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bananas

(27,509 posts)
Wed Apr 11, 2012, 05:11 AM Apr 2012

Coroner: Ronnie Montrose killed himself

Source: Associated Press

The death of rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose, who formed an eponymous band in the 1970s and played with heavy hitters such as Van Morrison and Herbie Hancock, has been ruled a suicide.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the San Mateo County coroner has concluded that Montrose took his own life last month at his home in Millbrae, Calif.

His widow, Leighsa Montrose, tells the newspaper that her 64-year-old husband was tormented by clinical depression for much of his life. She says he suffered from severe self-doubt that caused him to harshly evaluate his performances, even on nights audiences gave him multiple standing ovations.

Leighsa Montrose says her husband left no suicide note. She says she was bewildered by his decision to take his life, especially since he spent two years being successfully treated for prostate cancer.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/story/2012-04-10/ronnie-montrose-suicide/54160926/1

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Coroner: Ronnie Montrose killed himself (Original Post) bananas Apr 2012 OP
I'm sad to hear this. Ferretherder Apr 2012 #1
I am sorry to hear of this. icymist Apr 2012 #2
get on your bad motor scooter and ride Evasporque Apr 2012 #3
Safe passage Ronnie, TBF Apr 2012 #4
This is such sad news Bluzmann57 Apr 2012 #5
R.I.P. Ronnie AH1Apache Apr 2012 #6
That's just sad Mopar151 Apr 2012 #7
very sorry to read this SemperEadem Apr 2012 #8
Damn. So sorry to hear this. calimary Apr 2012 #9
What a horror depression is. I hate to say RIP. Wish he could've had it while he lived. nolabear Apr 2012 #10
RIP...That man could shred Taverner Apr 2012 #11

Ferretherder

(1,446 posts)
1. I'm sad to hear this.
Wed Apr 11, 2012, 06:31 AM
Apr 2012

I went to see his band, Montrose, and Spooky Tooth and Humble Pie on a triple bill concert back in the early seventies here in Monroe, LA., at the civic center. Sammy Hagar was Montose's lead singer. His band completely blew away the other two bands - hands down.

Sorry to here he is gone....didn't even know this had happened.

Bluzmann57

(12,336 posts)
5. This is such sad news
Wed Apr 11, 2012, 09:23 AM
Apr 2012

I had the opportunity to see Ronnie Montrose twice, once with Hagar and once without, and wow! what a guitar player he was. R.I.P. Ronnie Montrose.

Mopar151

(9,997 posts)
7. That's just sad
Wed Apr 11, 2012, 09:56 AM
Apr 2012

Saw Sammy live shortly after his Montrose days, when his act was basically what he did with Ronnie. Great songs - Sammy does some of them to this day.. See you on Space Station #5, dude.

SemperEadem

(8,053 posts)
8. very sorry to read this
Wed Apr 11, 2012, 09:57 AM
Apr 2012

clinical depression is a mf... I've had it and it's not that easy to just "snap out of it". The drugs they put you on to regulate your moods also kills your creative spirit--it puts you in a "ho hum, ah well" mindset. When creative passion burns like fire, the solution cannot be to throw water on it. He must have suffered terribly with this to take this tack for relief. I hope that he is finally at peace.

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