Former Montrose singer Keith St. John has organized a tribute concert for bandmate and late guitarist Ronnie Montrose, who passed away in 2012.
Set for Thursday, November 6 at the Saddle Rack in Fremont, California, “Rock The Nation: Friends of Ronnie Montrose” will see St. John team up with Sammy Hagar guitarist Vic Johnson, Tesla drummer Troy Luccketta, former Alice Cooper/Ted Nugent bassist Chuck Wright and special guests to perform tunes by the late rock legend.
St. John first connected with Montrose in the late 1990s as a songwriting partner before becoming lead singer in 2002.
“This is definitely not a tribute band,” St. John tells Bestofbayarea.com. “This is nobody trying to be like anyone from the original Montrose lineup, just four guys with strong connections to music and personally to Ronnie, who want to play the music we love to play. Every time I sing any of these songs live I can still feel Ronnie in the room. It is not a spooky or a spiritual thing but something that is inspired within me.”
Montrose died on March 3, 2012 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a five year battle with prostate cancer.
Montrose broke out with their self-titled debut in 1973, a record that featured classics like “Bad Motor Scooter,” “Rock The Nation” and “Rock Candy.”
Though the album was not a big seller upon its initial release, peaking at No. 133 on the U.S. Billboard chart, it eventually proved to be an international sleeper hit which has gone on to earn platinum status for sales of more than 1 million copies.
See also:
Ronnie Montrose memorabilia up for auction
Ronnie Monrose tribute concert coming to DVD
Sammy Hagar recording new music with former Montrose bandmates
VIDEO: Montrose reunite for Ronnie Montrose tribute concert
Search Montrose at hennemusic
