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Bay Area Rock Guitarist Ronnie Montrose Dies At 64

MILLBRAE (CBS SF) - Rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose, who formed the band that bore his name and performed with some of rock's heavy hitters, has passed away.

His booking agent, Jim Douglas, says Montrose passed away at his home in Millbrae on Saturday. He was 64.

Douglas says Montrose had been in declining health for some time battling prostate cancer and what Douglas termed "personal demons."

Besides forming his own band in 1973, Montrose also performed with a number of rockers, including Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, Boz Scaggs and the Edgar Winter Group.

Interview With Bay Area Music Critic Joel Selvin :

Douglas says Montrose was working on releasing a new first DVD and starting a spring tour that would have taken him all across the U.S.

Montrose is survived by his wife, Leighsa, as well as a son, a daughter and five grandchildren. Services are pending.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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