Guitarist Ronnie Montrose died at age 64, on Saturday 3 March 2012. The cause of death was prostate cancer that plagued him for the last five years.
He became known because of the band that bore his last name (MONTROSE). In October 1973 it released an LP which is considered one of the classic hard rock albums, that contained three awesome tracks: Bad Motor Scooter, Space Station No5, Rock Candy.
Ronnie Montrose was on the guitar, Bill Church on bass, Denny Carmassi on drums and vocals and the unknown then Sammy Hagar (the replacement of David Lee Roth in Van Halen). Rock Candy was covered by Van Halen and Space Station No5 by Iron Maiden. Van Halen were highly influenced by the first album by Montrose.
Apart from his own band in the 70s, o Montrose collaborated in the beginning with big names like Van Morrison, Herbie Hancock, Edgar and Johnny Winter.
He released 5 studio albums with Montrose, four with Gamma, and nine (eight plus one live) solo albums. He worked as a session member with too many artists. Finally, in the field of heavy metal, he left his mark in the production of the amazing "Breaking The Silence" of speed / thrashers Heathen in 1987.
Undoubtedly, a major figure among guitarists of the 70s. Good trip Ronnie.
He became known because of the band that bore his last name (MONTROSE). In October 1973 it released an LP which is considered one of the classic hard rock albums, that contained three awesome tracks: Bad Motor Scooter, Space Station No5, Rock Candy.
Ronnie Montrose was on the guitar, Bill Church on bass, Denny Carmassi on drums and vocals and the unknown then Sammy Hagar (the replacement of David Lee Roth in Van Halen). Rock Candy was covered by Van Halen and Space Station No5 by Iron Maiden. Van Halen were highly influenced by the first album by Montrose. Apart from his own band in the 70s, o Montrose collaborated in the beginning with big names like Van Morrison, Herbie Hancock, Edgar and Johnny Winter.
He released 5 studio albums with Montrose, four with Gamma, and nine (eight plus one live) solo albums. He worked as a session member with too many artists. Finally, in the field of heavy metal, he left his mark in the production of the amazing "Breaking The Silence" of speed / thrashers Heathen in 1987.
Undoubtedly, a major figure among guitarists of the 70s. Good trip Ronnie.