Leslie West (born Leslie Weinstein) was an American rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He was best known as a founding member and co-lead vocalist of the hard rock band Mountain.
He was a founding member of the Vagrants, a blue-eyed soul garage band of the mid-Sixties. The group scored two minor hits, “I Can’t Make a Friend” and a cover of Otis Redding’s “Respect,” before West left the band. His turning point was seeing Cream at the Village Theatre (later the Fillmore East) in 1967. With the help of Cream producer and bass player Felix Pappalardi, who met West when he was producing the Vagrants, West made a solo album, Mountain. Mountain also became the name of the band the two men formed.
When Cream disbanded in 1968, Mountain loomed particularly large. The original incarnation of Mountain scored a high-profile appearance at the Woodstock festival — on the second day, between Canned Heat and the Grateful Dead. West also contributed some unreleased parts to the Who’s Who’s Next. Although Mountain garnered a large following, the group broke up in 1972.
West formed a Cream-style power trio with Mountain drummer Corky Laing and Cream’s Jack Bruce. The group released three albums and sold out New York’s Carnegie Hall, but in 1974, West reformed Mountain for two more records. The following year, West formally went on his own with his album The Great Fatsby. The album featured “High Roller,” co-written by West with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards; Jagger also played guitar on the track. The album failed to elevate West into a star solo act, and over the next few decades, he would alternate between solo albums and touring and recording with different versions of Mountain.
In the years that followed, West continued working: He was a regular on Howard Stern’s radio show, recorded solo records, and took a few stabs at acting, including in 1986’s The Money Pit. Mountain continued on and off with different lineups, and the band released an album of Bob Dylan covers, Masters of War, in 2007; Ozzy Osbourne sang lead on the title remake. West’s 2011 album, The Unusual Suspects, included contributions from Slash, Billy Gibbons, and Zakk Wylde, and West’s last album, Soundcheck, featured Peter Frampton.
Leslie West was born on October 22, 1945, in New York, New York, United States. He died on December 23, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was 75 years old.
Leslie West was married to his wife Jenni Maurer West. The couple married onstage at a Woodstock 40th anniversary concert on August 15, 2009.
Leslie West is survived by his wife, Jenni Maurer; and his brother, Larry West Weinstein; and a nephew, Max.
Leslie West’s health had been an issue for many years. In the mid-Eighties, he was diagnosed with diabetes. His lower right leg was amputated due to complications from the disease. He promptly lost 85 pounds, dropping to 200. However, his weight his weight fluctuated over the years.
Leslie West died on December 23, 2020, at the age of 75, his brother, Larry West Weinstein, confirmed to Rolling Stone. On Monday, December 21, 2020, West was rushed to a hospital after suffering cardiac arrest at his home near Daytona, Florida, where he never regained consciousness.
Dean Guitars tweeted: “With a heavy heart, we are saddened hear about the passing of #Dean Artist and part of the Dean family, Leslie West. Legendary and one of a kind. Rest In Peace.” Dean Guitars CEO Evan Rubinson paid tribute to West on Twitter. He wrote: “To a man that I truly loved more than most — the funniest, most honest guy I’ve met. #RIP #LeslieWest.”
Leslie West’s cause of death was a heart attack. He suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Florida. He was rushed to a hospital but never regained consciousness.
Leslie West’s net worth was estimated to be $3 million.
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