountain", and I want to thank Mr. Leslie West, the greates guitarist that by my surprise let me touch his guitar!!and gave me his pick...then sign A bran new Record I had for this ocasion!!thanks Leslie, Corky and Scarlet we were very happy!!

[depper]

You are a pathetic fan, but no doubt you are a fan. If you care enough to know the name of his girl, then you are a fan. See you are just JEALOUS. You know you dont have the fame or the female that Leslie has, little man. Velmous... drop the m, change the V to a J, and you have Jelous. very very interesting....

[TreeMan7777]

Leslie West is a scumbag of a human being. If anyone who has met him (I did) he treats his fans like shit. He's a cranky fat old fuck who I hope dies in his shit van traveling to his next has been gig

[depper]

So you are spamming the same line on every Leslie West thread? You are a 20 year old zit from Canada who most likely never met Leslie. Now go back to your boy toy Zakk Wylde.. and keep dreaming you know about rock & roll.

[UriahNate]

I aint gona say that West is a scumbag, but I have friends who have met him in a non professional setting and he went from good guy to cranky old bastard just like that

[depper]

Again, people treat people the way THEY are treated. You are 30, your "friends" would have have needed to treat him with disrespect to have gotten disrespect back. Thats if you are telling the truth, which is unlikely. Leslie is the sweetest guy around, but if you piss him off, he will tear you up.

[flapperhead]

first of all west is from a tough area of brooklyn where people have a tendency to speak thier mind.. secondly as u get older yer bullshit detector works alot better and yer tolerance for it is alot less...

[kingman54]

Leslie West is from Queens N.Y.C. close though

[turnboy]

Wish he is coming to Hoogland, Holland soon.

He is a living icon.

[depper]

This is a very short impromptu version of Nantucket Sheighride.

[BREAKIT97]

Thanks man!

[BREAKIT97]

What song is he playing?

[jhatchjr11466]

(Leslie West Singing)Nantucket Sleighride is the song,originally Felix Pappalardi the Bassist for Mountain Sang this song. He used to play a Hofner Bass Guitar like Sir Paul McCartney. Unfortunately he died - You can see him playing on Mountain's video - "Don't look Around" - Jim

[SAHBfan]

"Felix Pappalardi the Bassist for Mountain Sang this song. He used to play a Hofner Bass Guitar like Sir Paul McCartney. Unfortunately he died"

Felix died because his wife shot him in the neck :-(

[cydonianman]

he could make a $10 alarm clock radio even sound good if he could plug his guitar jack into one.

[BlueRoseRocketBand2]

Rock ain't Rock no more. Did a BoDog battle in Denver. Most of the bands were honestly pretty lame. $1000 guitars no soul. We were disqualified because of my sons age, but we played a 15 min set. Did "Thunderhead". Lot of the guitars players came up later talking about my style. Just old school. Most never heard of Leslie West. Leslie is one of the best and my favorite!!!

[depper]

Rock lost its soul. Dont think so? Name the new Rock Dinosaurs that will be played 40 years from now and argued over. Hmm? What was that? Did you whisper? No you didnt... because their ARE NO ROCK DINOSAURS that were made in the 80's 90's or 00's. Mountain and Leslie West have earned their respect worldwide. And Leslie hasnt hit a sour note in 40 years. Still the best tone and vibrato man in rock.

[kingconanmanka]

while i agree leslie is great. Slash comes to mind. honestly the only one who does.

[depper]

True, and Slash has sai it more than once publically, his idol? One Mr Leslie West.

[depper]

Velmoose, dont agree man. Mountain didnt care what you OR I wanted to hear. What made Mountain unique was this was a JAM BAND. Leslie , Felix, and Corky played from their souls. no two songs were alike. Improv was what made the man. And noone had or STILL has the soul like Leslie and Corky. Leslie West didnt leave rock and roll, Rock and Roll left Leslie West.

[freekoss]

Right-on!!!!

[VELMOUS]

I'VE been a fan for years. Would see Leslie on 48th St. in NYC all the time in the 70's. Caught plenty of Mountain concerts and one with Jack Bruce at Radio City. Missisippi Queen was a huge hit and Mountain should have stayed in that vain. Nantucket and lottsa long winded songs tired the fans out. Leslie should have joined up with the Southern Rockers..like Eric did with Duane.

[ioriorioriorio]

Very good point..thought about that myself, but : was there in the 70's enjoyed the jams at the time(subastances,drink) Probably better they never went as commercial as skynerd or outlaws, they stayed pure. Besides, come on, West is a New Yawk "southerner", and a 60's icon, not a redneck

[depper]

Leslie was using a J&R Music World amp right off the shelf (yeah a crappy $200 Peavy one:) and his Signature Dean which is a great guitar. Tone is all in the hands, thats why you can hear that Mountain sound, Id let Leslie West play in my living room on my crappy Peavey wouldnt you!? :) The world's #1 tone. There is no better. Check out thegreatfatsbies dot com and join the Mountain Fan Club!

[ps10iceman]

even with that crappy dean and whatever amp Leslie's monster tone comes through. without a doubt one of the best tone masters who ever played a guitar

[arcangel6]

Its in his fingers and in his soul!

[ps10iceman]

I could'nt agree more,thats why he can take a cheap amp off the shelf and sound like this! Leslie Rocks!!

[siskokidd]

DAMN!

[wilkinsgy]

lESLIE WEST HAS ONE OF THE GREATEST GUITAR TONES IN THE HISTORY OF ROCK. hE IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST.

[depper]

This was snagged by a fan just 2 weeks ago. Leslie was promoting his EXCELLENT Dillon tribute album, and signed and sold his album 24 hours before it was sold to the worldwide public. J&R Music World and Leslie West live in NYC! Cool stuff!

[leadguitarman9]

holy crap, when was this?

[depper]

Oh Leslie - that Dean guitar rocks, but that Les Paul Jr. needs to be taken out of hiding and you KNOW IT! Either way, Leslie West = The best daym Rock and Roll guitar sound ever. The Original "Wall of Sound"...