MusicRadar

West, before his recent leg amputation, with one of his signature Dean guitars. © Sayre Berman/Corbis

Leslie West's birthday was over a week ago (22 October, to be exact), but when MusicRadar reached the guitar star today, he was opening presents with friends during a belated celebration at his home in Englewood, New Jersey.

"All things considered, things aren't too bad," West says. "I'm still here, I've got a great wife, my friends are here, and I'm ready for whatever."

West's spirits are buoyed by the success of his latest album. Unusual Suspects, which debuted on the Billboard chart at number four, shows off some of his most forceful playing, singing and writing in decades. The record is a star-studded affair, with folks like Slash, Billy Gibbons, Joe Bonamassa, Zakk Wylde and Steve Lukather turning in supreme guest spots.

West had planned on touring behind the release, but the recent diabetes-related loss of his right leg has sidelined him for the time being. "It's a bitch," he says. "I have this great album, and I can't get out there. As long as they don't take off my arms or my head, I guess I'll be all right."

Taking a break from birthday festivities, West answered the following questions from MusicRadar readers:

Geo Jet asks, Why did you stray from the simplicity of a Les Paul Junior to all of those signature guitars? Have you had second thoughts about returning to a simpler rig?

"Dude, are you kidding me? Have you ever looked at the Leslie West signature by Dean? It's got one pickup. Seriously, man, the thing is as simple as it gets. If you don't know, that's one thing, but I'll tell you that it's my own design. It's like a Les Paul Junior but much, much better.

"The pickup, the Mountain Of Tone, is like a P-90, but it's a humbucker. So it's like a single-coil but it's got all the tone, you know? The whole tone. Check the thing out, my friend. You'll see."

Marco 52 says, I'm a good guitar player, but I don't have a distinctive sound. Everything I do sounds like things that have been done before. What do you suggest?

"Quit! Give up, man. You don't stand a chance. OK, I'm kidding! [laughs] Here's the real deal: Tune your guitar. So many people who don't like their sound aren't in tune. So tune your damn guitar already, that's the first thing.

"After that, take off any effects you have going on. Play straight into the amp. That's the only way to do it. Work with your hands. Play right into that amp. You'll find a sound. It might take time – a couple of years or whatever – but that's all right. The important thing is to get there.

"And make sure the band you're in is good. If you're not in a good band, you won't have a unique sound. You've got to be in a good band. And the tunes have to be great, too. Great tunes will inspire you to have your own sound."

Lane Red says, You're a New Jersey rocker. Do you ever get mad when people don't include you with other Jerseyans like Bruce Springsteen or Bon Jovi?

"Absolutely not. I'm from New York, dude. I'm in New Jersey because I like living near the golf course next to the George Washington Bridge. But I'm a New Yorker. I was born and raised in Forest Hills, New York. I'm just a rocker who moved to New Jersey."

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