Ronnie Montrose Dead at 64

[Diamondjimi]

Legendary Rock Guitarist RONNIE MONTROSE Dead At 64 - Mar. 3, 2012
Legendary American rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose died earlier today (Saturday, March 3) after a five-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 64 years old.

Montrose's official web site has been updated with the following message:

"A few months ago, we held a surprise party for Ronnie Montrose's 64th birthday. He gave an impromptu speech, and told us that after a long life, filled with joy and hardship, he didn't take any of our love for granted.

"He passed today. He'd battled cancer, and staved off old age for long enough. And true to form, he chose his own exit the way he chose his own life. We miss him already, but we're glad to have shared with him while we could."

In a September 2011 interview with North County Times, Montrose revealed that he didn't pick up his guitar for two years following his cancer diagnosis. "I had prostate cancer that, for me, was debilitating," he said. "I didn't touch a guitar for two years, but when I realized I was seeing the light at the end of the recovery tunnel and was going to live pain-free, I realized again that it was a fun little instrument to play."

He added, "I've blocked all my health issues out of my mind. That's a portion of my life that I'm done with. Now, I can't wait for every day to come so I can wake up and plug in. I'm up there entertaining myself and my playing is stronger than ever, because my excitement is back."

Ronnie Montrose always followed his heart. Ever anxious to take his music to the next level, in 1979 he founded the trailblazing band GAMMA, a group whose trio of ahead-of-their-time albums were an explosion of guitar and synthesizer pyrotechnics anchored by a bluesy edge.

Between and beyond these band forays, Montrose the player devoted himself to exploring instrumental guitar music on landmark albums like "Open Fire" and "The Speed Of Sound". Fans periodically clamored for another taste of the original MONTROSE power trio format, but he wouldn't revisit MONTROSE — that huge, heavy sound; those rich, pealing riffs — until the time came when he could do it with total conviction.

R.I.P.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/soulflypremiere/ronniemontrosesolo.jpg

LINK (http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=170627)

[ashstralia]

now, some expressed hope that the old ched clunker might carck™ it;

i'm here to tell ya people, dead pools are bad kharma℗.

[twonabomber]

at least Sam will have something other than VH to talk about for a while. and he can even make shit up, 'cause Ronnie can't refute it any more.

[FORD]

And there's your three for the week.... (Davy Jones being one and Breitfart being two. Well at least two of them had talent.....)

Thanks Ronnie, for managing to make Sammy Hagar's singing at least tolerable on that record you made with him way back when.

Rest in peace :(

[Nitro Express]

Two nice guys die for every asshole who dies. No wonder the world is mostly full of assholes.

[vandeleur]

Be interesting to hear how gagar makes this all about him

[Mr Walker]

We're getting closer. If you want to pay tribute today, spin Van Morrison's Tupelo Honey... not that shitty album with Fagar on it.

[ELVIS]

It's the Hagar curse...

Ronnie Montrose - Dead

EVH - Almost Died

Joe Satriani - Should leave Chickeneck and get a checkup...


:elvis:

[Panamark]

I wonder if Hagar actually goes to the memorial ?

And if he does, can he make a speech about Ronnie and
not himself or Van Halen ?

[sadaist]

Sad. RIP dude. Thanks for the cool tuneage you laid out for us.





*Side note. (No disrespect Mr. Montrose) But this may hit Sammy close to home and make him want to make amends with old friends & band members. I don't think it will....but when stuff like this happens close to home it has that effect on people. I wouldn't mind him mending the relationship with Eddie...I just don't want him working with him again. No one should go to the grave with unfinished business and friends you should have made amends with. Grudges suck.

[SunisinuS]

RIP Ronnie.

[chefcraig]

This is Ronnie as he appeared on his tour from 1978, supporting the Open Fire solo album. He'd hit center stage surrounded by the supporting musicians, who were on risers behind and above him. This was the same tour that introduced many of us old farts to a particular band from Pasadena, California, as well as (less spectacularly) a group of hosers named Journey. Montrose managed to wipe the stage with Van Halen, but nobody is sure about Journey's performance to this day because roughly 98% of the audience hit the parking lot when they hit the stage. (Be Bop Deluxe and Blue Oyster Cult were playing the following evening, so everyone needed their sleep, plus who gave a shit about some hacks that used to play with Carlos Santana?) The truth is, the only reason anyone went was to hear Montrose, as VH were as yet unheard of and the twits in Journey were so bland that nobody could work up much enthusiasm for their vanilla pudding-like efforts. Besides, Montrose was no longer saddled with the screechy, empty-headed bellowing of Sammy Hagar by playing instrumentals, so the music was vastly improved in the first place.

RIP Ronnie. Your work on that first Edgar Winter Group album alone earned you my eternal respect. :rockit2:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AA-NFYhlr4&list=PL77FAEC7C0EAA6DFD&index=3&feature=plpp_video

[Green Manalishi]

Ronnie Montrose was a wonderful guitarist . Glad I got to see him twice in my lifetime . Sad about his passing .

The MONTROSE album , despite Sammy Hagar , was brilliant and very kick ass . RIP Ronnie Montrose .

