The Vagrants

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The Vagrants (with Roger Mansour, Peter Sabatino, Jerry (Jeremy) Stroch, Larry West and Leslie West): At The Golden Pheasant Inn, they destroyed their instruments during their finale, the "Theme From Exodus." They did this long before The Who discovered the technique.

Although they never charted, several singles are now choice collectibles. Their recording of "Respect" (Atco 6473,1967) caught the ear of Jerry Wexler, who passed it along to Aretha Franklin.

Today, it's big Leslie West who remains a rock'n'roll legend (or "Fats" as his buddy, Howard Stern, calls him.) In fact, the term "legend" is no exaggeration. Leslie's exploits include rare demo "jam" sessions with John Lennon and Eric Clapton. His creative partner, the late Felix Papparlardi, took Leslie into the deep space that is "superstardom." Mountain's "Rising" and "Nantucket Sheighride" are staples in any classic rock collection. Later, as "West, Bruce and Laing," Leslie filled stadiums. (Of course, he's a big guy but I am referring to the amount of fans present when Leslie wrenched the sound out his tiny Les Paul!)

Leslie is always in the thick of it. Through the 90's, he and morning-man, Howard Stern, yuk it up with tales of Leslies's adventures. Even now (November, 1995), the release of the classic album by The Who, "Who's Next" features big Leslie on "Baby, Don't You Do It" , a previously unreleased single from 1974...and it's a killer. Leave it to Leslie!

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© Richard Arfin 1987 Revised 2004 All Rights Reserved