LITA FORD Pays Tribute To RONNIE MONTROSE - "Ronnie Was Part Of The Soundtrack Of My LIfe"
March 7, 2012, 12 years ago
Legendary US guitarist Ronnie Montrose (MONTROSE, GAMMA) passed away Saturday, March 3rd after losing his five year battle with prostate cancer. He was 64 years old. Female metal icon LITA FORD pays tribute with the following:
"The day I got the call to jam with Ronnie Montrose for NAMM 2011 was a day a dream of mine came true. I had loved Montrose and Ronnie’s guitar riffs since I began to play the guitar. Ronnie changed the face of rock forever!!! No one could ever make their guitar sound like a motorcycle .....not like Ronnie..... not then, and still not even now!!!
I was truly honored to have shared the stage with Ronnie that night, he called me his ''little ray of sunshine'' because it was cold out that night, and when Ronnie told me his fingers were cold before we went on to play , I stuck them between my legs to warm them up... Leighsa, Ronnie’s wife laughed, as so did Ronnie and I. From that moment on we became good friends and bonded as musicians.
I grew up on that same wonderful music. Montrose!!! Ronnie was part of the soundtrack of my life!
I love you my dear sweet wonderful Ronnie. Now you and Dio can jam together with Jimi Hendrix. Wow!!! I'm missing you so!!! God bless Ronnie, and your wonderful wife Leighsa. You are an angel.
Deepest sympathy, Lita Ford.
R.I.P. You bad motor scooter!!!"
Footage of Montrose and Ford at NAMM 2011 can be seen below:
Check out a gallery with more photos by Jennifer Bartram-Schmitt, of Lita Ford with special guest Ronnie Montrose, caught live at the Dean Markley party on January 14th at the Winter NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show held in Anaheim, CA at the Anaheim Convention Center.
