[FullRangeMan]

Ronnie Montrose died this Saturday 03March at 64, in his home in Millbrae, California.
His agent Jim Douglas, said he been getting worse for some time due to prostate cancer.
RIP
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?n=ronnie-montrose&pid=156301025

[InfernoSTi]

Sorry to read this...saw Ronnie in concert in about 1982ish at a "Day on the Green" in Oakland, CA and loved the show (UFO was up before Montrose).  I also have always loved his guitar work on "Listen to the Lion" by Van Morrison off "Saint Dominic's Preview" (check the credits if you didn't know that).  Ronnie was much more than the early influence for Sammy....

Thank you for posting...

John

[Rclark]

Sammy was just on That Metal Show a month or so ago, talking about this guy, and how he was very good and should consider finding a new young singer and touring as Montrose, but that he (Sammy), wasn't interested himself.

[Rob Babcock]

Very sad.  He was a great talent and I always liked his music.  So young, too.

[Mitsuman]

Sad indeed, what an innovative and talented guitar player. My first concert ever was Ted Nugent and Montrose and I will never forget hearing Space Station #5 live. 

I saw him again with Frank Marino at a small little venue during his solo career, around 1986 IIRC. He was fantastic then too. Gamma was a great band as well.

He will be missed, R.I.P. Ronnie 

[bpape]

Sad indeed.  Loved to listen to Ronnie play.  Th original Montrose album is still one of my favorite 'time to rock and roll' albums.

Another talent for the big band in the sky.

RIP

[Old timer]

Great comments about a great musician. I grew up on and played the first album so much, I wore it out.

RIP Ronnie.

[kbuzz3]

All the ridiculousness, nonsense and hand-wrining over talent wasters like whitney should put this into perspective.  The loss of montrose is a REAL.

May he be where ever one goes after death-riding a bad motor scooter all the way

[kbuzz3]

All the ridiculousness, nonsense and hand-wrining over talent wasters like whitney should put this into perspective.  The loss of montrose is a REAL.

May he be where ever one goes after death-riding a bad motor scooter all the way

Given the fact montrose is often attributed to "heavy metal" or "hair metal" albet incorrectly, the mention above about his work with van morrison cannot be over stated.  That stuff is , sublime, subtle and in many instances unsurpassed in their ability to musically transport and create and ambiance.

Funny, i had always loved the first montrose album and never realized it was him playing on those two Van records until one late evening in college and began to scan the liner notes. 

Im also pretty sure its him playing along with van on "almost independence day" another track that kills in its impact through subtlety and atmospherics.

A guy who can do that, AND rock candy- is rare.

[kbuzz3]

note wikapedia says  "Almost Independence Day" "features Morrison trading guitar licks with Ron Elliott" Im going to have to double check that.....

[tull skull]

He was often copied and rarely given due respect. I also saw him with Ted Nugent. I wonder what Ted will say? I believe Montrose got so sick of having his licks ripped off that he ended up in a law-suit against Nugent. Or was it the other way around?

The first time I saw him he was using a guitar with a metal bar sticking out perpendicular to the body that was about 3-4 ft. long. He would use it to help bend tones. I wonder if Floyd Rose was still in diapers at the time 

How I wish that today's guitarists could discover him and copy him!

[Mitsuman]

Let's not forget his great work on Edgar Winter's They Only Come Out At Night.

Gamma 1 is probably my favorite of Ronnie's work.

I wish I was a willow tree
Leaning on a lazy breeze
Moving like a midnight train
Midnight train to Georgia

I wish I was a grain of sand
Laying in a baby's hand
Falling like a diamond chain
Into the ocean
A willow tree
Is strong enough to bend
Never like the oak
Who lives in fear of the wind
A grain of sand
Is all I ever wanted to be
Lay me down and let the water
Wash right over me
Right on over me, oh

I wish I was an old guitar
Sitting in a beat up car
Hitting every two-bit bar
From here to Texas
Then I wouldn't be ashamed
To look up my old friends
They would be so proud
To see me strung up again

Repeat Chorus

Nobody wants you
When you're down and out
Nobody wants to know your name
You're just another face
Lost on the crowded street

Repeat Chorus

Right on
Right on over me

[Mike B.]

He played a smaller venue here last year. I read he put on a good rockin' show. RIP Ronnie

[max190]

Great comments about a great musician. I grew up on and played the first album so much, I wore it out.

RIP Ronnie.

+1

Get on your Bad Motor Scooter and rock the heavens
RIP brother

[weitrhino]

Sammy was just on That Metal Show a month or so ago, talking about this guy, and how he was very good and should consider finding a new young singer and touring as Montrose, but that he (Sammy), wasn't interested himself.

In fact Ronnie did just that, several years ago until his death with Keith St. John as the vocalist.  I didn't see Hagar on TMS, but there is no way Hagar didn't know this.  Perhaps this is just misconstrued.

Aside from appearances for other artists, the classic Montrose albums, and Gamma, Ronnie had a number of very fine solo works that will soon be in very short supply in hard copy.  Titles like Music From Here, Mutatis Mutandis, The Diva Station, The Speed of Sound, and Bearings are all highly enjoyable recordings earning their rightful place in the Montrose fan's collection.  Track them down now because they will be drying up fast.

[Scott F.]

From Open Fire, this seems rather apropos....

Ronnie

Every time I hear that song, it always makes me think of credits rolling at the end of a movie. This time it's his movie.

RIP