April 21, 2007

70’s Rockers.

Filed under: Uncategorized — Jim @ 10:54 pm

It seems that some of the Blown-Eyeds, are posting videos of 70’s Rockers. It also seems that the developing tune theme has to do with “Mountain”. Having actually been a 70’s Rocker, Ms. Brooklyn Smartass, (“Hairboy,“ indeed!), I figure I’ll play along.

With that, I give you Mountain’s Mississippi Queen, recorded in 1970.

I think it was about fifteen years ago I was at a concert at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey (I think it was a Clapton concert), and I was happy to learn that Leslie West and Mountain would be the opening act. Frankly, I was surprised to learn that ol’ Leslie West had managed to survive all the booze and pharmaceuticals.

Anyway, out they came, and, I surmise to remind everyone in the audience who they were, they opened with “Mississippi Queen”. The song began with the familiar power chords, and we all waited for Leslie to play the screaming lick that would signal the real beginning of the song.

When the audience was brought to an appropriate level of excitement, it was time for Leslie to play the lick he had probably played thousands of times before. Here it comes! ………….. ACK! WTF? His guitar was out of tune! Leslie West was on stage playing a guitar that was out of tune. The song was damned near half over by the time he realized the little problemo and fixed it, proving, I suppose, that maybe he only half survived the booze and pharmaceuticals.

As the video below demonstrates (it was shot in 2006 in Lakewood, New Jersey – not exactly the Meadowlands), Leslie West is still, well, … ambulatory.

7 Comments »

  1. Yo!, Hairboy…Leslie West looks like he was separated at birth from Andre the Giant. Oh, and Lakewood…heh…home of the world’s largest Talmudic academy. Go figure.

    Comment by Ms. Brooklyn Smartass — April 21, 2007 @ 11:26 pm

  2. That brings back memories . . . Mountain was the first band I ever saw live, around 1973 or 74. It was at a hall somewhere on the boardwalk in Asbury Park. We were waiting in line outside before the show, and down the boardwalk strolled Leslie wearing lime green leather pants. A site I will never forget.

    Comment by Shamrock — April 21, 2007 @ 11:27 pm

  3. I thought you were more of a 60’s rocker myself!! *L*

    Comment by Michele — April 22, 2007 @ 3:27 pm

  4. Michele,

    Actually, I’m both. I suppose you could even toss in the 80’s.

    Jimbo

    Comment by Jim — April 22, 2007 @ 3:38 pm

  5. My band Cool Days End was on that bill playing the stage inside the park (we were the 7PM slot just before Cheap Trick). Well, watching Leslie West perform was absolutely cool and watching Corky Laing heaving drum sticks into the crowd by the dozens was super cool.
    I hope the Hawk does Wingstock again this year as it was an absolute blast.

    Comment by Robbie K. — April 23, 2007 @ 7:32 am

  6. Jimbo – No links to my Cactus and Yes? Fortunately for Leslie better than half of the world is tone deaf and most of the crowd was probably stoned. You were one of the few who actually noticed he was out of tune.

    Look at how many of the Blown-Eyes are tone deaf. They actually think the Elderly Brothers are good. BWAHAHAHAHA!

    BTW, if I don’t get strings for my old Washburn, I’ll be forced to bring my new guitar to Kerrville.

    Comment by Denny — April 26, 2007 @ 7:41 pm

  7. Denny, that seemed way too civilized to qualifiy.

    As for Leslie West’s untuned guitar, I know that I was the only one in my immediate area who noticed. There probably were a few others in the arena of thousands.

    I’ll probably be bringing the “Rob” Washburn, becaus the new one isn’t “broke in” yet. 🙂

    Comment by Jim — April 26, 2007 @ 7:57 pm

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