Laing, Corky

Websites:  No
Origin: Montréal, Québec, 🇨🇦 → New York, NY, 🇺🇸 → London, England, 🇬🇧 → Montréal, Québec, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Corky Laing (born Laurence Gordon Laing, January 28, 1948, Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian drummer best known for his powerhouse playing with the American hard rock band Mountain and the supergroup West, Bruce & Laing.

Laing grew up in Montreal, cutting his teeth in the 1960s with the band Energy, a local outfit that brought him to the attention of Felix Pappalardi (Cream’s producer and bassist for Mountain). In 1969 he joined Mountain, replacing founding drummer N.D. Smart II, and quickly made his mark on the band’s heavy blues-rock sound. With guitarist Leslie West and Pappalardi, Laing powered classics like “Mississippi Queen”, “Nantucket Sleighride”, and “Theme for an Imaginary Western.” Mountain became one of the defining hard rock bands of the early 1970s, performing at the original Woodstock Festival and touring worldwide.

In 1972 Laing co-founded West, Bruce & Laing alongside Leslie West and former Cream bassist Jack Bruce, releasing the albums Why Dontcha (1972) and Whatever Turns You On (1973). Though short-lived, the group further cemented Laing’s reputation as one of rock’s most dynamic drummers, blending thunderous technique with sharp musical instincts.

Returning to Mountain in various incarnations throughout the decades, Laing remained its rhythmic anchor across numerous reunions and recordings. Beyond Mountain, he worked with a wide range of artists, including Bo Diddley, Meat Loaf, and Mick Ronson.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Laing held a senior industry role as Vice President of A&R for PolyGram Canada (1989–1995), demonstrating his influence behind the scenes as well as on stage. Later projects included Cork, a collaboration with Eric Schenkman (Spin Doctors) and Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience), and solo recordings that showcased his songwriting alongside his drumming.

Laing has also published memoirs (Letters to Sarah, 2012) and spoken candidly about the excesses and energy of the classic rock era. Still active into the 2020s, he continues to record, tour, and celebrate the Mountain legacy, solidifying his place as one of Canada’s great rock exports.
-Robert Williston