Complete List Of Mountain Band Members

Feature Photo: 14 Nov 1970, page 41, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Mountain formed on Long Island, New York in 1969 when Leslie West and producer Felix Pappalardi decided to take their initial collaboration on West’s solo album and transform it into a working rock band, naming themselves after West’s album release. The group’s original lineup consisted of West on guitar and vocals, Pappalardi on bass and vocals, keyboardist Steve Knight, and drummer N.D. Smart, who Canadian drummer Corky Laing would quickly replace. The band became one of the definitive hard rock acts of the early 1970s, releasing six studio albums across multiple incarnations spanning four decades.

Mountain achieved their greatest commercial success between 1969 and 1971, during which time they released three albums that established them as pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal. Their 1970 debut Climbing! reached No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and featured the signature hit “Mississippi Queen,” which peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned gold certification. Their second album, Nantucket Sleighride (1971), charted at No. 16, and the 1971 release Flowers of Evil combined studio and live material. The band’s early success was bolstered by their appearance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival, where their drum break on the live recording of “Long Red” became one of the most sampled moments in hip-hop history, appearing in over 700 songs by artists including A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Kanye West, and Jay-Z.

The band’s history was marked by multiple breakups and reunions spanning more than 40 years. Mountain disbanded in February 1972 following a United Kingdom tour, reunited briefly in 1973-1974, reformed again in 1981, and had further reunions in 1985, 1992-1998, and 2001-2010. The final reunion saw them recording Masters of War in 2007, a collection of Bob Dylan covers. Beyond their recorded output, Mountain released live albums including Mountain Live: The Road Goes Ever On (1972), Twin Peaks (1974), and Eruption (2004). The band’s legacy as a foundational hard rock act influenced generations of musicians, and they continue to be celebrated through various projects, most notably Corky Laing’s ongoing “Corky Laing’s Mountain” tribute project that began in 2015.

Leslie West

Leslie West, born Leslie Weinstein on October 22, 1945, in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, was the guitarist, vocalist, and primary creative force behind Mountain from the band’s inception in 1969 until his death on December 23, 2020. West performed with Mountain during all of the band’s active periods from 1969 until 1972, returned for the 1973-1974 reunion, rejoined in 1981 and remained with the group through 1985, participated in the 1992-1998 period, and was involved with their final iteration from 2001 through 2010. During the classic period from 1970 to 1971, West performed on Climbing!, Nantucket Sleighride, and Flowers of Evil, contributing lead guitar and vocals while co-writing songs including “Mississippi Queen” with Corky Laing and Felix Pappalardi. He appeared on all subsequent studio albums including Twin Peaks (1974), Avalanche (1974), Go for Your Life (1985), Man’s World (1996), Mystic Fire (2002), and Masters of War (2007).

Before Mountain, West had been a member of The Vagrants, an R&B and blue-eyed soul rock band from Long Island that was influenced by acts like the Young Rascals and recorded for Atco Records. After Mountain’s initial breakup in 1972, West formed West, Bruce and Laing with Corky Laing and ex-Cream bassist Jack Bruce, which released Why Dontcha (1972), Whatever Turns You On (1973), and Live ‘n’ Kickin’ (1974). He also pursued a solo career during the 1970s, releasing The Great Fatsby in 1975 (which featured a guest appearance by Mick Jagger on guitar) and The Leslie West Band in 1976 (which featured Mick Jones on guitar before he joined Foreigner). West also played guitar on Bo Diddley’s 1976 20th Anniversary of Rock ‘n’ Roll all-star album on the track “Bo Diddley Jam” and in 1976 auditioned for Lynyrd Skynyrd after the departure of Ed King, though that position ultimately went to Steve Gaines. In 1991, he co-wrote and performed guitar on the song “Hang Me Out to Dry” from Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan’s album ToolBox, released in Europe.

West’s solo work continued into the 1980s and beyond, with appearances on various projects and later recordings of blues material. He appeared in the 1973 film Family Honor and the 1986 film The Money Pit. Following a leg amputation in 2011 due to complications from diabetes, West continued performing and recording, including a 2014 guest performance on Eli Cook’s album Primitive Son. His 2015 solo album Soundcheck peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. In 2006, West was inducted into the Long Island Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was ranked as the 245th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone in 2023. Weeks before his death in December 2020, West was set to record an album with various guest guitarists including Slash, Zakk Wylde, Dee Snider, and others, which was posthumously released in 2022 as Legacy: A Tribute to Leslie West and featured contributions from numerous rock musicians paying tribute to his influence and legacy.

