Posted on Wednesday, June 18 @ 06:53:56 MDT 
Montrose
If you think you're surprised that there will be a Montrose reunion this summer, imagine how Sammy Hagar feels. Hagar was fired from the band in 1975, and he's had some unpleasant things to say about guitarist Ronnie Montrose since then.
Sammy Hagar
However, Hagar says he's wanted to play with his former bandmates again for a long time, and he almost can't believe it's finally going to happen: "I've always tried to get Montrose to do it, and Ronnie would never do it in the past. Every time I'd ask, he'd say, 'Oh, I'm busy.' 'Oh, I'm doing a record.' 'Oh, I've got my own little club tour,' and he always would shoot me down. So it's been about three or four years since I've asked him to do it again, so I just thought, 'Hey -- I'm ending my tour, so why don't I see if Montrose wants to come out?' And finally, he accepted. I was shocked.
Ronnie Montrose
Montrose -- drummer Denny Carmassi, bassist Bill Church, Hagar, and Montrose -- will reunite for the last three shows of Hagar's summer tour. Hagar will do his usual show with his current band, the WaboRitas, and also join the guys in Montrose for a short set. It's unknown whether the Montrose performance will come before, during, or after the WaboRitas show. The dates for the double-bill are August 20th in Prior Lake, Minnesota; August 22nd in Bonner Springs, Kansas; and August 23rd in Maryland Heights, Missouri.
Montrose formed in 1973. The band didn't have any real chart success -- their second album, Paper Money, peaked at Number 65, which was their highest chart position. Since then, however, the band is often mentioned as one of the most influential hard rock groups of the time. Listening to songs like "Rock The Nation" and "Rock Candy" shows the impact Montrose had on the young musicians who came together as Van Halen.
Hagar's summer tour, in support of his new album Live Hallelujah, gets underway July 12th in Walker, Minnesota. He'll also be coheadlining a series of dates with Lynyrd Skynyrd that have been dubbed the "Party Of A Lifetime" tour. Those shows start July 19th. |