[SNIPER]

Thats a bummer! Saw him live about 5 years ago. R.I.P. RM

[Unchainme]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUeuAnMNDhA

ignoring..the lead singer.

This is a great song. (actually prefer the Bullet Boys cover..to just help scrub away any sort of lame hagar shit)

definitely a classic van halen influence. :). (JUST THE GUITAR WORK, NOTHING ELSE)

amazing that Hagar has got to work with Ronnie Montrose, Neil Schon, Eddie Van Halen, and Joe Satriani, and still finds a way to sound like shit. That seriously takes some "talent".

RIP Ronnie :(.

[clarathecarrot]

I have written this story before gonna do it again...

When I was about 14 (1974 ) I went to a buds house to smoke a doobie this buds older brother perhaps 4 years older, played guitar. I had met the older brother once but had never been to my new "dope smoking with" ftriends house (parents house).

So we go to, house after school, the brothers room and start rolling some smoke and his brother cues up this new album cleans the LP with a brush cleaner and windex, he just got this LP, and was telling us how awesome the guitarist was...The album was Montrose, we get stoned and bigbrother plays actually really good along with Ronnie mainly rythm bar cords and such .

The story is told because this is the first time I had ever heard a -live electric guitar-, he played a Gibson SG. I thought the album was great and everything about that experience was cool as shit for a 14 year old punk.

I honestly didn't like the singer ( no idea for years who he even was)... at all, but saw and heard what everyone did the guitarist was a true legend even this early on.

RIP....... and thanks Ronnie for some great memories.

[dazzlindino]

paper money was awesome, amongst others....RIP Ronnie.....

[Full Bug]

That sucks, god damm cancer claims another, RIP Ronnie....

Slash, Peter Frampton + Others React on Twitter
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/slash-peter-frampton-others-react-on-twitter-to-ronnie-montroses-death-2/

It didn't take long for rock luminaries and music insiders to react on Twitter. Here's a sampling (we'll have more as they're posted).

Peter Frampton (@peterframpton): Saddened to hear the passing of friend Ronnie Montrose. He was a wonderful person & an amazing guitar player, I will miss you dear Ronnie.

Slash (@Slash): Myles just told me Ronnie Montrose passed. fn' shame. “Montrose” is one of the all time great R&R albums. Major influence. RIP man. IiiI; )'

Nikki Sixx (@NikkiSixx): Ronnie Montrose's first two “Montrose” albums & his work with Edger Winter changed my musical life forever.RIP.

Dee Snider (@deesnider): Just found out that the legendary Ronnie Montrose died. That first Montrose album was life changing for me. #RIPRonnieMontrose

kipwinger (@kipwinger): I had the pleasure of working w/ Ronnie not too long ago.He was a real gem,very giving & very talented.A great loss to the world. RIP Ronnie

matt sorum (@mattsorum): Lost the great Ronnie Montrose. Check out the first couple of Montrose records if you don't know him. Classic and great. RIP Ronnie

Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk): Woke 2 very sad news Ronnie Montrose has passed away from cancer at 64. He created one of the all time landmark hard rock albums w/ debut LP

Steve Lukather (@stevelukather): My heart goes out to Ronnie Montrose and his family. Monster player and really nice guy. He will be missed…

David Ellefson (@ellefsondavid): RIP Ronnie Montrose!!! I had the pleasure of playing bass for him circa 2005-07. Such a powerhouse human being

Glenn Hughes (@glenn_hughes): Just heard that my good friend Ronnie Montrose has passed away….I'm speechless…RIP my brother…you will be missed @ the Hughes's…GH

David Ellefson (@ellefsondavid): RIP Ronnie Montrose!!! I had the pleasure of playing bass for him circa 2005-07. Such a powerhouse human being

Nonpoint (@nonpoint): Another legend gone Rest In Peace Ronnie Montrose

Myles Kennedy (@MylesKennedy): Sad to hear Ronnie Montrose passed away. Rock Candy was one of the first songs I ever learned.

[clarathecarrot]

I am going to stretch this into one of the staple albums owned by every friend I had in the 70's.

and play a song that I am not sure how much Ronnie contributed to, but this album is some fine work with Edgar Winter and Ronnie.

Album : They Only Come Out At Night.... album included Free Ride, Frankenstien ..monumental tunes.

Tune: Round and Round

this tune Rools!

Don't get scared metal heads it's chill......

[chefcraig]

A smoking version of the title cut from Open Fire, again from 1978.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlOcifA1mlA

"Mandolina", also from Open Fire. This still sounds amazing with headphones.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy4SGHhT8Ik

"Black Train" and "Twenty Flight Rock" from the outstanding Warner Brothers Presents album, the first after Hagar was fired and replaced with Bob James.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yjPXQ3y1_k


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxhFJAwgu2o&feature=related

[VanHalenI]

Despite what we think about Sammy...
Montrose was one heck of an album, with great vocals, accompanied with one of the greatest and most underated guitar players.

-Rest In Peace Ronnie Montrose-

[Rikk]

Sad as shit. That first MONTROSE album is fantastic. I just listened to it with the wife while we were (no kidding) putting the crib together. I could care less about who is singing. Those are great tunes, and the deep tone of the guitar and amazing riffs...Templeman's production.