Felix Pappalardi

Felix Pappalardi, born December 30, 1939, in the Bronx, New York, was the bassist, vocalist, and primary producer of Mountain from 1969 through 1972 and again from 1973 through 1974 until his death on April 17, 1983. Pappalardi performed on Mountain’s first three studio albums, Climbing!, Nantucket Sleighride, and Flowers of Evil, providing bass lines, backing vocals, and production expertise while co-writing songs with Leslie West and his wife Gail Collins. He returned to the band in 1973 to participate in Twin Peaks and Avalanche, serving as both musician and producer on these albums. Pappalardi’s bass playing was characterized by melodic counterpoint and inventive arrangements that helped define Mountain’s sound during their formative years.

Before Mountain, Pappalardi established himself as a significant producer and arranger in the music industry through his work with the British psychedelic blues rock band Cream. Beginning with their second album Disraeli Gears (1967), Pappalardi produced and arranged the album’s studio sound, contributing instrumentation and arrangements. He and his wife Gail Collins wrote the Cream hit “Strange Brew” with Eric Clapton and co-wrote “World of Pain.” Pappalardi also produced Cream’s subsequent albums Wheels of Fire (1968) and Goodbye (1969). His work in the 1960s also included producing albums for folk and folk-rock artists including Joan Baez, The Youngbloods, Tim Hardin, Richard and Mimi Farina, Ian and Sylvia, and Fred Neil while working as an arranger and producer for Atlantic Records. He studied classical music at the University of Michigan and initially worked in New York’s Greenwich Village folk scene before transitioning into record production.

After the initial breakup of Mountain in 1972, Pappalardi continued his production work and performed as a session musician and songwriter. He was forced to reduce his live performing activities due to partial hearing loss caused by the extremely high volume of Mountain’s amplification. He continued to produce records during the 1970s and released his first solo album, Don’t Worry, Ma, in 1979, which reflected his growing interest in funk, jazz fusion, and reggae and featured contributions from bassist Chuck Rainey and drummer Bernard “Pretty” Purdie. Pappalardi also worked as producer and performer on Felix Pappalardi & Creation (1976), a collaboration with Japanese hard rock outfit The Creation. Other production credits in the 1970s included work with Jack Bruce’s solo album Songs for a Tailor (1969), Stephen Stills’ Stephen Stills 2 (1971), Foghat’s Rock ‘n’ Roll (1973), Hot Tuna’s Double Dose (1973), and the Dead Boys’ We Have Come for Your Children (1978). Pappalardi also worked on NBC’s variety show Hot Hero Sandwich in 1979. He died on April 17, 1983, when he was shot in the neck by his wife Gail Collins Pappalardi in their East Side Manhattan apartment.

Corky Laing

Laurence Gordon “Corky” Laing, born January 26, 1948, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is a Canadian rock drummer who became one of the founding members of Mountain and has remained involved with the band in various capacities for over five decades. Laing joined Mountain in late 1969, replacing original drummer N.D. Smart, and performed on the band’s breakthrough albums Climbing! (1970), Nantucket Sleighride (1971), and Flowers of Evil (1971), providing powerful, driving drumming that became integral to Mountain’s hard rock sound. Laing appeared on the live album Mountain Live: The Road Goes Ever On (1972) before the band’s initial breakup. After the band reformed in 1973 without him, Laing returned in 1974 to drum on Avalanche, and he has been part of every Mountain reunion from 1981 onward, appearing on Go for Your Life (1985), Man’s World (1996), Mystic Fire (2002), and Masters of War (2007).

Before joining Mountain, Laing got his professional break in 1961 playing drums for the vocal group The Ink Spots. He also played in a band called Energy, which was produced by Felix Pappalardi, the very producer who would recruit him for Mountain. After Mountain’s initial breakup in 1972, Laing formed West, Bruce and Laing with Leslie West and ex-Cream bassist Jack Bruce, which released Why Dontcha (1972), Whatever Turns You On (1973), and Live ‘n’ Kickin’ (1974). West, Bruce and Laing was a significant supergroup that bridged 1960s blues rock with 1970s hard rock. After West, Bruce and Laing disbanded in 1973, Laing and West briefly formed Leslie West’s Wild West Show, which featured guest appearances from Mitch Ryder, NYC guitarist Peter Baron, and bassist Tom Robb. In late 1977 through 1978, Laing recorded an album with former Mountain bassist Felix Pappalardi, Ian Hunter from Mott the Hoople, and Mick Ronson; this recording was not released until 1999 as The Secret Sessions.

