SAMMY HAGAR (CHICKENFOOT, ex-VAN HALEN, MONTROSE) has written a lengthy tribute at Rolling Stone to his former bandmate Ronnie Montrose (MONTROSE, GAMMA) who passed away this past Saturday, March 3rd after losing his five year battle with prostate cancer. He was 64 years old.

Says Hagar: "A couple of weeks ago [was the last time I spoke to Montrose], and about a week before that, and then four or five days before that. We were talking a lot, because we were planning a Montrose reunion for my birthday in Cabo this year. Montrose, the whole band, has not been there. Denny's (Carmassi) been there, Bill's (Church) been there, Ronnie's been there – but [the whole band together] has never been there. I said to Ronnie, 'Come on, man. We're all getting old. Let's do this again while we can.' And he was in, we were all in. On my 65th, on October 13th, I was planning on coming out with Montrose, doing the whole first album, then going in with my other band, and then bringing Chickenfoot out. I was going to try to [cover] my whole four decades for the fans that night, without nobody knowing. The fans don't ever know what I'm going to do down there. And Ronnie was in. It's crazy. I even played back on my message box, February 10th – 'Hagar, Ronzo…call me back!' It was all good. It's fucked up that those songs will never be played by those four members again. That's so weird to me. It's like the end of an era. Songs can go forever, but we can't. It's trippy.

[I would like Montrose to be remembered] as one of the pioneers of American heavy/hard rock. And certainly, one of the great hard rock guitar players. But he was more than that – he was really versatile. But if you're going to remember him for anything, put on that first Montrose record."

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"Ronnie Montrose gave me my first break as a songwriter, as a front man, as a recording artist, as a touring artist, and for that I will always be grateful," says Hagar. "I was looking forward to a reunion for my birthday bash in Cabo with Denny (Carmassi; drums) , Bill (Church; bass) and Ronnie - one of the few bands from that era where all four original members were still able to do it. It's a shame to lose Ronnie and I'm so sorry for his loved ones. Rest in peace."

Born in Denver, Colorado, Montrose's first break when he played VAN MORRISON's classic 1971 album, Tupelo Honey. He also appeared on recordings by BOZ SCAGGS and the EDGAR WINTER GROUP (1972's They Only Come Out At Night) before going solo under the Montrose moniker in 1973 (with a very young SAMMY HAGAR on vocals), which is heralded as a classic with such memorable songs as 'Rock the Nation', 'Bad Motor Scooter', 'Rock Candy' and 'Space Station #5'.