Too many goddamn shitty rock 'n' roll deaths. Also been listening to plenty of MONKEES this week.

Sammy Hagar was bitching about Ronnie Montrose last time he was on THAT METAL SHOW some months back. Let's see him do another ridiculous 180.

R.I.P. Ronnie.

[NIN1211]

Sad as shit. That first MONTROSE album is fantastic. I just listened to it with the wife while we were (no kidding) putting the crib together. I could care less about who is singing. Those are great tunes, and the deep tone of the guitar and amazing riffs...Templeman's production.

Too many goddamn shitty rock 'n' roll deaths. Also been listening to plenty of MONKEES this week.

Sammy Hagar was bitching about Ronnie Montrose last time he was on THAT METAL SHOW some months back. Let's see him do another ridiculous 180.

R.I.P. Ronnie.Thinking the same thing..saw what he said about him on The Metal Show, and mentioned it on Sammy's facebook "remembrance" page. This should make The Ched Chunker shut his negative pie-hole for good....or not. Unless he says Chickenfoot is better..man for man...than heavens musicians.

[chi-town324]

i just scratch my head when i hear somebody dies of prostate cancer, who obviously has the resources to at least get checkups...

[ELVIS]

So what the fuck did he say ??

[Full Bug]

SAMMY HAGAR: 'It's A Shame To Lose RONNIE MONTROSE' - Mar. 4, 2012

Former VAN HALEN and current CHICKENFOOT singer Sammy Hagar has commented on the passing of his former bandmate Ronnie Montrose (MONTROSE, GAMMA), who died yesterday (Saturday, March 3) after a five-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 64 years old.

Said Hagar in a statement posted on his official web site: "Ronnie Montrose gave me my first break as a songwriter, as a frontman, as a recording artist, as a touring artist, and for that I will always be grateful.

"I was looking forward to a reunion for my birthday bash in Cabo with Denny [Carnassi, drums], Bill [Church, bass] and Ronnie — one of the few bands from that era where all four original members were still able to do it.

"It's a shame to lose Ronnie and I'm so sorry for his loved ones. Rest in peace."

[DLR Bridge]

"...my birthday bash..."

It's all about the Sammy.

[hambon4lif]

SAMMY HAGAR: 'It's A Shame To Lose RONNIE MONTROSE' - Mar. 4, 2012

Former VAN HALEN and current CHICKENFOOT singer Sammy Hagar has commented on the passing of his former bandmate Ronnie Montrose (MONTROSE, GAMMA), who died yesterday (Saturday, March 3) after a five-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 64 years old.

Said Hagar in a statement posted on his official web site: "Ronnie Montrose gave me my first break as a songwriter, as a frontman, as a recording artist, as a touring artist, and for that I will always be grateful.

"I was looking forward to a reunion for my birthday bash in Cabo with Denny [Carnassi, drums], Bill [Church, bass] and Ronnie — one of the few bands from that era where all four original members were still able to do it.

"It's a shame to lose Ronnie and I'm so sorry for his loved ones. Rest in peace.""me", "my", "I", "my birthday party"....is it even possible for this guy to be any more of a self-obsessed fucking prick?
Not even things like paying respects to SOMEBODY ELSE can stop this overrated fuckface from making it obvious that he lives inside of his own asshole.
Way to go Sam! You're a real class act!

R.I.P. Ronnie

[Matt White]

Maybe Spammy Haggis causes Cancer................??? :O

[SNIPER]

Maybe Spammy Haggis causes Cancer................??? :O

Hearing him sing every night would be equal to living in an MRI machine. The general surgeon needs to put a label on this clown. :biggrin:

[Nitro Express]

I really wasn't all that familiar with Montrose. Man. The guy was a smoooooth guitar player.

[GreenBayLA]

I heard the news on radio tonight and was stunned. I've been listening to the 1st 2 GAMMA albums in heavy rotation since I posted this Jan 26th:

http://www.rotharmy.com/forums/showthread.php?64323-Gamma-Jams-%28Ronnie-Montrose%29-full-show-1979

That show got pulled but here is another.

[78/84 guy]

This sucks ! I loved his playing. Open Fire is classic. And the first Montrose album. Music From Hear was cool. I seen him on that tour. His wife was playing drums !! She was awesome. Talked to him affter the show for about a half hour sitting on the edge of the stage. Nice guy !! He signed some stuff for me & my brother who loves him more than anyone !! Seen him with Sam a few years back with the original guys & they kicked ass !! Blew away Sam's band !! He should have fired them after the show and begged Ronnie to make a new album with him !! RIP Ronnie, thanks for the great tunes !!

[bantonelli]

RIP Ronnie. His albums are legendary, despite Bette's voice. It's the ONLY way I can tolerate it.

Bob James soon after became the voice of Montrose and Rocked it hard!!

Ronnie, you will always be a San Francisco Rock Legend. Get on your Bad Motor Scooter and ride to heaven..

[IceCreamBlondie]

I wonder if Hagar actually goes to the memorial ?

And if he does, can he make a speech about Ronnie and
not himself or Van Halen ?

I'd love to see what happens......:umm:

RIP Ronnie.............

[clarathecarrot]

I am amazed spamula didn't include the dates of his birthday bash and a link to his wabo swag and pirate stuff. TOOL!