Laing has maintained an active career beyond Mountain, including work with the group Cork, a project that involved collaborations with Spin Doctors guitarist Eric Schenkman and Noel Redding, the former bass guitarist of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. In 2003, Laing and Leslie West co-authored Nantucket Sleighride and Other Mountain On-the-Road Stories, a book documenting their experiences with the band during its peak period and their subsequent musical careers. He released his solo album Makin’ It On the Street and recorded the audio version of his memoirs, Stick It!, in 2007 with Cory Bruyea. Laing lives in Toronto’s historic Liberty Village and was interviewed for the 2006 documentary film Liberty Village – Somewhere in Heaven. In 2019, he released his autobiography, Letters to Sarah. Following Leslie West’s death in December 2020, Laing became the last surviving member of Mountain’s classic 1970-1971 lineup. He formed the project “Corky Laing’s Mountain” in 2015, which has toured internationally performing Mountain songs as well as material from West, Bruce and Laing and Cream, with various musicians including Joe Venti, Phil Baker, Richie Scarlet, and Ken Sidotti.

Steve Knight

Stephen Sanders Knight, born May 12, 1935, in New York to artist parents, was the keyboardist for Mountain from 1969 until his departure in 1972. Knight spent his childhood between Woodstock, New York (1938-1950) and New York City after his father became a professor at Columbia University in 1950. He attended Columbia University from 1952 to 1959, studying art, music, and psychology, earning a B.S. degree in psychology and completing one year of graduate work in the same field. During his time in New York, Knight became active in the Greenwich Village music scene and recorded or was a member of various bands including the Feenjon Group, the Peacemakers, Devil’s Anvil, and Wings (not Paul McCartney’s group) from 1959 to 1968. He participated in the Red Onion Jazz Band and other traditional jazz contexts, honing his skills through the improvisational demands of Village venues.

Knight was recruited by Felix Pappalardi to join Mountain as the keyboardist in 1969 before the band’s debut album Climbing! was released. He performed on Mountain’s three studio albums released during the band’s first period, providing organ and piano parts that augmented the band’s heavy blues-rock sound. Knight’s contributions appeared on Climbing! (1970), Nantucket Sleighride (1971), and Flowers of Evil (1971), where he played organ on covers including “Roll Over Beethoven.” His keyboard work filled the overall soundscape and provided textural support to Leslie West’s guitar and Felix Pappalardi’s bass lines. Knight departed Mountain in 1972 when the band initially disbanded.

After leaving Mountain, Knight returned to traditional jazz performance and eventually moved away from full-time music to pursue other endeavors. For the next 25 years, he worked in specialty engineering and construction work, serving as a door engineer, while maintaining involvement as a songwriter, author, and part-time musician. Knight eventually moved back to Woodstock, New York, where he became politically active in his community, winning election to the Town Board in 1999 as a two-term elected councilman for the town. He wrote the official song of Woodstock, New York, titled “Valley Finale.” Knight died on January 19, 2013, in Riverdale, New York, at age 77. He was survived by his daughter Zoe Knight, her husband Stuart Wolferman, and his grandson Jasper Knight Wolferman.

Norman D. Smart

Norman D. “N.D.” Smart, born September 29, 1947, in Dayton, Ohio, was the original drummer for Mountain, performing on the band’s 1969 Woodstock Festival appearance and early studio recording before being replaced by Corky Laing. Smart first performed on Leslie West’s 1969 solo album Mountain, produced by Felix Pappalardi, providing drums alongside West’s guitar and vocals and Pappalardi’s bass. Smart played Mountain’s third concert ever at the 1969 Woodstock Festival on August 16, 1969, performing on songs including “Blood of the Sun,” “Stormy Monday,” “Theme for an Imaginary Western,” and “Long Red.” The 24-second drum break at the beginning of the live recording of “Long Red” became one of the most sampled drum breaks in hip-hop history, appearing in over 700 songs by artists including EPMD, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Kanye West, and The Game.

