Ronnie Montrose, RIP

For those that know or remember him, my pal Ronnie was a rock guitar pioneer and all around great guy. Apart from his own bands, Ronnie was the guitarist on "Frankenstein"', wrote the infamous riff from "bad motor scooter", amongst others.

Ronnie died yesterday in California from pc. He was 64.

He told me 2 years ago how he sufered tremendous pain from his brachytherapy. Would
Not / could not pick up a guitar from the pain.

Here, precisely one year from my surgery, the musician who transformed me as a young teenager has left us.

We were to get together in may when he was to have performed in NYC.

Ronnie, I pray your pain is over and your journey is just beggining.

He told me 2 years ago how he sufered tremendous pain from his brachytherapy. Would
Not / could not pick up a guitar from the pain.

really?

montrose was still doing gigs.  in fact he was scheduled to play at the avalon in santa clara on the 24th of march.  i just saw that on the club's marquee yesterday when i stopped at my favorite ramen joint for lunch yesterday.

http://www.avalonsantaclara.com/

R.I.P. bad motorscooter   !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk52nGxF-jc

ed

 

Very sad to hear of the loss of a friend to this horrible disease.  It brings it back home to us all that no matter how good or bad we are each doing in our journey, there are so many people for whom this journey leads to the end.  It sucks !

My thoughts are with anyone who knew Ronnie, his family, and the thousands of others we lose each day.

"It is alwasy so sad when someone you know becomes someone you knew" - may you both cherish your memories of each other forever. So sorry for your loss.

TJ

It would appear that he decided upon the time and manner of his own death:


From his own website:
"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."

Apparently (from various sources) he had attempted suicide before, in 2005.

Sorry to hear this news. He was a great guitarist.

the man was a monster. saw him the first time in 1977 with a very young sammy hagar out front. very sorry to hear this