Introduction to Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose was an American rock guitarist who had a major influence on the development of hard rock and heavy metal. Though he may not be a household name, Montrose was a gifted guitarist and songwriter who pushed the boundaries of guitar rock.
Montrose first made a name for himself in the late 1960s and early 70s working as a session musician playing on albums for Van Morrison, Boz Scaggs, and other major artists. However, Montrose wanted to pursue his own music and formed the band Montrose in 1973. The band’s powerful, intense sound featuring Montrose’s fiery guitar work is considered a precursor to heavy metal.
After Montrose broke up, he started the band Gamma in the late 1970s which found success with songs like "Voyager." Montrose also had a prolific solo career and collaborated with many other renowned rock musicians over the decades. His creative guitar playing combining elements of blues, metal, and hard rock created a singular style that influenced generations of guitarists to come.
Though Montrose struggled with substance abuse issues and depression later in life leading to his suicide in 2012, his musical legacy lives on. Montrose was a true guitar virtuoso and rock innovator.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Ronnie Montrose was born in 1947 and grew up in San Francisco, California. From a young age, he showed a strong interest and aptitude for music. As a child, Ronnie was drawn to the sounds of blues, early rock n’ roll, and jazz. Some of his early influences included guitarists like BB King, Django Reinhardt, and Wes Montgomery.
In his early teens, Ronnie began playing guitar and joined his first bands. He started out playing in local San Francisco groups like The Razors and Beaver & The Trappers in the early 1960s. During this time, he was able to hone his guitar skills and get his first tastes of performing live. Ronnie’s style continued to evolve as he explored psychedelic rock and took inspiration from bands like The Yardbirds, Cream, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
By the late 1960s, Ronnie had established himself as a promising young guitarist on the San Francisco music scene. These formative years helped lay the foundation for his future career and influence as an innovative rock guitarist.
Session Work in 60s/70s
Before forming his own band, Ronnie Montrose made a name for himself as an in-demand session guitarist in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this time, he recorded and performed with a variety of high-profile artists in rock, blues, jazz, and pop.
Some of Ronnie’s most notable session work was with singer-songwriter Van Morrison. Ronnie played guitar on Morrison’s classic 1968 album Astral Weeks, known for its poetic lyrics and fusion of folk, rock, jazz, and blues. Ronnie’s tasteful guitar parts perfectly complemented Morrison’s vocals and the album’s eclectic arrangements.
Ronnie also contributed his guitar skills to albums by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, playing on Hancock’s Head Hunters record from 1973. This album mixed jazz with funk and soul elements, allowing Ronnie to showcase his versatility as a guitarist.
In addition, Ronnie recorded with singer Boz Scaggs in the early 70s, appearing on Scaggs’ first few solo albums after he left the Steve Miller Band. Scaggs’ bluesy pop-rock suited Ronnie’s guitar playing well.
Through these high-profile session gigs, Ronnie Montrose proved he could adapt his guitar talents to a range of styles beyond hard rock. It set the stage for him to launch his own band and make his mark as an artist in the 1970s.
Montrose: The Influential Hard Rock Band
Formed in 1973, Montrose established themselves as one of the pioneering hard rock bands of the 1970s. The original lineup consisted of guitarist Ronnie Montrose, vocalist Sammy Hagar, bassist Bill Church, and drummer Denny Carmassi. After working extensively as a session musician earlier in his career, Ronnie Montrose was eager to form his own band and showcase his skills as a guitarist, songwriter and band leader.
The group’s self-titled debut album Montrose was released in 1973 and made an immediate impact. It featured songs like "Rock the Nation" and "Bad Motor Scooter" that highlighted Ronnie Montrose’s crunchy guitar riffs and the band’s energetic, heavy sound. Their hit song "Bad Motor Scooter" encapsulated everything that made Montrose an influential force in the world of hard rock – the gnarly, distorted guitar, Sammy Hagar’s soaring vocals, and a catchy, driving rhythm. Montrose stood out with their raw, blues-inspired take on hard rock that helped pave the way for many bands to follow.
Critics and fans praised Montrose for their powerful live shows as well. Ronnie Montrose had a chance to fully exhibit his improvisational guitar skills and dynamic stage presence during their concerts. The band toured extensively over the next couple years, cementing their reputation in the rock world as an incendiary live act. Though their time together was relatively short-lived, Montrose had a major impact during their heyday in the 1970s hard rock scene.
Departure of Sammy Hagar
After the release of the band’s second album, Paper Money, in 1974, tensions arose between Ronnie Montrose and vocalist Sammy Hagar. Though their first two albums had been commercially successful, showcasing the band’s hard-hitting sound and Hagar’s powerful vocals, musical differences began to emerge.
Hagar felt that Montrose was taking the band in too much of a hard rock direction and wanted to explore a more eclectic, experimental sound. Montrose, however, was firmly committed to the heavy guitar-driven style that the band had established. These creative differences came to a head during the writing and recording of Paper Money.
Despite efforts to reconcile, Hagar ended up parting ways with Montrose in early 1975 after two years and two albums with the band. Though his departure was a major blow, Montrose soldiered on, enlisting new vocalists Bob James and Alan Fitzgerald for the band’s next two albums. While these albums contained Montrose’s characteristically fiery guitar work, they failed to achieve the widespread acclaim and commercial success of the band’s studio albums with Hagar.
Gamma and Solo Work
Ronnie formed the band Gamma in 1979, just a few years after the initial breakup of Montrose. He recruited singer Davey Pattison, bassist Alan Fitzgerald, and drummer Skip Gillette to join him in this new musical endeavor.