Smart began his professional music career in the mid-1960s, drumming for local Dayton bands called The Rich Kids, which evolved into The Mark V and played the local nightclub circuit extensively. In 1966, he replaced Chip Damiani as the drummer for the Boston-based garage rock band The Remains, contributing to their national breakthrough and supporting tour with The Beatles in August 1966. The Remains released their debut album on Epic Records in 1966 before disbanding in 1967 as musical trends shifted. Smart subsequently worked with various bands including Thee Rubber Band, Bo Grumpus (which was produced by Felix Pappalardi), Kangaroo (which recorded for MGM in 1968), and Hello People.

After his brief tenure with Mountain, Smart continued an active career in music. He later performed with Todd Rundgren’s various projects throughout the 1970s and 1980s, making appearances on multiple Rundgren albums. Smart provided backing vocals and drums on several tracks from Rundgren’s 1980 album The Ballad of Todd Rundgren and appeared on Rundgren’s 1989 release Nearly Human. He provided session drumming on the James Cotton Blues Band’s 1972 album Taking Care of Business, on tracks including “Route 66” and “Goodbye My Lady,” the latter co-written with Mark Klingman and Todd Rundgren. Smart also drummed on Bobby Charles’ self-titled 1972 album and Jesse Winchester’s 1972 album Third Down, 110 to Go. In the late 1970s, Smart joined the Woodstock Mountains Revue, drumming and providing backing vocals on their 1978 album Pretty Lucky, and participated in Gram Parsons’ Fallen Angels project as the drummer for that collaborative effort.

Allan Schwartzberg

Allan Schwartzberg served as the drummer for Mountain during the 1973-1974 reunion period following the band’s initial breakup. Schwartzberg was brought in to replace the original Corky Laing when West and Pappalardi reformed the band in mid-1973. He performed on the live double album Twin Peaks (February 1974), which was recorded from Mountain’s Japan tour and showcased the band’s improvisational prowess during extended jams including performances of “Never in My Life” and “Silver Paper.” Schwartzberg provided the drumming on the studio album Avalanche (July 1974) until Corky Laing returned to the drum position for the final recording sessions of that album before Mountain broke up again following their last show at Felt Forum in New York City on December 31, 1974.

Bob Mann

Bob Mann, formerly of the band Dreams, was recruited as the rhythm guitarist and keyboardist for Mountain during the 1973-1974 reunion period. Mann joined the reformed band alongside drummer Allan Schwartzberg in mid-1973 and appeared on the live double album Twin Peaks (February 1974), recorded from the band’s Japanese tour. He contributed to the studio album Avalanche (July 1974) before Mountain’s breakup later that year. Mann’s multi-instrumental contributions on guitar and keyboards helped fill out the band’s sound during this reunion period, providing harmonic and rhythmic support to Leslie West’s lead guitar and Felix Pappalardi’s bass lines.

David Perry

David Perry served as the second guitarist for Mountain from November 1973 through September 1974 during the band’s 1973-1974 reunion. Perry was added to the lineup that included Leslie West on lead guitar, Felix Pappalardi on bass, Corky Laing on drums, and Bob Mann on keyboards and rhythm guitar. He contributed to the studio album Avalanche (July 1974), which would be Mountain’s final album with Pappalardi as a participating member. Perry’s rhythm guitar work provided additional textural support to the band’s heavy blues-rock sound before the band broke up again following their December 31, 1974 show at Felt Forum in New York City.

Miller Anderson

Miller Anderson, formerly of British rock bands Savoy Brown and Keef Hartley, joined Mountain in 1981 as the bassist when Leslie West and Corky Laing reunited the band following nearly a decade of inactivity. Anderson performed with the reunited lineup through 1983 before being replaced in 1984. His tenure with Mountain during this reunion period helped establish the band’s lineup for the recording of their comeback album Go for Your Life. Anderson’s bass contributions provided the foundation for the band’s return to recording and touring after their extended hiatus in the 1970s.

Mark Clarke

Mark Clarke, an accomplished bassist and multi-instrumentalist, served as the bassist for Mountain during two periods of the band’s history. Clarke first joined Mountain in 1984, replacing Miller Anderson, and performed on the 1985 album Go for Your Life, which was dedicated to Felix Pappalardi’s memory following his death in 1983. After this initial period with the band, Clarke left, but he returned as the bassist when Mountain reformed again in 1995 and performed on the 1996 album Man’s World. Clarke continued touring and performing with the band during the mid-1990s until the group went dormant again in 1998. Beyond his work with Mountain, Clarke has been a session and touring musician with various rock acts and has contributed to numerous recording projects.

