I jumped on the MONTROSE bandwagon in 1973. His debut album is the greatest 8 song rock album ever.

Whenever I hear people talking about great albums, I'm always dumbfounded that the first Montrose is never mentioned. Top to bottom one of the best of all time.

ONE OF THE ORIGINAL GUITAR GODS...RIP RONNIE..YOU ARE TRULY MISSED.....

He keeps saying "The riffs just came out"....because he was just a helluva gifted artist.

Rest in Peace Mr. Montrose. Ronnie's music influenced me as a young guitar player with all his timeless classic songs and albums.

What a great guitar player. RIP

Ronnie Montrose influenced so many guitarists!

My first concert - Rush, Montrose, Robin Trower. AMAZING!!

The Van Morrison studio guitar work Ronnie did is absolutely legendary. Its a shame more people dont know he was the guitarist who laid it down to tape, as I only found out this year and I've been playing professionally now for over 40 yrs....I've played for years now doing all of his parts of Wild Nights' always wondering, "who is the guitar player on this recording?" RIP brother Ronnie...We love you for your contributions to creating great music:)

the world got a little darker when we lost ronnie without him the 80"s would have sucked ty ronnie for holding the torch so high so we could see the path hail to the band montrose no drop tuning no tattoos no computers just raw azz rock and roll

What a cool down to earth great player he was. Ugggh I have the habit of getting to know great guys after they've gone on . We adored these guys from a quarter mile away as kids. The Montrose album is easily in my top ten Best Rock albums of all times.

Ladies and gents let us not forget how amazing the GAMMA records where. Those were monster albums that were wall to wall great songs. No B sides, just great songwriting

Hight School 1978, a warm California summer night, my freshly washed, waxed and tuned pumped mustang cruising the main drag, and Rock Candy jamming out of the JBL's over the drone of the headers. There was nothing quite like that feeling.

A lot of times, Ronnie was not comfortable doing interviews but he is here. Very candid. Excellent.

So glad I got to see Ronnie Montrose a couple times back in the 70s , have all his albums .... I would paddle out with his music playing in my head and surf for hours .....He is a bad ass !!

What a genius! We lost a great one when he passed

Ronnie a rock legend with that iconic sound he set the bar high with the way he played and so many other rock and roll groups behind him that tried tried to copie you sure set the the industry on fire you are sure missed

Incredible guitar player! Just incredible!

What a great interview. Ronnie is a great player who is also humble human being.

Was always a fan of Ronnie Montrose. When I was a young kid guitar player back in 1975, my cousin turned me on to the music of Montrose. So happy I learned those riffs.

Ronnie, what a true artist he was. I can't say how yuuuge that first album was to me. For the longest time, as I moved among other musicians that kept getting younger & younger down the years, whenever we'd talk about the most badass bands & albums over the years, I would bring up "Montrose". They'd go, "Who?", and I'd say, "Y'know, Sammy Hagar's first band. They had no clue and I'd whip out the record or tape and blow their socks off. That's how that LP is, pure atomic dynamite!

I was so blessed to see Ronnie with Montrose at the Santa Monica Civic WAY back. Probably their first outing. RIP Ronnie.

So so devastated when Ronnie took his life! He was my rock and roll inspiration! All the Montrose and Gamma recordings have influenced my R&R playing to this day and I’ve been actively playing for 51 years. He will always be alive in my playing style. I hope you have found peace.

Ronnie Montrose was absolutely the guitarist that inspired me to learn to play the electric guitar. Tremendous talent and seemed to be a great all around person too. Awesome interview too. Gone too soon. RIP Ronnie.

Ronnie Montrose clearly ranks with some of the best!! Make it last has always been my favorite!!!

I probably patterned.a lot of my playing after Ronnie he was awesome and such a great loss for us all. Believe it or not I had his music on 8 tracks thanks for this awesome interview

one of a kind guitar player. Seems like such a nice dude. RIP ronnie!

So Cool glad i stumbled on this. RIP Ronnie You were important.

The big sound, well said. Ronnie the Bay Area's own.

If you don't own MONTROSE debut album, your music collection has A GIANT HOLE IN IT!

The first Montrose album is to Hard Rock what the shower scene in Hitchcock’s “Psycho” is to the horror film genre. It changed everything. It took all the Who/Zeppelin heavy Blues guitar riffs, Bonham-inspired drumming and Roger Daltrey/Robert Plant style vocals that had been done up to that point and streamlined and synthesized them into a modern American Hard Rock music style. Fuck, it’s THE seminal Hard Rock album for EVERYTHING that came after.