[Yount]

By Sammy Hagar
March 6, 2012 11:45 AM ET

For me Ronnie's passing is the end of an era. Ronnie Montrose gave me my first break as a songwriter, as a front man, as a recording artist and as a touring artist, and for that I will always be grateful. The first Montrose album was the first album I ever recorded and it still stands as one of the best recordings I have ever been a part of. I wrote songs with him, but it was his trip. He's the guy that got me to sing with him. I had no experience whatsoever; I just wrote the first four songs in my life, which were "Bad Motor Scooter," "Make It Last," "One Thing on My Mind," and "I Don't Want It," played them for Ronnie upon first meeting, shook my hand, and said, "Let's start a band." I went from zero to a hundred.

I saw him at Winterland with the Edgar Winter Group, [touring in support of] They Only Come Out at Night, with "Free Ride" and "Frankenstein." I didn't know who he was; I didn't know anything about him. I had a soul band – we were playing Tower of Power and James Brown – and we sat there and watched Edgar Winter. I told my guitar player, "I want you to be like that" – like Ronnie Montrose. And he's going, "I don't want to play that kind of music," and I'm going, "Well, I do." We got into it. It broke my band up, seeing Ronnie for the first time. I said, "I'm going to be like that guy. I'm going to play guitar like that and I'm going to sing like…the way I sing."

I was talking to a guy a couple of days after the show, and he said, "That's Ronnie Montrose, and that was his last show. He lives in Sausalito." I lived in San Francisco, and I said, "Do you have his address?" because I didn't even have a phone. He gave it to me, and I went and knocked on his door, dressed like David Bowie – big old high heel platform shoes, satin pants, probably had make-up on, with a Les Paul and a notebook pad with all kinds of lyrics in it. I said, "I'm Sammy Hagar. I heard you're looking for a singer." He said, "Come on in. You got any songs?" I played him my four songs, we shook hands, and he said, "Let's start a band. Do you know any drummers? I've got a bass player, Bill Church." I had a drummer, Denny Carmassi – wasn't in my band, but he was my favorite drummer around town.

Within a month we were signed to Warner Bros. Records, Ted Templeman producing, and the first Montrose album was born a month after that. It was the fastest thing I've ever done in my life. Like I said, I went from zero to a hundred in the blink of an eye – all because of Ronnie.

He was a changeling. Ronnie never liked to stick with anything. We made one of the greatest hard rock/heavy metal albums of all time with that first Montrose album, and then he didn't want to do that anymore. "Nah, nah, we've got to have better songs, we've got to change our image, that kind of music is out." Boy, he was just laying it on us. Ronnie really liked to change – immediately. We butted heads and I got thrown out of the band [after one more album, 1974's Paper Money], but I carried on with that "first Ronnie Montrose" I saw. What I learned from Ronnie Montrose, I still utilize today when I step on a stage. I try to keep the energy up and the entertainment high.

The first time Eddie Van Halen and I met, it was around 1977. We were on a stadium show with Boston, Black Sabbath, myself, Van Halen. He came to my dressing room, and said, "I'm a Montrose freak, I love the band!" And Ted Templeman told me, when he signed Van Halen, they were called something else, and he wanted to name them after the guitar player. He said on the first Van Halen record, he took the first Montrose record in there and said, "Boom. We're going to have eight great songs, they're going to be this long, they're going to be this tempo." And pretty much patterned the whole thing after it – right down to saying, "Why don't you guys get Sammy Hagar to sing in this band? He's been thrown out of Montrose." That's a true story!

Eddie had a totally new twist on the whole guitar style thing, but as far as the chording goes – not his soloing as much as the chording – yeah, he took some of that big open chord thing [from Montrose]. The big open A, the big open D, the big open E. Everything as open as you could make it, to make it as heavy as possible with one guitar. And that was pretty much Ronnie's style, too. And of course the fire, too – Van Halen came out with all that fire, which is Ronnie. Ronnie was full of fire, man.

[I last spoke to Montrose] a couple of weeks ago, and about a week before that, and then four or five days before that. We were talking a lot, because we were planning a Montrose reunion for my birthday in Cabo this year. Montrose, the whole band, has not been there. Denny's been there, Bill's been there, Ronnie's been there – but [the whole band together] has never been there. I said to Ronnie, "Come on, man. We're all getting old. Let's do this again while we can." And he was in, we were all in. On my 65th, on October 13th, I was planning on coming out with Montrose, doing the whole first album, then going in with my other band, and then bringing Chickenfoot out. I was going to try to [cover] my whole four decades for the fans that night, without nobody knowing. And Ronnie was in. It's crazy. I even played back on my message box, February 10th – "Hagar, Ronzo…call me back!" It was all good. It's fucked up that those songs will never be played by those four members again. Songs can go forever, but we can't.

[I would like Montrose to be remembered] as one of the pioneers of American heavy/hard rock. And certainly, one of the great hard rock guitar players. But he was more than that – he was really versatile. But if you're going to remember him for anything, put on that first Montrose record.

The only positive I can grab onto is the fact that the music will live on. It's a shame to lose Ronnie and I'm so sorry for his loved ones. Rest in peace.

