Right after Sammy Hagar left the band a year before
Posted on 03/31/2012 2:10:19 AM PDT by RightOnline
Ronnie Montrose, who is best known for his fiery guitar work as a member of the band Montrose, died Saturday. It is believed that the cause of death was prostate cancer, which he had been battling for the past few years.
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/guitarist-ronnie-montrose-dead-at-64-20120304#ixzz1qgRRM6jk
(Excerpt) Read more at rollingstone.com ...
For those of us who came of age, both chronologically and musically, in the '60's and especially '70's, rock was a part of who we were and how we viewed the world around us. It was a time of incredible innovation....and some amazing talent. Witness the popularity today of "classic rock" stations even among the young.
I've been slinging rock/blues guitar for well over 40 years. Ronnie's "Montrose" album, with a very young Sammy Hagar handling vocals, absolutely ranks as a classic on anyone's list of "Must Have Rock Albums". It quite simply kicked ass.
Try to sit still while listening to the thunderous opening to "Rock Candy" (all you drummers out there....you know what I mean). "Bad Motor Scooter" will still blow your socks off. This album was years ahead of its time.
Montrose's work with Edgar Winter was highly underrated, IMHO. Listen to his playing on "They Only Come Out at Night", especially the radio staple "Frankenstein" (named such since it was an amalgam of many different musical parts created over a long period of time, finally "sewn" together into this tour de force).
His work with Gamma, his solo efforts, all amount to a significant body of work that highlighted his talent, melodic sense, and raw power.
The man could play. I am sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to his longtime wife and his loved ones.
He will be missed.
We lost the great Gary Moore last year, now Ronnie Montrose. Somewhere there is one HELL of a band.......
Right after Sammy Hagar left the band a year before
“Somewhere there is one HELL of a band.......”
As they used to say in the olden days, “Knowin’ that.”
Sad loss! As a Rock/Blues/Country guitarist I play in an odd style,,, with bare fingers. Used to use fingerpicks. My style was developed by learning the Earl Scruggs 5-string banjo method. Sadly, Earl Scruggs has also passed. Just a day or so ago, 8^(
You.....and Jeff Beck, Johnny Winter, Mark Knopfler, Lindsey Buckingham, to name a few. I'd say you're in some pretty heady company.
had first row seats to montrose concert as a kid.......an amazing display of guitar work and just plain simple rock and roll...........a bad motor scooter
RIP. Add another one to The List.
Sorry to hear this. I saw Montrose at the LA Forum in the 70s when Sammy Hagar was the lead singer. They were the opening act for Kiss. Ronnie was a great guitarist.
That’s too bad. I remember Ronnie back in the ‘70’s. I took a trip down memory lane a few months ago on youtube to look up some of his old stuff. Talented guitarist.
Very true! My older brothers saw Montrose back in 73. I was a little young at the time, maybe 10? But I remember them turning me on to them....they rocked!
“Your my Candy baby...your hard sweet and sticky”
Good stuff
Rest in Peace Mr. Montrose...God bless your family.
That would be “You’re ROCK candy, baby......hard, sweet and sticky”.
Yeah, there’s a few of us. Not very many though.
Your rock/metal collection isn't complete without that first 'Montrose' album with a very young Sammy Hagar on the vocals.
One of my very favorite concerts was a Rainbow/Gamma event in a small theater back in the late 70's. Second row seats...two of the greatest guitarists ever (Blackmore and Montrose) less than twenty feet away; if that. My ears were never the same... :-)
Damnit, I didn’t know this, and I don’t recall even hearing Gary Moore either. The last time I was crushed by a rocker’s death was Ronnie James Dio. Before that it was when Warren Zevon and Johnny Cash died a month apart in 2003. Just damn...
Tony Iommi is fighting cancer now as well.
JohnnyWinter will be touring Japan in May. Of course I’ll be there.
Yeah, gotta say that Gary Moore’s passing around this time last year really, REALLY hit me hard. He was and is my all-time favorite guitarist, hands down. An amazing talent. I miss the hell out of ‘im.
Johnny’s health sure isn’t very good, but that ol’ boy can still play the hell out of a guitar. He’ll be sitting the whole time during his show, but the fingers still work.
RIP.
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