Ronnie was kind enough to donate one of his guitars to the musicians emergency medical association (M.E.M.A.). A non profit established here in Eugene oregon that provides emergency assistance to local musicians that do so much for local charities. When musicians loose their ability to perform they instantly loose their income. The guitar was auctioned off and the money was a nice contribution to a very worthy cause. Ronnie montrose was not just an awesome rock star...he was genuinely an awesome dude. Thanks for everything Ronnie. In so many ways you made the world a better place while you were in it.

still in my top 10 greatest albums of all time - never tire of it

1sr Montrose..simply one of the best pure rock albums ever!. First heard it in ‘78 when I was 14. Still spin it even now..

I come back to this interview regularly...

I saw a Ronnie Montrose one time at a small club in Detroit in the late 80s I'm glad I got to see him one time who is definitely an and influence on my guitar playing before I picked up guitar along with Jimi Hendrix and Frank Marino thank you Ronnie restinpeace

Edgar Winter and Ronnie Montrose. What a show. I love the human race.

I did a lot of partying at my cabin I'd be playing that Montrose album on 8-track on a date with a woman I love his story about the speaker's being rebuilt. Man that is pure iconic stuff. Hendricks I guess had a lot of the same kind of things where he actually tried out the same Wawa pedal to get one that HE thought sounded the best. The 60s and early 70s were some of the greatest pioneers of rock and roll on the Earth I still listen to all that music today. And many of the young women rockers now are bringing us back and bringing back classic rock more gargantuan than ever I think it's totally awesome

One of the greatest guitar players to walk the planet. Saw Montrose live in '74. I was b!own away!!!!!!!!!

Great interview and how cool to see Ronnie up close like that! The first record changed my life. One of the all time great guitarists, RIP.

Nice interview. The interviewer did a great job of getting Ronnie to open up. it was a comfortable interview. Ronnie was an inspiration to many with his rocking style and classic riffs! RIP Ronnie Montrose.

I saw Montrose, Aerosmith, & Black Oak Ark. at Cobo in Detroit, 1975. Awesome talent, but RM had this chromed guitar that was like a friggin landing light in your face as he played. I’ll never forget it. RIP, Ronnie😔

Awesome player, his legacy lives on I am learning his songs today, first heard them in 1979, and they still sound as fresh. Natural tone , unprocessed where you can hear the unique characteristics of the players techniques can’t be artificially reproduced, the ear knows.

Thank you Ronnie🤘🤘🤘 found that cassette sitting on a curb one morning. Couldn’t get enough of it

Gamma 1 was my favorite album, RIP Ronnie,

The man is like a Conduit of magic.

Just listened to his solo on "ordinary people" from van's philosopher stone album. Truly masterful.

Truly one of the best.

I think those double stop -- interval riffs sound cool. What a great guitarist and a huge influence for many players. Another cool double stop riff is "Smoke on the Water".

Cool interview and insight. RIP Ronnie

Love Ronnie. Watched Gamma do a sound check at the Stanley Theater in Pitt. I was just an usher . Ronnie looks to me and asked how does it sound? I gave the thumbs up. Great guy even back than. They opened for Rainbow.

That was the sound track of my youth. Big loss for all of music.

i love this guy...i was listening to Gama at 12 years old 1978

It took me most of my life to realize that MANY of the greatest songs have truly been the simplest songs to play. We all feel like we have to create the most complicated riffs to get respect but most of my favorites as I look back have truly been the simplest, but you gotta have great tone and catchy riffs, seriously.

Montrose/ Montrose is one of the best albums one could buy. Every song on it rocks. I wore out several of them.

Wow after knowing about Frankenstein since the 70's I always thought that was Rick Derringer on it, Ya learn something new everyday.

Ronnie used to rehearse at Silver shadow studios In concord ca where I rehearsed... great human

He was a master of his craft!!!!

Ronnie....RIP.....you were incredible.

RM and SH; 2 of the coolest and most talented rockers Ever. How special was that, to have em both on that Montrose debut Record. Innovative Guitar with those pipes, just blew me away from that very first listen way back in mid 70's. I can tell ya exactly where i was too; driving to girlfriends house in my parents '76 gold dodge colt with black vinyl roof, hands pounding on steering wheel and dash. Best of Times!

I was working for the Post Office in Walnut creek, at the time I guess he had a house in Lafayette Ca, but I was at a small station which he had a PO Box there and would come in time to time, and mail stuff he was a very cool dude. I think he did some music for a video game company when he was laying low after montrose and gamma

Love Montrose!!!!!!. Opened the door for so many.

Thanks for posting this! Too cool. Seen him live. He brought some magic out of the guitar that can't be denied.

That’s a great interview he seems very happy and enjoying the interview

His own sound. So good.

One of the Greats !! 😎🙏🏻🎸

You never really know when someone is battling depression, RIP Ronnie.

He's right, they were simple riffs. I first learned guitar with his album. First album I ever heard. Montrose. Great stuff.

