One of my Guitar Heros - Leslie West. 

I am Leslies brother Larry West Weinstein and your tribute left me sobbing. Les missed that Junior very much. Your playing reminded me of Les. He could make any guitar sound amazing,.

Leslie’s tone in the early years didn’t just come from his Les Paul Jr,, he used a SUNN Coliseum PA .. That amp head was actually a PA rig. It had 4 mic inputs with a pre amp volume control for each mic input, but ,, here’s the magic ,, it also had a master volume with bass & treble controls.. So what Leslie did was ,, he plugged his Jr into one of the mic inputs, then cranked the pre amp volume and turn down the master to get that sweet compressed breakup distorted tone .. He also used this setup in the studio to go on to make the famous Mountain records like ,, Mississippi Queen etc..

That was a beautiful heartfelt tribute. Well done 👍

The solo from the song "Travelin in the dark" will always be my fav. Blows me away every time I listen to it,and that's at least once a day

Leslie has been an inspiration to me for fifty years and I am still learning from his playing. Excellent tribute

I’m old enough that I was bowled over when I first heard The Beatles… then bowled over again when I first heard Jimi Hendrix… then bowled over when I first heard Led Zeppelin… but all that paled when I first heard Leslie West Mountain! There was something SO special about his sound, his guitar, the way he approached songwriting. He was both accessible and inaccessible at the same time! I saw Mountain live more than any other band, and was at the Fillmore East at their most famous New Year’s Eve shows in 1970, with a dozen of my closest friends. Never In My Life, have I met a musician like you… (and yes I met him and talked with him several times). His playing certainly influenced my own guitar playing in ways even I probably don’t fully understand. One of the truly greats of all time. RIP Leslie West. ❤

Very well done ... I have to say that Leslie taught me guitar as well. I had learned the solo to 'Theme for an Imaginary Western' back in 1970 and have never played it in a band, but have never forgotten that solo during the last 50 years. It is a masterpiece of tone and emotion and still gives me the chills. Sleep well Mr. West and thank you for showing me how to play guitar in a special way.

Leslie was unique. He was one of my first inspirations to play guitar. He taught me what real FEELING was. R.I.P. Leslie West. Btw. I am glad that I could see him playing live twice.

Followed Leslie West thru his career from the beginning ...saw him in Concert many, many times, Always great !! Mountain Climbing, ... Mississippi Queen....Nantucket Sleigh Ride ...West Bruce and Laing ....some of my Favorite songs but I loved them all......There will never be another Leslie West.. He's gone now but never forgotten

Thank you for introducing me to this player. I'm 43 and I hadn't heard of him.

Great tribute. Leslie West was a one-of-a-kind guitar legend.

That was a beautiful tribute to one of the greats and my favorite guitarist. I can say that I agree with everything you said. Just spot on...like a Leslie West riff. Thank you for sharing and for remembering.

There is 2 things about this vídeo. First, i am a 90's kid, and lost musicians from that generation its really sad, i can understeand you totally. Second thing, and why i clicked on this video, i freaking love the Les Paul Junior, because of Billie Joe Armstrong, and one of the musicians that he said why he love this guitar, its because also Leslie. And one last thing, that guitar sounded just amazing

Thank you so much for looking out for Leslie ,when asked who are my favorite guitarists Leslie just blurts out of my mouth…I’ve been a fan of Mountain since the release of climbing …

Leslie West still my favorite guitarist of all time. Maybe the most valuable guitarist for people learning... because he doesn't play fast or flashy, 'new-ish' players can learn his songs and then...spend the rest ofd their life refining and trying to get them perfect.

Great video. I'm an advanced rock and jazz player who has studied jazz players such as Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, but to this day, Leslie West as well as Johnny Winter have been the two most influential rock players in my life. it's Leslie West's rhythm. He has the most sophisticated syncopated rhythm of any rock musician I've heard. Just listen to "Silver Paper" live at the Fillmore East 1971 on RU-vid. Nobody plays like that--nobody.

Everything you're describing about Leslie West reminds me of another guitar player born in 1945 and fellow SUNN amplifier devotee---Randy Holden from Blue Cheer. He was never the fastest or flashiest guitar player, either, but he was always on the quest for the best guitar tone---and also liked to play LOUD!