[Yount]

Sorry it's so long.

As you can see, Sammy waffles on and on about himself and even Eddie Van Halen.

[Fairwrning]

The first time Eddie Van Halen and I met, it was around 1977. We were on a stadium show with Boston, Black Sabbath, myself, Van Halen. He came to my dressing room, and said, "I'm a Montrose freak, I love the band!" And Ted Templeman told me, when he signed Van Halen, they were called something else, and he wanted to name them after the guitar player. He said on the first Van Halen record, he took the first Montrose record in there and said, "Boom. We're going to have eight great songs, they're going to be this long, they're going to be this tempo." And pretty much patterned the whole thing after it – right down to saying, "Why don't you guys get Sammy Hagar to sing in this band? He's been thrown out of Montrose." That's a true story!



WHAT A FUCKIN DOUCHE.....I will never mention the fat fuckers name again..So He was asked to be in VH in 77?? VH was copying Montrose??

[sadaist]

Sorry it's so long.

As you can see, Sammy waffles on and on about himself and even Eddie Van Halen.


For the love of God Sammy....shut the fuck up!


Me...My....Sammy Hagar....I....Myself.....My birthday.....and on & on & on

He realizes he is supposed to be sharing his thoughts on a guy that died & not writing his own autobiography here? Fucking self promoting jerkwad chump.



And yeah, Montrose was cool & all but the majority of anyone will only know the songs Rock Candy & Bad Motor Scooter and very few of them will even know who the fuck the band was that played them. Suddenly the guy dies & everyone is acting like he was Hendrix or something. Sorry, but if he was so fucking great he would have made a name for himself other than "that cool first album back in the 70's". hate to dig on him cause I like the tunes. But not that much. Christ people. Respect the guy but be real about his influence.

LOL....EVH stole his style from Ronnie Montrose and got the idea of the band name from him. I suppose Montrose also invented the personal computer & cellular phone. Why the fuck not.....

[Fairwrning]

Be interesting to hear how gagar makes this all about him

Good call

[Jagermeister]

wow. I'm shocked, R.I.P.

[Zing!]

I've heard the 'Van Halen wanted their first album to sound like Montrose' rumor before. Sammy was also fond of saying they tried to get him in the band in 77, but I took that claim with an entire salt lick block of salt. It's a shame about Ronnie - that first album was classic - despite the singer - and even Paper Money was really good. He seemed like a pretty down to earth guy, and no one can really dispute the mark he made with that first album.

And yeah. Surprised Ched Chunker hasn't been weeping Oscar style tears of sorrow for any camera near him.

[Jagermeister]

[Jagermeister]

[Fairwrning]

I hadnt heard those rumors before..Another reason to say TY to Diamond Dave...can you imagine if that had happened??!! Would it have been like comparing VH 1 to 5150?

[bantonelli]

Sammy (aka Bette) = I, I, Me,me,me,me, myself, myself, my birthday, my birthday, my, my, my, me, me, me, I, I, I, Chickens*it..... Well...at least Ronnie was smart enough to throw Bette out of the band that bears his name. Ronnie just could no longer ...."make no CONNECTION" with Red Bette.

[Jagermeister]

I don't think it's right to link the two. I know we all hate Sammy but this was way, way before VH was even on his horizon. Anyone here who may say they didn't like Montrose's self titled album is either a liar, a fraud, or not a rock fan at all. It's a classic. Anyone here who says they didn't smoke a joint back in the day listening to this shouldn't comment in this thread.


:finger-attitude:

[Fairwrning]

I have never owned this lp...I have only heard a few tunes done by Montrose honestly..no comment on the rest

[Yount]

Sammy is a self-absorbed prick. Conniving his way into Van Halen only fed his oversized ego. He's a fucking name dropper.

[WARF]

RIP Ronnie.

I wish I knew some of your songs... but I boycott Hagar!

[twonabomber]

"one of the few bands from that era where all four original members were still able to do it.


you just know that's how he's going to campaign for a return to Van Halen.

"hey, Ed, i know i threw you under the bus in my book and said all those horrible things in interviews, but i think we should bury the hatchet and re-unite. you know, while the four of us are still around to do it."

[sadaist]

I have never owned this lp...I have only heard a few tunes done by Montrose honestly..no comment on the rest


That's where I sit as well. I really dig the tunes I know though and the dude had mad chops.

[Nitro Express]

The first time Eddie Van Halen and I met, it was around 1977. We were on a stadium show with Boston, Black Sabbath, myself, Van Halen. He came to my dressing room, and said, "I'm a Montrose freak, I love the band!" And Ted Templeman told me, when he signed Van Halen, they were called something else, and he wanted to name them after the guitar player. He said on the first Van Halen record, he took the first Montrose record in there and said, "Boom. We're going to have eight great songs, they're going to be this long, they're going to be this tempo." And pretty much patterned the whole thing after it – right down to saying, "Why don't you guys get Sammy Hagar to sing in this band? He's been thrown out of Montrose." That's a true story!



WHAT A FUCKIN DOUCHE.....I will never mention the fat fuckers name again..So He was asked to be in VH in 77?? VH was copying Montrose??

