Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Ronnie Montrose is one of the most underrated, under-celebrated, genius guitarists to ever pick up an axe. He played with Van Morrison (on Tupelo Honey, including Wild Night), Herbie Hancock (on Ostinato, Suite For Angela), Beaver & Krause (on Gandharva), Boz Scaggs, Edgar Winter (on They Only Come Out at Night, including Frankenstein and Free Ride), Gary Wright (on Dreamweaver), The Beau Brummels, Dan Hartman, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, Marc Bonilla and Sammy Hagar, as well has his own band Montrose. However, it is his solo work where he really shone recording tracks that would lay the groundwork for guitar greats and fellow San Franciscans Satriani and Vai.
The Gene Pitney classic "Town Without Pity" was recorded for Ronnie's 100% guitar instrumental album Open Fire. This classic melody starts with Bm, Bm add#7, Bm7, Bm6, C#7b5 and F#m7 ... and that's just the first four bars! Like Ronnie, I started off with the main melody for the first two versions, but the strayed away a little in the third verse, before coming back around to the Montrose slides and the melody.
Rest in Peace Ronnie!
Ronnie Montrose is one of the most underrated, under-celebrated, genius guitarists to ever pick up an axe. He played with Van Morrison (on Tupelo Honey, including Wild Night), Herbie Hancock (on Ostinato, Suite For Angela), Beaver & Krause (on Gandharva), Boz Scaggs, Edgar Winter (on They Only Come Out at Night, including Frankenstein and Free Ride), Gary Wright (on Dreamweaver), The Beau Brummels, Dan Hartman, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, Marc Bonilla and Sammy Hagar, as well has his own band Montrose. However, it is his solo work where he really shone recording tracks that would lay the groundwork for guitar greats and fellow San Franciscans Satriani and Vai.
The Gene Pitney classic "Town Without Pity" was recorded for Ronnie's 100% guitar instrumental album Open Fire. This classic melody starts with Bm, Bm add#7, Bm7, Bm6, C#7b5 and F#m7 ... and that's just the first four bars! Like Ronnie, I started off with the main melody for the first two versions, but the strayed away a little in the third verse, before coming back around to the Montrose slides and the melody.
Rest in Peace Ronnie!