Gamma’s debut album, simply titled Gamma 1, was released in 1979 on Elektra Records. It featured a more keyboard-driven, experimental sound compared to Montrose’s hard rocking guitar style. The album produced a minor hit with "Fight to the Finish."
Over the next few years, Gamma released three more studio albums – Gamma 2 (1980), Gamma 3 (1982), and Gamma 4 (2000). They went through some lineup changes, with Denny Carmassi eventually replacing Skip Gillette on drums.
Gamma toured extensively during the early 80s, including as the opening act for Black Sabbath’s Heaven and Hell Tour in 1980. Their shows were known for high-energy performances and extended jams.
Though not as commercially successful as Montrose, Gamma allowed Ronnie to explore different musical directions and evolve his guitar playing. The band built a cult following before going on hiatus in the mid 80s when Ronnie focused more on his solo work.
Solo Career
After his time with Montrose and Gamma, Ronnie embarked on a solo career starting in the 1980s. He released several solo albums that allowed him to explore different styles and showcase his songwriting talents.
Some of his most notable solo releases include Open Fire in 1978 and Territory in 1979. Open Fire blended hard rock and blues, while Territory took on a more melodic pop-rock sound. These albums featured Ronnie handling lead vocals in addition to guitar.
In the mid-1980s, Ronnie teamed up with bassist Ricky Phillips and drummer Eric Singer for the album 10×10. Released in 1987, 10×10 saw Ronnie return to a heavier guitar sound reminiscent of his work with Montrose. The album’s single "The Divorcee" became a rock radio hit.
Throughout his solo career, Ronnie continued to evolve as a guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist. His albums allowed him the freedom to follow his creative muse outside the confines of a band. He collaborated with many talented musicians over the years and produced memorable hard rock albums that stand on their own.
Ronnie Montrose’s Guitar Playing and Style
Ronnie Montrose was renowned for his exceptional guitar skills and unique style that blended blues roots with heavy metal and psychedelic influences. He had incredible technical abilities, able to play with lightning-fast speed and dexterity while also demonstrating soulful expression and feel.
Montrose was a master at improvisation, often taking songs in new directions live with extended solos and jams. His trademark guitar tone was thick, crunchy, and heavy, described by some as having a "chainsaw" quality. He used effects like wah pedals to further shape his distortion-drenched sound.
Some of Montrose’s pioneering techniques included two-handed tapping, aggressive whammy bar dives, and combining natural and artificial harmonics. He helped expand the sonic palette and technical boundaries of rock guitar in the 70s. Montrose also incorporated unique chord voicings and progressions that gave his rhythm playing an unconventional flair.
His playing inspired and influenced many other renowned guitarists. Eddie Van Halen has frequently cited Montrose as a key influence on his style. Other major guitarists like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai have praised Montrose’s skills and called him criminally underrated. Montrose proved you could combine technical brilliance with raw power and heavy metal aggression, helping pave the way for shred guitar in the 80s.
Personal Life
Ronnie Montrose’s personal life was marked by turbulent relationships and struggles with alcohol and drug abuse. He was married twice, first to Leighsa Montrose from 1978-1987. This marriage ended in divorce, with Ronnie later describing it as a "disaster" due to his issues with substance abuse straining the relationship.
In 1991, Ronnie married Leighsa’s sister Micki Montrose. This second marriage lasted until 1996 and also ended due to Ronnie’s ongoing problems with alcoholism. Throughout his adult life, Ronnie had a series of romantic relationships and girlfriends, but these were often short-lived and volatile.
Beyond his marital struggles, Ronnie battled alcoholism and drug addictions for much of his career. He began drinking heavily in the 1970s to deal with stress from touring and performing. Over time this escalated into full-blown alcoholism, with Ronnie sometimes drinking a bottle of vodka a day. He also became addicted to cocaine and other substances.
His addictions caused erratic behavior, canceled concerts, strained relationships, and health issues. Ronnie went through periods of sobriety, but would frequently relapse into binge drinking episodes. In later years, his substance abuse was exacerbated by depression and suicidal thoughts. Despite going through rehab numerous times, Ronnie was never able to fully overcome his demons, which ultimately led to his tragic death in 2012.
Death and Legacy
Ronnie Montrose tragically took his own life in 2012 at the age of 64. He had struggled with alcoholism and clinical depression for many years leading up to his passing. Montrose died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on March 3, 2012, at his home in Brisbane, California.
His death came as a shock to many in the rock community. Sammy Hagar, who was the original lead singer of Montrose, said he was "totally in disbelief" upon hearing the news. He praised Montrose as an "amazing talent" and said his suicide was the result of a "very sad, sick disease of alcoholism." Other musicians like Joe Satriani and Mick Brown also mourned the loss of their friend and peer.
Despite his untimely death, Ronnie Montrose left behind an influential legacy as an innovative hard rock guitarist. His fiery, intense playing style helped shape the emerging sound of heavy metal in the 1970s. Montrose proved that the electric guitar could be a lead instrument in rock, paving the way for many others who built upon his techniques.
Some of the notable guitarists inspired by Ronnie Montrose include Eddie Van Halen, who called him a "huge influence", and Randy Rhoads, the legendary Ozzy Osbourne guitarist who cited Montrose as his favorite player. Even though Montrose’s career was relatively short-lived, his impact helped establish the blueprint for heavy metal and shred guitar. His pioneering use of techniques like two-handed tapping created a foundation for future generations of hard rock guitar virtuosos.
Montrose’s musical legacy lives on through his recordings and through the countless peers and proteges he influenced. He helped blaze a trail in the evolution of rock guitar with his intense, high-energy style. While his tragic death cut short his career, Ronnie Montrose’s body of work secures his status as a true guitar legend.