Mountain in Full Flight: “Never In My Life” Ignites Paris in a Rare Live Document
In 1985, the American rock band Mountain delivered a commanding performance in Paris that stands as a powerful reminder of their enduring presence in hard rock history. Captured for German television and later issued on DVD, the concert presents the revitalized trio of Leslie West, Corky Laing, and Mark Clarke at a moment when their legacy was being reasserted before a vast European audience. Among the highlights is a thunderous rendition of “Never In My Life,” a song that had long defined the band’s early seventies peak.
Formed in 1969 by guitarist and vocalist Leslie West and bassist and producer Felix Pappalardi, Mountain quickly rose to prominence during the height of the album oriented rock era. They became one of the highest grossing rock acts between 1969 and 1972, fueled by the commercial and critical success of songs such as “Mississippi Queen” and “Nantucket Sleighride.” One of their earliest major appearances came at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, placing them at the center of a generational musical shift. Shortly thereafter, Canadian drummer Corky Laing joined the group, solidifying the classic lineup. Pappalardi’s death in 1983 marked a tragic chapter in the band’s history, but Mountain continued, anchored by West and Laing.
By 1985, Mountain had regrouped with British bassist Mark Clarke, previously associated with acts such as Uriah Heep and Rainbow. The trio toured in support of their album Go For Your Life and were invited to join Deep Purple on their European tour as special guests. It was during this period that the Paris performance was filmed. Playing to a massive and enthusiastic crowd, Mountain delivered a set built around their most celebrated material, including “Theme For An Imaginary Western” and “Never In My Life.”
In Paris, “Never In My Life” emerged as a centerpiece. Leslie West’s guitar tone, thick and saturated, retained the muscular authority that had defined the band’s early recordings. His vocal delivery carried grit and conviction, while Corky Laing’s drumming drove the performance with relentless force. Mark Clarke’s bass anchored the arrangement with precision, adding depth to the trio’s expansive sound. The absence of studio polish only heightened the raw immediacy of the moment.
Filmed by a leading German rock television production team, the concert remained rarely seen for many years before its eventual DVD release. Its arrival offered fans and historians a valuable archival document of a band that, despite lineup changes and industry shifts, maintained a clear artistic identity.
The Paris performance confirms that Mountain’s influence extended well beyond their initial breakthrough years. In “Never In My Life,” the band demonstrated that their core strengths powerful riffing, commanding vocals, and uncompromising stage presence remained fully intact, securing their place within the mainstream of rock music history.