Corky Laing
His thunderous, swinging drumbeats powered Mountain's classic rock anthems, defining the heavy sound of the early 1970s.
Born 1948 (age 78)·Canadian rock drummer·Birthday: January 26·Baby Boomers
Biography
Corky Laing, born Laurence Gordon Laing in Montreal, didn't just keep time; he brought a jazz-inflected swagger to hard rock's foundational era. Joining the newly formed Mountain in 1969, his drumming was the relentless engine behind hits like 'Mississippi Queen,' a track where his cowbell intro is as recognizable as the guitar riff. Beyond Mountain's initial run, Laing's career became a study in rock 'n' roll resilience. He navigated the band's breakups and reunions, collaborated with a wide range of artists, and even fronted his own projects, proving his musicality extended beyond the kit. His life on the road and in the studio is a first-hand account of rock history, marked by a gregarious personality that made him a beloved figure among peers and fans long after the peak of his commercial fame.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Corky was born in 1948, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Corky Was Born
The biggest hits of 1948
#1 Movie
The Red Shoes
Best Picture
Hamlet
#1 TV Show
Texaco Star Theatre
Corky's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1948Born
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1953Started school
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1961Became a teenager
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Could drive
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1966Could vote
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1969Turned 21
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1978Turned 30
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 40
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 50
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 60
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 70
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 78 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played drums on Mountain's signature hit 'Mississippi Queen,' a staple of classic rock radio.
- Was a constant member of Mountain, appearing on every one of the band's studio albums.
- Co-wrote the song 'The Teacher' with Leslie West, a highlight of the band's live performances.
- Toured and recorded with the supergroup West, Bruce and Laing following Mountain's initial dissolution.
Did You Know?
He earned the nickname 'Corky' in childhood for his energetic, bouncy nature.
Laing once participated in a recorded drum battle with The Who's Keith Moon.
He created and performed a one-man theatrical show about his life in music called 'The Best Seat in the House.'
“The groove is everything; you have to serve the song.”
