Died On This Date (March 3, 2012) Ronnie Montrose / Rock Guitar Great
themusicsover Ronnie Montrose
November 29, 1947 – March 3, 2012
Ronnie Montrose was an American guitarist who, since the early 1970’s, has built a reputation as one of hard rock’s leading players. Montrose was playing in a band called Sawbuck in when he was offered the chance to play with Van Morrison. He can be heard on Morrison’s Tupelo Honey and Saint Dominic’s Preview. Within a year or two, he was in the Edgar Winter Group before starting his own band, Montrose, in 1973. The group, which included then-unknown Sammy Hagar on lead vocals, went on to release such hard rock staples as “Bad Motor Scooter” and “Rock Candy.” Their self-titled debut sold over a million copies and has been called the first American heavy metal album. Montrose later formed Gamma who is perhaps best known for “Fight To The Finish” and “Meanstreak.” As an in-demand session player, Montrose played on records by the likes of Gary Wright, Boz Scaggs, the Beau Brummels, Nicolette Larson, Herbie Hancock, and the Neville Brothers. Montrose continued to record, tour , and produce well into the 2000s. Initial reports indicated that Ronnie Montrose died of prostate cancer on March 3, 2012. It was later revealed, however, that he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 64.
What You Should Own
Tony Tecumseh was the founder, guitarist a lead singer of influential ’60s psychedelic pop band, Afterglow. Tecumseh, who was a Modoc Indian, was a direct descendent of Winema. Formed during the mid ’60s, Afterglow recorded their self-titled debut album,in San Francisco during 1967. They were, at the time, a popular draw at parties, school dances and such throughout Northern California, and they opened for such acts as the Turtles and the Beau Brummels. Unfortunately, Afterglow broke up shortly after the release of Afterglow, which went on to become highly coveted by collectors of psych rock. The album was re-issued by Sundazed Records in 1995. The band reunited in 2007 but Tecumseh was unable to participate due to health issues, while a PBS documentary about the band is expected to air in 2012. Tony Tecumseh was 71 when he passed away on January 29, 2012.
