Leslie West

Leslie West (real last name Weinstein) is a American rock guitarist and singer.

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He was born and raised in New York City, and grew up in Manhattan. His musical career

Related Topics:
New York City - Manhattan

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began with The Vagrants, one of the few teenage garage rock acts to come out of

Related Topics:
The Vagrants - Garage rock

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Manhattan itself (as opposed to the Greenwich Village scene of artists, bohemians, and

Related Topics:
Greenwich Village - Bohemians

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Beat Generation types, which produced bands like The Fugs and The Velvet Underground).

Related Topics:
Beat Generation - The Fugs - The Velvet Underground

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They had a minor local hit with a cover of Otis Redding's "Respect" in 1967.

Related Topics:
Otis Redding - 1967

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The Vagrants' recordings were produced by Felix Pappalardi, who was also working with Cream. West and Pappalardi would form the pioneering hard rock act Mountain in 1969. Heavily influenced by Cream, they made up one of the bands considered

Related Topics:
Felix Pappalardi - Cream - Hard rock - Mountain - 1969

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to be part of early heavy metal. They had a massive hit with "Mississippi Queen" (later covered by

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Ozzy Osbourne) and a medium sized hit with a cover of Jack Bruce's "Theme From An Imaginary

Related Topics:
Ozzy Osbourne - Jack Bruce

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Western".

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After the breakup of Mountain, West and drummer Corky Laing would form West, Bruce and Laing with

Related Topics:
Corky Laing - West, Bruce and Laing

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Jack Bruce. Mountain reformed in 1975 to indifferent reactions.

Related Topics:
Jack Bruce - 1975

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West also recorded with The Who on a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Baby Don't You Do It" in 1972. This

Related Topics:
The Who - Marvin Gaye - 1972

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track was not originally included on Who's Next, but has appeared on recent CD reissues.

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West has continued to record and play in the years since the 1970s ended. Unlike in his heyday - when

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he was known for his portly girth - he is fit and trim today.

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