Sam always does two things in interviews. He shamelessly plugs the Cabo Wabo brand and reminds everyone he was in Van Halen like he's still shocked himself that they were dumb enough to bring him on.

[78/84 guy]

I love how he say's Ted told the band we are going to have 8 song's this long and this tempo like the Montrose record. What a joke !! Van Halen wrote everyting one the first album 3 years before they recorded it !! He is so full of shit !! I did hear that Ted sugggested bringing him in to sing on the first VH record years ago but who knows if it's true. Ed was a big fan of that first album. I love it myself but Ronnie's best work was his solo albums.

[Catfish]

I've said it many times. I never REALLY wanted Sam Haggar to die, even though I hate him with the fire of 10,000 suns. Because if he ever died, he'd make headlines, which is what he'd want.

Fuck all that. I wish he was so fucking dead. :fighting0043:

[Catfish]

I've heard the 'Van Halen wanted their first album to sound like Montrose' rumor before. Sammy was also fond of saying they tried to get him in the band in 77, but I took that claim with an entire salt lick block of salt. It's a shame about Ronnie - that first album was classic - despite the singer - and even Paper Money was really good. He seemed like a pretty down to earth guy, and no one can really dispute the mark he made with that first album.


I can. Fuck him. He's in the dirt now, which is where he and anyone ever aligned with that fat terrible son of a whore Hagar BELONGS.

Rot in hell, Ronnie!!!! :thumb:

[Catfish]

That sucks, god damm cancer claims another, RIP Ronnie....

Slash, Peter Frampton + Others React on Twitter
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/slash-peter-frampton-others-react-on-twitter-to-ronnie-montroses-death-2/

It didn't take long for rock luminaries and music insiders to react on Twitter. Here's a sampling (we'll have more as they're posted).

Peter Frampton (@peterframpton): Saddened to hear the passing of friend Ronnie Montrose. He was a wonderful person & an amazing guitar player, I will miss you dear Ronnie.

Slash (@Slash): Myles just told me Ronnie Montrose passed. fn' shame. “Montrose” is one of the all time great R&R albums. Major influence. RIP man. IiiI; )'

Nikki Sixx (@NikkiSixx): Ronnie Montrose's first two “Montrose” albums & his work with Edger Winter changed my musical life forever.RIP.

Dee Snider (@deesnider): Just found out that the legendary Ronnie Montrose died. That first Montrose album was life changing for me. #RIPRonnieMontrose

kipwinger (@kipwinger): I had the pleasure of working w/ Ronnie not too long ago.He was a real gem,very giving & very talented.A great loss to the world. RIP Ronnie

matt sorum (@mattsorum): Lost the great Ronnie Montrose. Check out the first couple of Montrose records if you don't know him. Classic and great. RIP Ronnie

Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk): Woke 2 very sad news Ronnie Montrose has passed away from cancer at 64. He created one of the all time landmark hard rock albums w/ debut LP

Steve Lukather (@stevelukather): My heart goes out to Ronnie Montrose and his family. Monster player and really nice guy. He will be missed…

David Ellefson (@ellefsondavid): RIP Ronnie Montrose!!! I had the pleasure of playing bass for him circa 2005-07. Such a powerhouse human being

Glenn Hughes (@glenn_hughes): Just heard that my good friend Ronnie Montrose has passed away….I'm speechless…RIP my brother…you will be missed @ the Hughes's…GH

David Ellefson (@ellefsondavid): RIP Ronnie Montrose!!! I had the pleasure of playing bass for him circa 2005-07. Such a powerhouse human being

Nonpoint (@nonpoint): Another legend gone Rest In Peace Ronnie Montrose

Myles Kennedy (@MylesKennedy): Sad to hear Ronnie Montrose passed away. Rock Candy was one of the first songs I ever learned.

Catfish (@fuckhagar): Who?

[Catfish]

SAMMY HAGAR: 'It's A Shame To Lose RONNIE MONTROSE' - Mar. 4, 2012

Former VAN HALEN and current CHICKENFOOT singer Sammy Hagar has commented on the passing of his former bandmate Ronnie Montrose (MONTROSE, GAMMA), who died yesterday (Saturday, March 3) after a five-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 64 years old.

Said Hagar in a statement posted on his official web site: "Ronnie Montrose gave me my first break as a songwriter, as a frontman, as a recording artist, as a touring artist, and for that I will always be grateful.

"I was looking forward to a reunion for my birthday bash in Cabo with Denny [Carnassi, drums], Bill [Church, bass] and Ronnie — one of the few bands from that era where all four original members were still able to do it.

"It's a shame to lose Ronnie and I'm so sorry for his loved ones. Rest in peace."

This is the most putrid thing I've ever read. Fucking guy dies and Hagar uses it as a chance to discuss each of his "job skills." Not to mention his god damn birthday party.

I expect NOTHING LESS from this below-average talent with less class than South Central on a Saturday afternoon!

[Catfish]

By Sammy Hagar
March 6, 2012 11:45 AM ET


On my 65th, on October 13th, I was planning on coming out with Montrose, doing the whole first album, then going in with my other band, and then bringing Chickenfoot out. I was going to try to [cover] my whole four decades for the fans that night, without nobody knowing.

BWAHAHAHA!!! Of course no one would know--no one's heard any of those songs!

