A Queens, New York proto-punk band that earned a spot on Lenny Kaye’s original 1972 Nuggets comp, Vagrants featured future Mountain guitarist Leslie West, backed by his brother Larry and neighborhood friends. Known for a literally explosive stage act and sludgy, screwed takes on the Beatles and R&B (most notably Otis Redding’s “Respect”), they were admired by the young Ramones (who went to their high school) and Vanilla Fudge (who stole their act to greater acclaim).