Thank you so very much. I was born 1969. My father learned me and my brother to like and listen to Elvis and several other artists. Then my older brother picked up the guitar and at that time we shared the same bedroom. He took in Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Van Halen in to our bedroom. So we are raised with rock, hard rock and blues and Metal. And for me this is a blessing and when my 50th birthday came I bought a electric guitar and trying to learn a little. Thanks to this I finally discover Leslie West…… and boy what a guitarist he was. I’m also blown away and at the same time sad that I didn’t discovered him earlier in my life. Anyway it’s never to late to find new (old) music. Thanks to RU-vid in my case. It’s a music treasure. Thanks again and rock on 🤘

I must confess; I've just turned 28 years old and until I saw this video two weeks ago I hadn't even heard of Leslie West, let alone Mountain outside of Mississippi Queen. Leslie has quickly become one of my favourite guitar players of all time.

Leslie made a huge impact on my early teen years playing in bands. Still have a 54 Jr. In my collection cuz of him🎸🎶

What a wonderful tribute. I first heard Mountain in 1971, don't look around, I have always thought Leslie West should be more widely appreciated. You have put his playing in perspective perfectly. Thank you I own only one electric guitar and that is a gibson junior

Larry, great tribute to Leslie. When YOU TUBE first hit the internet I saw a concert from 69 or 70 and Leslie was doing an improv solo during a song and I said, Leslie is the GodFather of Hard Rock! This is where it all began.

Leslie is the reason I ever got interested in guitar in the first place. Got my first guitar, a Checkmate Acoustic, for $29. The next guitar was a 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom, in Tobacco Sunburst with gold hard ware....and the rest is history!

I saw Mountain at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester NY in May of 1970 and that performance just blew my mind. I had never heard guitar tone like that, and in all these years I have never heard anyone equal it. A very unique and under appreciated talent!

I wholeheartedly agree with everything that you said. He is an always will be one of my guitar heroes. Is there anyone who doesn’t crank up the volume when “ Mississippi Queen “ comes on the radio when you’re driving. I know he did a lot more than this and for me his music always stands the test of time. Thanks for doing this video!

I never heard of Leslie West before tonight. Thanks for the lesson!

You are a wonderful storyteller so genuine and real . Thanks for this video oh hair is on point

I was 11 years old and 71 and I remember all of this is clear as a bell we did live through the best times

That was awesome

beautiful tribute to my all time fav as well. Catalogue of music is a hidden gem needing to be let out . Leslie Felix, and corky deserve it. deserve it . Thank you. Yasgurs Farm my favorite too.

I witnessed the Leslie West Band in the late 70s front row in a coliseum setting with Leslie on max volume. i heard a tone that was from another world. i felt what all these master guitar players have said about Leslie. it is an original tone that has never been duplicated. RIP Leslie and thank you for letting me experience it in person.

Growing up in the early 90s, I was learning guitar and had so many people to emulate. One day I found a Mountain album in my dad's collection and put it on the turntable. As soon as I heard Mississippi Queen, I said THAT is what I wanted to sound like. I knew the tone I wanted to emulate and it took me so long to place those seemly simple notes with any kind of likeness to Leslie.

Magnificent tribute !!! Dreams of milk and honey forever !!!

As a great fan of Leslie i thank you for such a heartfe and informative vid. Met Leslie 2x on Long Island He was the reason i picked up a guitar ( Roll over Beethoven off Best album)

Like yourself, Leslie is one of my all-time guitar heroes. Very underrated guitarist. Thanks for doing this tribute and historical account of a great musician.

What an awesome tribute to the great Leslie West. He is also the reason I play guitar. From the early 70's when I was in high school Leslie was a huge influence in my music life. Saw him live once in a little bar on Chicago's north side in the late 80's, and he blew me away.

I have to agree with Ron B this was one of he best tributes I have heard. Just listening to what you were saying I went over some of my old band recordings and I realise just how much I had been influenced by Lesley West, fabulous player

I bought Mountain Climbing in 1971 and it still rings true today…….I met Leslie in NYC and will never forget that day.

Their Woodstock performance was phenomenal, when I watch videos from that show, I wish I would have been there.

Great tribute to a legend!!

Great video and an ever better tribute to a truly amazing guitar player who's often forgotten, except to his fans and fellow musicians of course. RIP Leslie - you are gone but you will never be forgotten!

