Leslie West's condition upgraded to good

By DONNA HARRIS - dharris@sunherald.com


OCEAN SPRINGS -- Leslie West's condition has been upgraded from serious to good, Richard Lucas, vice president of communications for Singing River Health System, said today.

"It's possible he might go home in a few days," Lucas said.

The legendary guitarist remains at Ocean Springs Hospital following leg amputation surgery.

West, who was born Leslie Weinstein in 1945, came through surgery successfully Monday to amputate his right leg at the knee due to complications from diabetes, said his publicist, Steve Karas of SKH Music.

“Leslie West is expected to fully recover, and faces extensive rehabilitation,” Karas said. “The family has requested that the public and media respect his privacy while he comes to terms with this life-changing transition.”

West, 65, was in Biloxi on Friday to perform with his band, Mountain, at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The show was canceled that afternoon.

Mountain was among the groups that played at the 1969 Woodstock festival. Early hits include “Mississippi Queen” and “Nantucket Sleighride.”

The amputation Monday was needed to stop a septic infection that started in his foot, according to a statement from his wife, Jenni West. An infection was complicated by peripheral arterial disease and “blood clotting factors,” she wrote.

West praised the hospital in her statement. “The nursing staff and doctors at Ocean Springs Hospital have taken excellent care of him and should be called angels for their efforts and tenderness they showed us in this time of crisis.”

Hospital officials say they’ll be prepared if any of his celebrity friends visit him. “Primarily, normal visiting procedures will apply with our usual emphasis on safety and security for all our patients,” Lucas said.

His yet-to-be-released album, The Unusual Suspects, includes performances by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Slash of Guns N’ Roses.

Dr. Desmond Bell, executive director of the “Save a Leg, Save a Life” Foundation, said West’s battle against diabetes and peripheral arterial disease “illustrates how seriously and suddenly” complications can arise.

The Associated Press, contributed to this report.

http://www.sunherald.com/...rious.html
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Deserves a repost of an old post I did on Leslie West/Mountain


[img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Music%20II/Gear/55_les_paul_jr.jpg[/img:$uid]

...Les Paul Jr.

And subsequently, the guitarist/music that inspired the initial interest years ago...

[img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Music%20II/LeslieWest-1.png[/img:$uid]

...Leslie West of Mountain.


The first time I heard Leslie West was via a single I bought when he was a member of a local New York Young Rascals like band called...

[img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Covers%20II/lostalbum.jpg[/img:$uid] [img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Music%20II/Live_leslie.jpg[/img:$uid]

...The Vagrants.


The single was a cover of Otis Redding's Respect...

[img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Covers%20II/45respect_loveyou.gif[/img:$uid]

...released in 1967 on the ATCO label. It was the B-side of I Love, Love You.

Neither tune was especially memorable but the A-side had guitar solo and the B-side had a prominent organ part.

He dropped off my radar for a few years until...

[img:$uid]http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc400/c428/c42822q21eu.jpg[/img:$uid]

...Climbin' was released in 1970 and Mississippi Queen was all over the radio.

What a guitar sound! (Les Paul Jr + guitar cord + Sunn amp)




...Mississippi Queen




...Never In My Life (my favorite Mountain rocker)




...For Yasgur's Farm (inspired by their Woodstock Festival experience)




...Nantucket Sleighride




...Theme From An Imaginary Western (favorite Mountain ballad)

Bookmarked...

good music

for adventurous listeners

Sucks to hear that but I'm glad it wasn't his arms. He lost a lot of weight over the years but I guess it didn't help him. Leslie is one of my favorite "dino-era" guitarists.

Hope he can get a artificial limb and come back out rockin' again.