Fuck--four decades of Hagar rock! What a treat!

[sadaist]

BWAHAHAHA!!! Of course no one would know--no one's heard any of those songs!

Fuck--four decades of Hagar rock! What a treat!


:lmao:

[sadaist]

Catfish (@fuckhagar): Who?


Stop man....I'm in tears. LOL

[sadaist]

Catfish (@fuckhagar): Who?


HAHAHAHAHA! Had to quote that twice man. Hilarity.

[Catfish]

HAHAHAHAHA! Had to quote that twice man. Hilarity.

LOL!! God dammit I hate Hagar!!!!!!

[Catfish]

Seriously... I'd rather suck my uncle's dick than listen to Chickenfeet.

That's right!

[sadaist]

Seriously... I'd rather suck my uncle's dick than listen to Chickenfeet.

That's right!


Damn...that's serious hate.



I'd need to see a picture of said uncle before I'd go that far.

[Zing!]

I can. Fuck him. He's in the dirt now, which is where he and anyone ever aligned with that fat terrible son of a whore Hagar BELONGS.

Rot in hell, Ronnie!!!! :thumb:

Damn, fish. If someone distilled all your hate for Hagar and put it in a bottle...

Oh, wait - we already have the piss called Cabo Wabo Tequila.

[sadaist]

Damn, fish. If someone distilled all your hate for Hagar and put it in a bottle...

Oh, wait - we already have the piss called Cabo Wabo Tequila.


I don't particularly like tequila anyhow. It's way too sweet. Sure I've done the shots with salt & lime while partying with friends.....but I'll take Kentucky Bourbon over Tequila any day of the week.

[Zing!]

I don't particularly like tequila anyhow. It's way too sweet. Sure I've done the shots with salt & lime while partying with friends.....but I'll take Kentucky Bourbon over Tequila any day of the week.

I'm more of an Absolut guy, but Petron Gold is pretty good stuff. Cabo isn't worth the money - plus I can see Sammy pissing a squirt in every single bottle, so his adoring red heads can soak themselves in the red rocker's alien DNA.

:hagar1:

[Catfish]

Damn, fish. If someone distilled all your hate for Hagar and put it in a bottle...

Oh, wait - we already have the piss called Cabo Wabo Tequila.

Zing! you always understood me.

[FORD]

As usual, Sammy is full of shit. Van Halen was Van Halen long before they met Ted Templeman,and it was Dave who named the goddamn band. Also, every song that appears on Van Halen's first album was already written long before the album was recorded, most of them played in club gigs for years, and previously recorded on various demo tapes. I think "Jamie's Cryin'" was the only thing they specifically wrote for the album. So no, he had nothing to do with the length or tempo of the songs.

Ted was a producer, and a damn good one, which is evident on the Montrose album as well as the 6 pack, and hell, he even managed to make "F.U.C.K." almost tolerable, though the fact that he was never willing to work with either Sammy Hagar or Eddie Van Halen again after that, really speaks volumes.

BTW, really classy as usual, Bette.....supposedly paying tribute to your dead friend Ronnie, and you still gotta get in the digs at Van Halen. Nice going, douchebag.

[Yount]

Because Van Halen had such an extensive back catalog of songs, I figured Ted may have come into the studio and said, "OK, uptempo songs, fairly short in length, like Montrose. Whadda you boys got?"

Not saying that VH were at all influenced by Montrose, but maybe more the recording techniques with hints to song structure and tempo that Montrose may have used.

[gbranton]

I don't particularly like tequila anyhow. It's way too sweet. Sure I've done the shots with salt & lime while partying with friends.....but I'll take Kentucky Bourbon over Tequila any day of the week.

https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSWZJ4UphYoUvJ3MjBDGmPtciMjg4AcX wjCqEPKbckKPv_HeIEY

[Seshmeister]

Seriously... I'd rather suck my uncle's dick than listen to Chickenfeet.

That's right!

This post is useless without pictures.

[Catfish]

This post is useless without pictures.

Why do you want to see a picture of me listening to Chickenfeet?

[Mr Walker]

I can. Fuck him. He's in the dirt now, which is where he and anyone ever aligned with that fat terrible son of a whore Hagar BELONGS.

Rot in hell, Ronnie!!!! :thumb:

http://cdn.wg.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/awesome1.gif

[78/84 guy]

I can. Fuck him. He's in the dirt now, which is where he and anyone ever aligned with that fat terrible son of a whore Hagar BELONGS.

Rot in hell, Ronnie!!!! :thumb:

Rot in hell Ronnie ? Really ? What an asshole !! Besides didn't he already do that on the first 2 Montrose albums he did with Hagar ?

[Mr Walker]

Dude shot himself in the head... let's all hope Sam will follow suit.

According to Guitar Player, a report by the San Mateo County Coroner's Office, released on April 6, confirms legendary guitarist Ronnie Montrose died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The toxicology report also showed his blood-alcohol level at 0.31% when he died — almost four times the legal limit in California. No evidence of other drugs was found in his system.

