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.
I was a dj at Iowa city u of Iowa radio station and we got both demo lps while I was working. They called it "Crotch Rock " and they wwee great. The next lp had some great stuff also. Like "whaler".
Gifted people have it hard in life. He says several times, "I was just screwing around." People like him are born to wander, or if you will, to "just screw around." Inspiration happens when it happens. Musical composers sleep with a notepad on their night table. Think about how difficult that makes it to "fit in" with the crowd.
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
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:)
@@thedoobiesistersandsackbla5718 Doobies! you're one WORD response is all that's needed when it comes to America's answer to Led Zeppelin-Montrose debut burns hotter than the sun.....and the burrito I killed earlier today! peace.
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.
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.
top ten hard rock album that I have to force myself not to play on a loop-the riffs, tones, insane energy and Sammy's killer voice......IT'S NEARLY 50 FREAKIN' YRS. OLD AND STILL BURNS DOWN EVERYTHING IN IT'S PATH! Not a thief-but I'd steal it if I had to. Ronnie lives on, I can hear SPACE STATION #5 pop into my dome about 10 times a week. Cheers, brother!
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.
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
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 !!
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!
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
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.
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.
No disrespect to Ronnie…I was already a fan via the Edgar Winter Group & caught his band once, about 30 years ago, recalling his female drummer. Speaking of drummers, there’s a connection with Ronnie & Chuck Ruff, tying to Edgar Winter, from what I recall? BÖC were already putting their unique stamp on 🇺🇸 hard rock, with their ‘72, self-titled debut. Especially the initial Black & White period, trinity…nothing like it. 🇨🇦
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.
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
respect to Ronnie.....the man was the real deal.....never knew about the 'Wild Night' riff.....amazing song and riff, not to mention Edgar Winter, Montrose stuff. RIP Ronnie.
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.
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.
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
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.
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😔
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
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".
This is where RU-vid 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!😪🤩😎
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
I was close with ya, '74 or '75, 15 playing a Stratocaster into Ampeg in "band" with CHS friends- this album along with UFO, Alex Harvey, Bad Company etcetera.
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!
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!
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.
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!!
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
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
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 ☀️
Going through Ronnie's discography really show how much of a great player he was. From the ambience of the Space Station #5 intro to Simple but pummeling riff of Bad Motor Scooter then back to his simple but effectice Koto playing on Pentagon (From his solo gem of a record "Territory". His playing had a beautiful variety too it which makes me appreciate his genius much more
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
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.
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.
