Ronnie Montrose and his guitar are happy to be back in action

By Lisa Millegan
lmillegan@modbee.com

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With screaming guitars and big hair, the hard-rock band Montrose had a devoted following in the early 1970s.

Founding guitarist Ronnie Montrose and his resurrected band return to the State Theatre on Saturday to play their classic hits like "Bad Motor Scooter" and "Rock Candy."

Montrose, who will be 62 later this month, said he decided to bring back the band because of popular demand.

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"I see a whole new generation of fans that love this music and they want to come and hear it," he said.

It's been a tough couple of years for Montrose and he is glad to be back on stage — he took time off during that period because he had prostate cancer. Now that he's restored to good health, all he wants to do is play music.

"Music is my life," he said. "I don't define myself by being a guitar player, but I love playing guitar."

The Modesto gig is one of only six Montrose shows he has done this year. Others were in Los Angeles and several towns in the Bay Area, where he lives.

Montrose has worked with some of the greats of rock, jazz and blues, including Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, Boz Skaggs, Gary Wright, The Neville Brothers and Dan Hartman. He was also in the Edgar Winter Group.

He formed his self-titled band in 1973, tapping Sammy Hagar to serve as lead singer. Montrose remembered that Hagar was among the most confident to call him after he put out the word that he was looking for a singer.

"I didn't know he was going to be a star for a long time, but I knew he was a star at the time," Montrose said. "He was a really good performer."

Montrose is excited that his music has lasted and continues to attract new listeners.

"It's simple, rough, raw and intense," he said. "There's still a chord structure and melody on top of all that rough, raw feel."