The Montrose family posted the following statement on RonnieMontrose.com:

"By now, the devastating truth of Ronnie's death is public knowledge. We hope you can understand why we wanted to keep this news a private family matter for as long as possible. We can only hope that you will choose to celebrate Ronnie's life, and what his music meant to you, rather than mourn his passing. Ronnie would have wanted it that way. He loved being a guitarist, a composer, a producer, and a creator of magic. He fully understood his gifts, and yet he constantly pushed himself to evolve, improve, and make better music. He did this for himself, and he did this for you, because he adored and appreciated his fans. Please keep his energy, his joy, and his love in your hearts."

Although Montrose did not leave a suicide note, his wife/manager Leighsa Montrose feels he was probably always planning for an exit.

"Ronnie had a very difficult childhood, which caused him to have extremely deep and damaging feelings of inadequacy," Leighsa tells Guitar Player. "This is why he always drove himself so hard. He never thought he was good enough. He always feared he'd be exposed as a fraud. So he was exacting in his self criticism, and the expectations he put upon himself were tremendous. Now I see that perhaps he didn't want to carry these burdens for very much longer'

She adds, "I knew I had married an alcoholic, but Ronnie was never anything but loving. He could be curmudgeonly and cranky, but he was never angry or abusive to me in any way. He definitely had a reputation for his bad temper and controlling personality when he was younger, but he'd always say that I got the best version of himself, and we were nearly inseparable. We ate every meal together. I went to every show he played."

[kwame k]

Holy fuck!

Didn't see that one coming.......

I guess Ronnie really didn't want to do a reunion with Spammy after all and took the logical way out;)

[chefcraig]

Holy fuck!

Didn't see that one coming.......

I guess Ronnie really didn't want to do a reunion with Spammy after all and took the logical way out;)

Talk about a trifecta from hell: Terminal cancer, alcoholism and having to put up with Sammy Hagar has to rate pretty high on life's Suck-O-Meter. Eddie Van Halen, Ronnie Montrose...I wonder how Neal Schon managed to survive without taking one to the forehead or drinking himself silly?

[rocking ron]

Talk about a trifecta from hell: Terminal cancer, alcoholism and having to put up with Sammy Hagar has to rate pretty high on life's Suck-O-Meter. Eddie Van Halen, Ronnie Montrose...I wonder how Neal Schon managed to survive without taking one to the forehead or drinking himself silly?

Neal Schon ??? And what about...Keith Richards hahaha

[rocking ron]

No way they wanted Spammy Hagar in the band around '77!!!

There was at that time 1 'shark' who wanted to steal the guitar player for his own band..................his name.....:

Gene Simmons......................!!

Can you imigane..............Eddie with a 'space' mask.............

This never happened because 1 guy was very alert.................his name..............:

Diamond Dave.......................!! And right now we say.....................: Diamonds are Forever.................

yeah............A Different Kind of Truth......................!!:amen::amen:

[Kristy]

Some old fat "rocker" died?

[LoungeMachine]

From Bantonelli

http://blog.sfgate.com/loaded/2012/0...-coroner-says/

[bantonelli]

Thanks Lounge. The article disappeared, but the story was the same as Mr. Walker's - just a shocker that it was self-inflicted.

[atomicpnk47]

Holy fuck!

Didn't see that one coming.......

I guess Ronnie really didn't want to do a reunion with Spammy after all and took the logical way out;)

Too soon dude :biggrin:

[Light Em' Up!]

This is the one I saw:

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/ronnie-montrose-suicide/

[kwame k]

Too soon dude :biggrin:

:lmao:

[ZahZoo]

Some old fat "rocker" died?

No, catfish is still around...

[Catfish]

No one in the world could ever blame Ronnie Montrose for killing himself. All those years with Hagar. Totally understandable and honorable.

[Kristy]

No, catfish is still around...

Good to know. Was a wee bit worried there.

[78/84 guy]

Wow that sucks !! What a waste. Hard to believe people can do that to themselves. I still can't believe Brad Delp offed himself all these years later. RIP Ronnie.

[Catfish]

Satan's already not nice to people who kill themselves. Imagine what he's like to people who kill themselves AND share a stage with Sam Hagar???

[Catfish]

No, catfish is still around...

That's awesome! You called me a rocker!

[hambon4lif]

Satan's already not nice to people who kill themselves. Imagine what he's like to people who kill themselves AND share a stage with Sam Hagar???I wouldn't be so sure about that, because to my ears, Hagar IS the work of Satan....like some sort of cruel joke.:thumb:

[Kristy]

Wow. Just...wow. I listened to that Montrose with Hagar and...

Well, I'm not sure what to make of it.

[78/84 guy]

Wow. Just...wow. I listened to that Montrose with Hagar and...

Well, I'm not sure what to make of it.

It's good !! It paved the way for alot of AOR bands like Journey & Styx. I don't listen to it anymore but when I hear it I still like it. I would love a live album from that first tour to be honest. Ronnie was a great player & nice guy. What a shame.

[Mr Walker]

Wish he was standing next to Hagar when he pulled the trigger

[katina]

No one in the world could ever blame Ronnie Montrose for killing himself. All those years with Hagar. Totally understandable and honorable.

:thumb: :amen:

[Catfish]

Wish he was standing next to Hagar when he pulled the trigger

What a great murder-suicide opportunity that would have been :(