The moment I heard a company by the name of Fret12 was going to do a DVD of Leslie West and Mountain, I knew it was going to be the 1st product to review for my new Great Fatsbies website. Good or Bad, I promised myself to call it like it is, right down the line, for the benefit of all the fans. LESLIE WEST THE SOUND and THE STORY follows the entertaining Leslie West: Big Phat Ass Guitar. As most fans know full well, Leslie West and Mountain have been SO LONG OVERDUE for recognition in the music industry, that even us diehard fans pretty much had given up Leslie and Corky would ever get their just due. Well, Mountain fans of days past and present, its time to heap praise on Fret12 because FINALLY Leslie gets his due.

Fret12 was gracious enough to send us a copy to review, and I must say when I received it I was instantly impressed by the box. This is an effort of the very highest production values, and you can tell from the beautiful picture of Leslie on the cover, to the tablature book insert, to the stunning video and sound quality of the entire DVD from start to finish. This time, Leslie chose the right production company. Just like the man on the cover, “First Class” in every way.

Fret12 places Leslie West in your living room, in full digital sight and sound. For three hours, Leslie tells you how he penned some of the greatest music of the 60s and 70s. Leslie lets it all hang out, and no way to deny it, this is a MUST BUY for any Leslie West, Vagrants, West, Bruce & Laing or Mountain fan. For the FAN, this will be a cherished masterpiece that will proudly sit in your bookcase or DVD case for the next 10-20 years (or longer). If you don't buy it today, walk over to your favorite clock, turn it back to yesterday, and buy it like its hot! With no further ado, lets take a closer look at the video...

The first half of the DVD is titled THE SOUND. Leslie becomes your guitar teacher for 90 minutes. You get the riffs, but so much more important, you get the MAN. Leslie explains how he puts the “Soul into Rock n Roll,” right down to the vibrato that made him a Guitar Hero the world over. Even if you have never seen him in concert, or heard but one song, you get the feeling you are being tought by a living legend, and are just glued to that screen. This is a goldmine for the aspiring guitarist to the guitarists influenced by Leslie himself. Finally, after all these years, Leslie gets into how he got his legendary tone in the 70s, and how he gets it today. If you have a guitar, you can follow right along with Leslie.

Riff by riff, an absolute nirvana to the players who pride themselves on tone. The compassion Leslie shows the fans in this video is very touching. Leslie West has certainly aged, but he is wiser. He is just as commanding, but its not because he weighs 400lbs. He is fit, happy and apparently grateful he has made it this far. And the feeling was mutual with the folks I watched this video with. At some points you can see them get choked up. There's something about this man. He makes you laugh... but he makes you like him, a lot. As one observer states “I cant believe I've never seen this man live. What a bad ass. He is a Rock God.” This from a diehard Eric Clapton fan no less!

The second half of the DVD is titled THE STORY. Guest appearances by Zakk Wylde, Joe Satriani, Mark Tremonti, & Corky Laing are the highlights here.

The Joe Satriani interview is for every Mountain fan that wondered WHY Leslie never got his due.... and wondered if he ever would. Satch's words are worth the price of admission all by its lonesome in my eyes. This is required listening Mountain fans!

The Zakk Wylde interview came as a complete surprise to me. I mean, a whole generation apart, it would seem like the two popular guitarists' fan bases would have little in common. Fret12 does a stellar job catching this hilarious “work” between Zakk & Leslie. That is the only hint I will give. I will repeat for clarity.... this interview is hilarious.

Elliott Rubinson (CEO of Dean Guitar) and Mark Tremonti (Lead Guitarist of Creed and Alter Bridge) round out the dignitaries. They remind the older generation and educate our newest generation how much Leslie West and his innovative, high quality sound meant to the Blues and Rock and Roll.

An in-depth manufacturing demonstration of the Leslie West Signature Dean Guitar is also included, as well as an interview with the creator of the Leslie West's Budda amps that have been stealing the spotlight in every show Leslie has done in the past year. These snow white amps are to be seen and heard to be believed. The marriage of Leslie, Dean, and Budda have been pivitol to Leslie's sound onstage. He sounds even better now then he did with his Marshall stacks and Steinbergers. What is it with this Long Island, NY native? Like wine... he just keeps getting better!

Clearly a deserving music legend, Fret12 is to be commended for emphasizing just how influential Leslie has been to so many of the Blues and Rock musicians we have listened to on the radio in our home, automobile, and office for over 40 years.

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