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
Ferretherder
(1,446 posts)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.
icymist
(15,888 posts)Godspeed to Ronnie Montrose.
Evasporque
(2,133 posts)Thanks for the music Ronnie....
TBF
(32,090 posts)depression can be so brutal. You were fantastic and will be missed.
Bluzmann57
(12,336 posts)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.
AH1Apache
(502 posts)You were great!
Mopar151
(9,997 posts)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)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.
calimary
(81,466 posts)He deserved much better than this sad end.
nolabear
(41,991 posts)Taverner
(55,476 posts)Get on your bad motor scooter and ride, Ronnie...