Richie Scarlet

Richie Scarlet, known for his solo work and collaborations with Ace Frehley, joined Mountain in 1992 when the band reunited with Leslie West and Corky Laing to form the new lineup. Scarlet initially served as the bassist for the reformed band and participated in their 1992-1993 period, appearing on television including The Dennis Miller Show. He was replaced as bassist by Randy Coven in 1993, after which Mountain continued with various lineup changes. Scarlet returned to the band in 1998 as part of the lineup that recorded and toured with West and Laing. He remained with the band through the 2001-2002 reunion and subsequent touring with Mystic Fire. Following Leslie West’s death in 2020, Scarlet has been involved with Corky Laing’s Mountain project, appearing as lead guitarist starting in 2016 for their United States tour and continuing in that role through 2021 and beyond, performing Mountain songs as well as material from West, Bruce and Laing and Cream.

Randy Coven

Randy Coven served as the bassist for Mountain beginning in 1993, replacing Richie Scarlet. Coven performed with the band during the 1993 period of their reunion before Mountain went through additional lineup changes in 1994 and beyond. His contribution to the band came during a period of flux for the reunited ensemble as they worked to establish a stable touring and recording configuration.

Noel Redding

Noel Redding, the former bass guitarist of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, was brought into Mountain’s lineup in 1994 as a guest member. Redding appeared with the band during a tour configuration that also included occasional special guest guitarist Elvin Bishop. This represented a significant collaboration between Redding and the Mountain musicians, combining the legacy of Hendrix’s musical partner with the hard rock sound that Mountain had developed.

Elvin Bishop

Elvin Bishop served as an occasional special guest guitarist for Mountain in 1994 during a tour that featured Noel Redding on bass. Bishop’s guest appearances added to the firepower of the band’s live performances during this touring period, bringing his blues-rock credentials to Mountain’s classic repertoire.

Joe Venti

Joe Venti has served as the bassist and vocalist for Corky Laing’s Mountain project since 2015, when Corky Laing formed this new ensemble to continue performing Mountain’s catalog. Venti was part of the original 2015 lineup alongside guitarist and vocalist Phil Baker. He has continued with the project through various touring configurations, including the 2016 United States tour, and remains part of the band as of 2021. Venti’s bass work and vocal contributions provide the harmonic and vocal foundation for Corky Laing’s Mountain, helping to recreate the band’s classic sound for contemporary audiences.

Phil Baker

Phil Baker, known for his work with Uriah Heep Legends, joined Corky Laing’s Mountain project in 2015 as the guitarist and vocalist. Baker was part of the original 2015 lineup alongside bassist Joe Venti and has performed with the band on various European tours. His guitar playing and vocal contributions complement Corky Laing’s drumming and help establish the musical direction of Corky Laing’s Mountain during their live performances of the band’s classic material.

Ken Sidotti

Ken Sidotti joined Corky Laing’s Mountain in 2016 as the keyboardist for their United States touring lineup. Sidotti provided keyboard parts that rounded out the band’s sound alongside Richie Scarlet on lead guitar, Joe Venti on bass and vocals, and Corky Laing on drums and vocals. His contributions helped maintain the textural and harmonic elements that characterized Mountain’s original keyboard sound.

Chris Shutters

Chris Shutters performed as a guitarist in Corky Laing’s Mountain lineup beginning in 2017. Shutters appeared alongside Richie Scarlet on lead guitar, Mark Mikel on bass, and Corky Laing on drums during this configuration of the band. Shutters contributed rhythm and additional guitar textures to the band’s performances of Mountain classics and related material.

Mark Mikel

Mark Mikel served as the bassist for Corky Laing’s Mountain beginning in 2017, replacing Joe Venti in that position. Mikel continued in the bassist role through 2020 when touring was ceased due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. During his tenure, Mikel played alongside guitarist Chris Shutters, lead guitarist Richie Scarlet, and drummer Corky Laing, providing bass and harmonic support for the band’s live performances.

James “Rev” Jones

James “Rev” Jones served as the bassist for Mountain during their touring period from 2008 until 2010, appearing on their final tour opening for Joe Satriani in October and November 2008. Jones was formerly a member of the Michael Schenker Group and provided bass support for the band’s final performances before the original Mountain lineup went dormant. Jones has also been involved with various configurations of the band and projects related to Mountain’s music throughout his career.

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