The Dec. 30 edition of
The Boris Rock Show featured a tribute to Leslie West who passed away on Dec. 23 at the age of 75.
The Dec. 26 edition of
Greasy Tracks also honored West. Click here to check out an archive of the program, while a playlist is here.
Best known for his work with the band Mountain, West, born Leslie Weinstein, began his recording career in 1964 with The Vagrants, a Long Island-based band that also included his brother, Larry, on bass and vocals. The group, which blended blue-eyed soul with rock, recorded a handful of singles and played the metro-New York City club circuit before breaking up in 1968.
Last modified on Mon 28 Dec 2020 17.10 EST
Leslie West, who has died aged 75 following a cardiac arrest, could claim to be one of the creators of heavy metal. His band Mountain made a spectacular impact when they played their fourth gig at the original Woodstock festival in August 1969, alongside the likes of the Who, Jimi Hendrix and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
The physically huge West had a powerful presence as a singer, but it was his massive, overdriven guitar sound that became the group’s most memorable trademark. Kiss’s Paul Stanley said that: “Leslie’s tone could stop a rhino in full charge.”
Variety are also reporting that West has passed.
The news was initially shared by West s longtime associates at Dean Guitars, though no other details were given. The
Times report mentioned heart issues, while
Rolling Stone said West went into cardiac arrest on Monday at his home near Daytona, Fla., and never regained consciousness after being taken to the hospital.
Dean Guitars CEO Evan Rubinson also offered personal condolences, describing West as “a man that I truly loved more than most the funniest, most honest guy I’ve met.”
He d suffered a series of other health issues in recent years: In 2011, West s lower right leg was amputated following diabetes complications. But he continued to record and perform throughout his life.