Canadian born Corky Laing has been in many groups including, Bartholomew Plus III, Energy and more notably Mountain. Corky has also played with a legion of famous musicians including, but not limited to, John Lennon, Meatloaf, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson and Paul Butterfield.
Corky’s first brush with fame literally came after sweeping the stage one night just prior to the Ink Spots performing. They asked him to play drums behind them for the show. From such stories legends are built.
With Mountain, Corky enjoyed immense success and even acquired two gold discs for the Woodstock album, although he didn't actually play the gig with Mountain. One of his compositions, had been used as a basis for the song ‘Yasgur's Farm’ and he had also been asked to overdub the drums for the band, Ten Years After, on ‘ Goin' Home’. This was because the microphones on Ric Lee's drum kit had failed.
Massive success in the seventies with Mountain and the trio, West Bruce and Laing, continued until Mountain split around 1975. Corky continued to play with Leslie West and also recorded his own solo album entitled ‘Makin’ It On The Street’, which features Eric Clapton and Dickey Betts amongst others.
Corky continues to tour with Mountain and along with Leslie West, has written a book about the band. He recently recorded a spoken word album ‘Stick It’, which covers many of the stories and more, from his days in Mountain and the music business.