I also deeply respect and appreciate what Leslie West did for the guitar and for composing I think just awesome music what he did with Felix is masterpieces in my opinion I have recently relooked it the works of Leslie West and Felix and I just think there should be a movie about his life about their lives it's really worth reliving and exposing to the public I really like seeing great musicians appreciated with us or not why listen to certain songs I tell you I just can't contain myself I just get teary-eyed with all and respect if you know what I mean thank you for what you shared I appreciate you trying to praise and honor a great musician that we got to grow up with 👍🏻🙌🏼

You saw Leslie West the same way I saw Stevie Ray Vaughan at the same age. He blew my mind and changed my perspective not only of the guitar, but music altogether.

Thsnks for the well deserved tribute. I'm really lucky to have the official sheet music for all the songs on the Mountain "Climbing!" album along with the songs from the Leslie West solo album that preceded it.

Great video Leslie West is my all time favorite along with Michael Willis, 50 years later no one has ever had the monster tone of Leslie

Thanks, great tribute. Saw Leslie in Ithaca in 69, still think about it, aside from feeling, power, honesty......Great lesson in vibrato!

Leslie West was an incredible guitarist with an awesome tone and chops.

Larry, great tribute, great presentation and lovely to hear you recreate that 'TONE'. Leslie's playing is quite unique and when Felix, Steve, Corky and Leslie got together there was an amazing chemistry and this resulted in some truly remarkable songs, such as 'Never In My Life', 'For Yasgur's Farm', 'Mississippi Queen', the wonderful rendition of Jack Bruce's 'Theme For An Imaginary Western' and 'Nantucket Sleighride' to name a few. I hope his/their legacy lives on and gets discovered by younger generations. Regards from The Netherlands

Love this brother! Thanks for making this

He was amazing.

Loved that. Well done, Sir.

I just discovered Leslie West, I live in Northern Ireland UK , I am ashamed to say I never heard of Mountain before , Seen a video of Leslie a few months ago man he was really good, looking for back catalogue, great tribute to a great man

Really phenomenal video. Beautiful tribute

One of my favorite songs recorded by Leslie West and Mountain is "Theme for an Imaginary Western", written by Jack Bruce and Peter Brown. This song really showcases Leslie's non-flashy and yet beautiful, melodic soloing.

Lovely tribute, thank you for sharing with us all

Mountain has been on my mind last few weeks for some reason...will have to go back and listen. Thx. Can’t go wrong with P90s

Great tribute ..dont worry Leslie is still remembered in the UK.

Fantastic tribute. Thank you for keeping Leslie's talent and style alive.

What a wonderful tribute, thank you.

wow, this was awesome. I am re-discovering Leslie West in the past couple of weeks and this video popped up. Thank you!

Thank you so much. Much appreciated. Well done. Always loved Mountain

Thanks man, that was awesome. Well done.

Thanks for posting this, brother. Leslie West was a giant among guitar players. An instant transport back to my teen years.

A wonderfully personal message in tribute to a generational talent. Thank you for a great video!

Leslie West was the man. Tone so so good! Killer riffs. I’m trying to learn Theme from Imaginary Western, I love his solo in it , so melodic, I play with it over and over, so cool. He was one of the best. RIP Leslie.

Just a blazing talent and what a character!

In all honesty, I've waited since 1970 for someone other than myself to give an appropriate breakdown that portrayed the things I admire most about Leslie West's guitar tone, playing, vocals and musical vibe. I too, was educated by Leslie West's vibrato. It opened up my ability to tear down and REALLY listen to a multitude of audible guitar techniques. Thank you so much for telling me things I already knew, but yet still absolutely appreciate. It's kinda nice to have one of my most appreciated, and yet sadly underrated musical heroes validated for simply being himself. He DEFINITELY had an original voice. You really laid out the truth about some of my earliest R&R memories. Thanks for your obvious sincerity and respect. God knows Leslie deserves it! Single P-90s, germanium fuzz pedals, treble boosters and hotly glowing amp tubes FOREVER!! 😊

What a nice tribute to the man with that big sound. Thanks!

Met Leslie West in Manny’s Music in New York when I was a teen. As good of a person as he was a guitar player. One of the greats.

Cool, cool, Hendrix story! Love LW! I just bought the guitar your playing and your right those relay feelings thru them.

I love to hear stories about Leslie.Thank you for this beautiful story.

So emotional. So well said.

Heard Mississippi Queen for the longest but never looked to hear their other songs until recently and they ROCK!! West had a tone even in 70s.

