Q&A: Corky Laing is a Rock ‘n’ Roll Professor

As the drummer for Mountain, Corky Laing established himself as one of the hardest-hitting — and one of the most sampled by rap artists — in rock ‘n’ roll history, starting in the early ‘70s with timeless hits like “Mississippi Queen.”

As a recent transplant to Greenport, Laing is still a great drummer, still playing occasionally with Mountain and working to put his new band, with former Southold Town Supervisor Josh Horton, on the music industry’s map.

Laing, 63, is a native of Montreal and had lived in Toronto for years until he moved to Greenport to accept a fellowship and teach music and songwriting to students at the in Riverhead. He is also a sought-after lecturer at universities for music business classes.

North Fork Patch chatted with Laing before his Sunday night performance at the this weekend.

Q: Why’d you decide to settle in Greenport?

A: Well, I came here for the fellowship over the winter, and I just love the vibe. Everyone has a lifestyle they want to live, and it doesn’t get much better than this for me. I love to swim — and I swear they built that just for me.

Q: What approach do you take to teaching the kids at the arts council?

A: It’s an exercise in music. They’re at a time in their lives — 14, 15-years-old — where they are starting to find themselves. They’re writing and recording songs and working together — I’m just quarterbacking, so to speak. They’re kids, you know? They’re not journeyman musicians, they’re tuned into many things. It’s very refreshing.

Q: Have you ever done anything like this before?

A: Over the past 10 years or so, I’ve been lecturing on entertainment industry studies and on the music biz and how to make a living. I’ve been around for 40 years, so I guess I know what I’m talking about. And I have to tell you, there is no music industry anymore — only marketing industry. It’s nice because I’ve always been stuck behind a drum set, so when I get up to lecture people are like — “Oh geez, this guy can actually talk.” The academic department of the world is taking rock-and-roll very seriously these days.

Q: Do those in academia actually think they can be rock stars like you or are they just taking a class?

A: The aspiration to become a rock star has become very trendy, no question, and the majority of young pop stars want instant celebrity. But I lecture at places where students are immersed in studying opera, classical and jazz, and they take what they know and translate it into a business career. It’s not like they’re so much into being me — but I do want them to know that it is possible to survive. It’s hard to survive doing anything these days — even lawyers have problems. So you might as well do something you love.  

Q: How about Mountain? Are you guys done?

A: I don’t know, Mountain was supposed to be done 40 years ago. It just won’t go away and we’ve gotten more demand, especially over in Europe. But Mountain gigs aren’t career gigs — I can play those songs in my sleep. And in fact, I was playing those songs while sleeping on stage [laughs]. We’re not young bucks anymore. But the Memory Thieves are a very percussive, energetic band, and we’re having a great time.

Don't miss Corky Laing and the Memory Thieves on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the NoFo Rock and Folk Fest at Peconic Bay Winery in Cutchogue.

Click on these links for Q&As with fellow featured performers Commander Cody and Foghat: