Leslie West - Legend - Live in Italy

Someday when I list my all time favorite MODERN songs from Leslie West, LEGEND will have to sit on top of the rainbow. A song written for Mr West by Joe Pizza; no other song captures the man better. His struggles with weight, drugs, diabetes, learning to live with one leg, cancer and music. Yet the Lion continues to march on. Here is a rare live performance of this song, with guitar a blazin'... that tone. that passion. that FEEL. This song bleeds pain. What a performance. Keep truckin' Leslie West!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!!
Co staring Ron Mannino on drums, David Biglin on piano and the late Randy Coven on bass.
Origin of the song, and it's writer.:
Songfacts: The new album has really got some great songs on it. And the one that really stands out to me is the one "Legend."
Leslie: It's very interesting that you mention that, because the song was written 30-some odd years ago by my partner, Joe Pizza, spelled P-I-Z-Z-A. I went to school with him and we wrote a couple more songs on the album. My wife heard the song, said, "You've got to listen to this song." And originally, "just call me legend" was the first line. I said, "Joe, there's no way I'm going to sing a song that says 'just call me legend.'" So I thought about it and said, "I can sing it if it said, "Don't call me legend, I just came here to play."
He wrote it on piano. The song itself was so beautiful and I love playing lead guitar over piano changes. It's much different than when I'm playing over a guitar-written song. So that just came out fantastic. I didn't think it was going to come out that good, but by God, it did. The words are pretty much true, and the fact is that I've known Joe for 35 years, he was a couple of grades younger than me. Still something seemed to click with that song. I'm pleased that you like it.

[@johnbnic]

RIP Leslie... Thanks for the music 🎵🎶

[@allanschwaikert8969]

The passing of a true guitar lengend. I saw him several times in his heyday w/ Mountain & W B & L. RIP Leslie & keep the volume @ 10 always.

[@wynkindeworde6504]

Goodbye Leslie and thanks for all the great music, you will not be forgotten.

[@esotericsoundlab]

You are a Legend RIP! 🎸

[@cmel714]

Bless Leslie West you will always be my hero

[@TheBudny]

Wow! That tone is there!

[@billbornemann5417]

I remember Leslie from around 1968 when his Vagrants played a Bronx, NY joint called the Chateau Alexander. I lived in the BX so I made sure to check him out. I had been following him since and being a picker myself - I was always in awe of his tone & technique. Fast forward to this week; I’m so depressed that 2020 had to take Leslie after Eddie and Peter Green too. Leslie West: one of the great ones, and a hell of a humble man. Tear up heaven with Felix, JackB and the rest of the angels!

[@MHen]

Great, great, great! The great Leslie West on his own!

[@hihiaurelnarmadashankar4334]

RIP Leslie no one played then you.

[@grahamquilton8984]

Rip Leslie 💔

[@robertoluiz8094]

Master Leslie may the Good Lord bless you!

[@billykilloran8538]

i had the great fortune and pleasure of doing several shows with the vagrants back in the 60's i loved that band possible the best live performing band i've ever seen . i was at the cd release of still climbing at the iridium a few yrs back. great stuff he's just got it !

[@streamingmarv]

Leslie West is a guitar god. Lucky enough to see him many times in the Vagrants, from Queens college weekend at the Raleigh hotel, Action House, Umgano's to Woodstock. "Theme from Imaginary Western" is the theme of a generation.

[@robertbella5917]

Wow , incredible !

[@joepipe1010]

Leslie God bless you.

[@johnzane4610]

Les ….… You STILL Got It ……. first met you in 1965 when the Vagrants were at Scott Muni's Rolling Stone ……. I've been a fan throughout the various band you have led !!!!

[@billykilloran8538]

simply beautiful

[@brianmatheney4757]

Love it!

[@stancobb5544]

Perfection.

[@617ram]

Definitely the Legend!

[@depper]

Oh yeah. Man those last few notes....

[@bzeola]

Great tune! Thanks depper. :) Glad your keeping Mountain alive on KZbin. Your the best!

[@depper]

I may not have been born before Woodstock - January 28, 1970 is my bday, I do it out of peace & love for fellow man woman & and our music, Leslie, Corky, Felix and Steve got me through my own life's hardest times.... We cannot forget the forefathers of Blues and Rock, and Mountain are among Rock's most legendary... they grabbed the baton from the Beatles, who grabbed it from Elvis, who grabbed it from the greats of blues, country and gospel musicians of the early 1900s. I learned more than this though as founder of the Mountain fan club, I learned that this is one BIG FAMILY that dates back decades.... with huge ups downs and a lot of sideways, but always will remain FAMILY.

[@bzeola]

@@depper Well said! I had the fortune of seeing Mountain (Leslie,Corky, Felix, and Steve) a few times back in the day. :) I am alot older than you! And more than a few times afterwords. Had a beer and shot the breeze with Corky once on a break. I am a big Pappalardi fan too. Amazing talent. Thanks again and take care.

[@albertomaragliano]

In Italy! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@keithcooper2436]

You are a natural on guitar. Where did u first learn guitar or what got you interested. I play trombone. Praying for u Leslie. God bless. Thx. Kc

[@drumsanddrumming]

still my favourite

[@depper]

Hey Drums! So glad to still see you still listening/watching! It's been years brother

[@drumsanddrumming]

@@depper I`ve been listening to Mountain since 1972 and not stopping!

[@stevepomeroy-rockin-pa-realtor]

@@drumsanddrumming AWESOME. Nothing will make me stop listing to Mountain.

[@andrew13758]

@@depper hey great post depper! This song rivals Theme...

[@depper]

@@andrew13758 I agree, as legendary as Theme From An Imaginary Western is, there is something truly magical going on here.. perfect for Leslie's inspiring and unique life, guitar style and tone. He plays it GREAT live.

[@EEstella]

rip

[@paulblakey4589]

Just fantastic

[@barabbas57]

Cancer? Mercy!

[@depper]

www.loudersound.com/features/death-mortality-leslie-west 2014 Interview: Interviewer: "Your voice seems much more expressive these days." Leslie West: "Well, I gave up drugs and smoking. In fact I stopped taking drugs quite a while ago now. I had bladder cancer, but thank God it’s totally in remission. And I lost my leg a couple of years ago [West’s lower right leg was amputated in 2011], and it was definitely to do with smoking. My doctor said to me: “If you smoke, you might as well take rocks and throw them at your feet. It’s going to kill your arteries.” So I think I’m somewhat clearer when I sing now. I used to hate what I sounded like, and a lot of it had to do with smoking."

[@christoofart]

May the gods bless Leslie West.

[@depper]

AMEN, Brother, Amen.