Just wanted to say God bless you Ronnie Montrose for all that you gave us in your short time we miss the hell out of you Ronnie wish you could have stuck around but life is tough and I understand

Was a legendary guitarist to me from age 12 with Edgar winter group

A great little club in San Diego next to Miramar NAS called the rockin bachanal . I saw Ronnie shred the whole speed of sound album with 2 other young guitarists . They both kept pushing him and he put on an amazing live show that night !! He had hit songs with Van Morrison , Edgar Winter , Gary Wright , and killer solo work with Sammy 👍 . Truly a blessed guitarist for sure . I also saw Alvin Lee and Ten years after , and Krokus there also . 1980s had talent and tasty music from so many bands ☀️

Wow who would have thought that 1 year later he'd be dead, that's really sad and very tragic 😪. I remember the first time I heard the 1st Montrose LP was in 75 when I was a teenager and a friend turned it on to me. It was awesome and heavy just like I like it considering my favorite band was and still is Black Sabbath, it definitely had the right sound for me. I liked the red rockers voice in it and had the perfect tone for the music. Sammy is no slouch with the axe either and have seen him live

What a absolute legend

That was awesome demonstrations there is no music like this anymore

The tone. OMG. R.I.P.

This is where KZfaq really pays off. I had always heard Ronnie was a dick. But in the last few months, I have been watching his playing and interviews and find he was just like you and I.... of course he had faults...he was really HUMAN! Thanks for the memories Ronnie!😪🤩😎

First album I ever bought edgar winter group they only come out at night 1972 still got it

Just pulled the 1st Montrose album out and put it on. Still sounds incredible. When I heard Van Halen's first album decades ago I said "sounds like Ted Templeton produced it." Swish!

Saw Montrose open for Aerosmith in 1976..or '77.....they were great...put Aerosmith to shame...Montrose first lp..a top ten of all time.

So Sad to see Ronnie gone.

I knew that Rock candy drum intro sounded like When the Levee Breaks! The first time i heard it, i immediately rewinded it.

I'm still nuts for Rock Candy and Bad Motor Scooter. Ronnie and Sammy had it goin' on.

I’m 48 years old and was introduced to Montrose by my dad when I was younger. Of course the first song was Rock Candy. I was instantly hooked. I have been playing guitar off and on for years now. My wife got me a multiple effects pedal last year for Christmas since I have been wanting to play rock. The first cd I put in was the Montrose debut cd. R.I.P. Ronnie!!

What a gigantic loss. A great rock innovator.

Ronnie’s Riffs reverberate ….. forever

I'll never forget, in the late 70's this guy that rented a room at our house put Rock Candy on our record player when my teenage friends were over. Holy sh&*t unforgettable.

The first album they did was a masterpiece. I think we covered like 5 songs from it. Montrose is the shit!!!!

"If you can't remember the song the next day, it's not a song anymore." Can you imagine how many forgotten songs there are?

What a great guy!!RIP!!!

one of the top 10 hard rock albums of all time

Ronnie Montrose... man he was a guitar playing fool.... kick ass guitarist for sure... he is sadly missed....

Saw Montrose 75? With Hager...great band great show great memories ☮️♥️

I got a job at 14 and all the dudes I worked with where local musicians in Baltimore. I hear this guitarist playing with a awesome singer and said who the hell is that? It was Montrose and I became an instant fan. They never got much FM play in backwards Baltimore of the 70s. RIP Ronnie

Saw Ronnie back in the 70s with Edgar Winters and his band Montrose with Sammy. Awesome concerts, those guys t their best!!

What a great player a fan since the 70,s

So ironic... because Van Halen was a Pasadena, CA based band, and I thought Montrose sounded so unique heavy metal, yet different from EVH, I always thought they were from the same area, La Crescenta/Montrose and Montrose Avenue near Foothill Blvd in the same area was where Ronnie was from, like neighbors, they were doing the same locations for gigs early on, they sounded similar in so many ways, yet who was opening for who, I didn't know. Just thought they were influenced a little bit by each other. But it was Ted Templeman, the producer.... that made it happen. Didn't know he was from the Bay area... no telling how etched in my memory Ronnie and Sammy Hagar were.... just a huge loss to Rock and Roll. Ritchie Blackmore and John Lord with Deep Purple, and Montrose with Sammy, Ronnie Denny Carmassi and the bassist.... 62 and I STILL crank them up from time to time... soooo, sooo many great memories of them, from my youth.

My first music i ever listened to was MONTROSE!!!!

Here we see a relaxed, down to earth Montrose; a completely different countenance and demeanor than years earlier. I have to wonder what caused the positive transformation. Seems like he found peace within himself, after all.

Love me some Montrose. Ronnie is missed.

Love Montrose and that first album!!!