Leslie West, Legendary guitarist and the founder of one of rocks most influential bands, Mountain, will release a brand new solo album, 'Unusual Suspects', on Monday September 19th. The album features West alongside a hand-picked line-up of the world's finest guitar players; including Slash, blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, Black Label Society front man and ex-Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Toto's Steve Lukather.
"These guys don't just show up to play on everybody's albums," says West on his special guests and the album's title. "They're all stars in their own right, and fantastic players - everyone with their own sound and style, about as far from the usual suspects as it gets."
UNUSUAL SUSPECTS TRACK LISTING
1. One More Drink for the Road
Written by: Joseph Pizza & Leslie Weinstein
Featuring: Steve Lukather
2. Mud Flap Momma
Written by: Leslie Weinstein & Jennifer West-Weinstein
Featuring: Slash
3. To the Moon
Written by: Leslie Weinstein & Del Bronham
4. Standing on Higher Ground
Written by: Billy F Gibbons, Fabrizio Grossi & Leslie Weinstein
5. Third Degree
Written by: Eddie Boyd & Willie Dixon
Featuring: Joe Bonamassa
6. Legend
Written by: Joseph M. Pizza & Leslie Weinstein
7. Nothin's Changed
Written by: Joseph M. Pizza & Leslie Weinstein
Featuring: Zakk Wylde
8. I Feel Fine
Written by: Lennon/McCartney
9. Love You Forever
Written by: Leslie Weinstein & Joseph M Pizza
10. My Gravity
Written by: Leslie Weinstein & Jon Tiven
11. The Party's Over
Written by: Willie Nelson
Featuring: Slash and Zakk Wylde
12. I Don't Know "The Beetlejuice Song"
Written by: Richard Christy, Lester "Beettle" Green & Leslie Weinstein
Featuring: Richard Christy
DOWNLOAD ALBUM NOTES
Leslie West: "Unusual Suspects" - Album Notes
Leslie West has long been a popular personality on the Howard Stern Radio Show in America. It was Stern whom he gave an interview in late June 2011, from his hospital bed, mere days after undertaking life-saving surgery which saw his leg amputated above the knee.
On June 17th, West (a long-time sufferer of type 2 Diabetes) was aboard a long-haul flight to Mississippi to perform at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, when the limb began to swell. He was rushed to the emergency room and lost consciousness. The decision to proceed with the operation was made by his wife, Jenni, who remarks "It was his leg or his life."
Such a life-changing ordeal would surely deter other artists, but West is already looking firmly forward, insisting that Unusual Suspects' release date was not altered because of his condition. "Now I've got to figure out how to play the guitar [whilst standing] on one leg," he states, under no illusions regarding the size of the task ahead. "The prosthetic ones they have these days are really good, but of course I'm used to balancing my weight on two feet. I'm going to have to retrain myself."
LESLIE WEST - BIOGRAPHY
During the course of his 30-plus year career, Leslie West has received world-wide acclaim as one of the most innovative and influential musicians in the history of rock music. He is perhaps best known for his role as leader of the explosive trio, Mountain, who were named by VH-1 as one of the Top 100 Hard Rock Groups of all time. With Mountain, he climbed the heights of rock stardom on the strength of a completely unique, signature guitar sound and classic songs such as "Mississippi Queen", "Never In My Life", "Theme From An Imaginary Western" and "Nantucket Sleigh ride", all of which are still staples of rock radio to this day. Leslie has earned the admiration of a long list of famous peers. During his career, he has recorded or played with a plethora of rock icons including Billy Joel, Van Halen, The Who, Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix, to name just a few. In fact, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Schenker and Richie Sambora have all cited Leslie as a major influence on their own music.
Leslie's bold, expressive and unique guitar style is a mirror of his own personality. Spend a little time talking with this larger-than-life figure, and you'll realize that he is as charismatic without a guitar in his hands as he is with one. Possessing a sharp sense of humour, he is at once gregarious and gruff while recounting stories from his legendary past. And when discussing his newest projects, such as new album Unusual Suspects, he exudes an infectious enthusiasm and excitement.
West has never been one to rest on his impressive laurels. His boundless creativity has often involved him in projects that take him outside his traditional roles of guitarist, singer and songwriter.
In 1986, he acted alongside Tom Hanks and Shelley Long in the hit comedy film, The Money Pit and has lent his distinctive voice to the popular animated series, Beast Wars Transformers which ran for three seasons on the WB network in 1996.
Leslie West has long been a popular personality on the Howard Stern Radio Show, and it was Stern whom he gave an interview in late June 2011 from his hospital bed, mere days after undertaking life-saving surgery which saw his leg amputated above the knee.
A long-time sufferer of Diabetes; West was aboard a long-haul flight to Mississippi to perform at the Hard Rock Hotel And Casino, when the limb began to swell. He was rushed to the emergency room and lost consciousness. The decision to proceed with the operation was made by his wife, Jenni, who remarks "It was his leg or his life."
Such a life-changing ordeal would surely deter other artists, but West is already looking forward, insisting that Unusual Suspects' release date was not altered because of his condition. "Now I've got to figure out how to play the guitar [whilst standing] on one leg," he states, under no illusions regarding the size of the task ahead. "The prosthetic ones they have these days are really good, but of course I'm used to balancing my weight on two feet. I'm going to have to retrain myself."
Leslie West has been a creative force for over three decades and shows no sign of losing his ambition or his desire to continually reinvent himself. His ability to adapt his creative spirit to a diverse range of projects is a key ingredient in the longevity of this multi-faceted entertainer's success. All humans have a unique fingerprint. In the world of guitar, Leslie has that distinctive sound and tone that is unique to him. There are many clones, but few who have a voice of their own. When Leslie hits a note, you know it's him and that's what makes him one of a kind.
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