Guitarist of Californian based rock band Montrose, Ronnie Montrose, has reportedly died of prostate cancer, aged 64. Ronnie passed away at his Californian home in Millbrae, just south of San Francisco. In a statement from the band’s website, it is said that he “battled cancer, and staved off old age for long enough.”
Montrose was a session musician, working with the likes of Van Morrison, The Neville Brothers and various other artists. In response to his death, Montrose’s wife Leighsa noted his work ethic.
“He was very hard on himself,” she told the San Francisco Chronicle. “He would play shows where there would be three standing ovations, and all he would talk about on the drive home is what he didn’t do right.”
While manager Jim Douglas said “The guy was such a legendary figure for so many people. He influenced so many bands.” Douglas continued to describe Montrose as “one of the founding farmers of rock and roll”
