Corky Laing

Laurence Gordon "Corky" Laing (born January 26, 1948) is a Canadian rock drummer, best known as a longtime member of the pioneering American hard rock band Mountain.

After the band's first breakup the following year, Laing and Mountain bandmate Leslie West went on to form the blues-rock power trio West, Bruce and Laing with former Cream bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce. West, Bruce and Laing produced two studio albums and a live release before Mountain reformed without Laing in 1973 for a Japanese tour releasing the live Twin Peaks. Laing rejoined in 1974 recording Avalanche only for Mountain to break up again shortly after. The band would once again reconvene with guitarist Leslie West and Laing in 1985 for the release of Go For Your Life, and Laing has continued with them, most recently working on the band's 2007 Bob Dylan cover album Masters of War.

In late 1977 through 1978, he recorded an album with Felix Pappalardi, Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson. This album was not released at the time but was subsequently released in the UK in 1999 as "The Secret Sessions".

In addition to Mountain, he has recorded as the group Cork, with Spin Doctors guitarist/vocalist Eric Schenkman and Noel Redding, formerly bass guitarist of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. In late 1975, he played congas on several tracks on Bo Diddley's all-star album The 20th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll.

In 1991, he was featured on Men Without Hats' cover version of The Beatles' song "I Am the Walrus" on drums. This is available on the Sideways album.

21st century In 2003, Laing and Leslie West authored Nantucket Sleighride and Other Mountain on-the-Road Stories, a chronicle of their time with Mountain in its heyday and their careers in the years following.

Laing lives in Toronto's historic Liberty Village and was interviewed for the 2006 documentary film, Liberty Village - Somewhere in Heaven. He contributed the music for the film from recordings of his band Cork.

In 2007, Laing recorded Stick It!, the audio version of his memoirs with Cory Bruyea in Oakville, Ontario. Laing's interest in education led him to attend the KoSA Music Camp in Vermont for the summer of 2012.

In 2019, he released his autobiography, Letters to Sarah.

Following the death of Leslie West in December 2020, Laing became the last surviving member of Mountain's classic lineup. In 2016, he formed Corky Laing's Mountain, with former Mountain bassist Richie Scarlet, now on lead guitar, and the bass slot was filled in by Mark Mikel, Joe Venti, or Bernt Ek.

Collaborators Bo Diddley Mahogany Rush John Lennon Bobby Keys Ten Years After David Rea Mylon LeFevre Meat Loaf Mick Ronson

Discography Solo 1977 – Makin' It on the Street 2019 – Toledo Sessions 2022 — Finnish Sessions

With Mountain Studio albums Climbing! (1970) Nantucket Sleighride (1971) Flowers of Evil (1971; partially live) Avalanche (1974) Go for Your Life (1985) Man's World (1996) Mystic Fire (2002) Masters of War (2007)

Live albums Mountain Live: The Road Goes Ever On (1972) Eruption (2004)

Compilation albums The Best of Mountain (1973) Over the Top (2001)

West, Bruce and Laing 1972 – Why Dontcha 1973 – Whatever Turns You On 1974 – Live 'n' Kickin'

With Leslie West 1975 – The Great Fatsby 1976 – The Leslie West Band 2005 – Guitarded

With Bartholomew plus III 1965 – "She's Mine" / "You're Not There" 1967 – "When I Fall in Love"

With Cork 1999 – Speed of THought 2003 – Out There

With Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson and Felix Pappalardi 1999 – The Secret Sessions

With The Mix 1980 – American Glue

With The Perfect Child 2013 – Playing God 2019 - Live At Howard's Club H

Guest appearances 1969 – David Rea – Maverick Child, drums 1971 – David Rea – By the Grace of God, drums 1972 – Bobby Keys – Bobby Keys, drums 1975 - John Lennon - Rock 'n' Roll, background vocals 1976 – Bo Diddley – The 20th Anniversary of Rock N' Roll, congas 1987 – Charlie Karp & the Name Droppers – Charlie Karp & the Name Droppers, percussion 1991 – Men Without Hats – Sideways, on "I Am the Walrus", drums

Other 2004: Jason Hartless Jr. – First Division 2012: Corky Laing and The Memory Thieves – House of Thieves 2018: Pompeii – The Secret Sessions