Picking up my junior tomorrow,will learn my first song on it,you guessed it. Mississippi queen!!!Love mr.West style.Bass player convert.RIP😢

When I think I’m sick of all my music…pffft so much out there! Love finding older bands I missed somehow

Well done! thanks

Nantucket Sleigh Ride is one of my all time favorite tracks 😄 My favorite Leslie CD was "Blue Me" 😁

Beautiful

Outstanding tribute.

I always loved Leslie West, I now have 4 Jr's from the '50's, each a different year. I love them! First I ever heard was the Leslie West - Mountain LP....did you mention that one? Dreams of Milk & Honey, Blood On the Sun, etc. That and Climbing are still my faves! Oh and I did get to see early, around '71.

I just discovered Leslie West and mou tain , I have been playing since 85 and never new about him or a lot of other great guitar players. Sad he Is gone.

Michael Schenker said Leslie West was his main influence. He finally got to play with him and it was one of the most significant moments of his life. Search for it on RU-vid - they played Going Down and it is an epic performance

That tone is absolutely fantastic.......and overall it's a fitting monument to a truly great player.

Man......I can listen to you all day!!!!! You are amazing

I cried with joy the first time I heard Leslie West's guitar on Theme for an imaginary western, and still do all these years later. Never flash. Never shredding, but Leslie could do that with a bend of a guitar string. I'm off to listen to it now....

One of the best concerts I've been to. What a great guitarist, a vocalist, a showman.

I know this it two years old But Great Video. Great Tribute to Leslie West. Great playing.

Hi sir, IAM 56 years old and been playing 40 years and in the last few days I've been discovering Leslie and have to say you are so right he really was such a great player with a incredible tone, and I agree he really should not be forgotten, he made his mark for sure, thanks for your upload 👍🙏

Real good video. My all time favorite guitarist. I saw him with mountain twice at the Masonic Temple around 71 and 72. West !;! The ! Best. I mourned ! When he passed. Your ! Real good at what you do sounds real good. Thanks for the memories. Salute !;!

That was deep. 🙏❤

I saw Moutain in a night club in Phoenix AZ in the early 90s. WOW! Before the show I was sitting at the bar with my buddy Spoony, Noel Redding walked up & sat down with us & drank a couple of beers. Spoony said after Noel left. We have just been with rock greatness. What a night that was.

The Junior is great. I have a reissue from about 1988, I think - I've had it a long time! It has the two piece bridge, rather than the wrap around, but otherwise it's the same. Guess why I wanted one. Definitely not a limited instrument, you discover quickly that it, and your hands, give you all you need. Forget about switches, multi pickups, whammy bars and just use the volume, tone and hand position and a rainbow of tone is available. My absolute first choice over my Standard and Studio Les Pauls. Leslie West's tone, it's fair to say, is my template.

I saw Leslie sing lead vocal on Respect in The Vagrants in the late 60s. He was awesome then and continued to be awesome 👌! Mountain at Woodstock 1969 in on RU-vid

I saw Leslie West perform with a small crowd in San Diego. I believe he said he was going to kill his manager. He did a great rendition of Clapton style Crossroads. I got interested in mahogany slab P90 guitars because of Leslie West. I had the first Mountain album. Just enough of the right notes.

Great! Dream Sequence on Flowers of Evil and Live at the Fillmore. All you need to hear!

Very well saying about him 🙏 He was magical and Gibson les Paul JR has a tone and joy play that cant be beaten! I did play a JR for years and they so much more resonate then regular Les Paul. And a more bonus is it doesn't kill your back in 3 songs. I meet Leslie when he was under influence! But heck he playd as god himself. Sad see him get sick and pass away 😨 My father did travel the world as working guitar player in the 50 60 70s he did to fall and get sick. He still lives but do not have a good life that he deserves. I had the chance play whit many big players because of my father! When I'm in rock mood I put on mountain! Thanks for this video well made and nice hear your story 🙏 Best regards from Scandinavia Sweden 🇸🇪

Long Live Leslie West FOREVER!! R.I.P. Leslie.. 🙏 🙏 🙏 ✌😎👍

I think I listen to mountain every day they are on my daily play list so I go down the mountain rabbit hole alot love that band

Well said. Leslie taught me harmonics and yes tone.

- great tribute and education - they made their mark for sure - Mr. West was not only one of the greatest guitars ever be covered the vox handily and brought them to mainstream success - he/they will not be forgotten - godfathers of metal