Friends of Ronnie Montrose to Rock Fremont at Concert

Montrose fans will be excited to know that former band lead singer Keith St John has arranged an all star line-up to perform a special concert entitled Rock the Nation Friends of Ronnie Montrose on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 9 p.m. at the SaddleRack at 42011 Boscell Road in Fremont.

Opener will be Daze on the Green.

When Ronnie Montrose passed away in 2012, only the man left. His music lives on with songs such as Rock Candy, Rock the Nation and Bad Motor Scooter as a part of rock and roll history.

The all-star line up includes: St John; Vic Johnson (guitar) of the Sammy Hagar Band; Troy Luccketta (drums) of Tesla; and Chuck Wright (bass) of Ted Nugent and Alice Cooper. There will also be many special unannounced guests.

According to St John, he bills himself as “the later years,” in respect for the most well known former Montrose lead singer Sammy Hagar, since he is still performing Montrose music as well.

St John started writing and singing with Ronnie Montrose in the late ‘90s when a mutual friend thought they would make great writing partners. Then when Montrose decided to begin touring again, St John became the new Montrose lead singer.

St John said he is not grieving anymore about Ronnie Montrose’s passing. “I have long accepted the remainder of this life without my long time friend and big brother. When I play Montrose music I am honoring him and the intense relationship we have across the greater spiritual plane.”

Whenever St John plays live with any group, he is always asked to sing Rock Candy or Bad Motor Scooter, but usually respectfully declines. “It has to be the right group of players for the right reasons. Especially the guitar player, but with no disrespect to other musicians, there are only a few I feel comfortable playing these songs with. The whole rhythm section needs to really hip to what this music is all about and where it came from.”

The idea for the upcoming concert began after St John jammed with Johnson, Hagar’s guitarist, about six weeks ago. It was so much fun that Rock The Nation: Friends of Ronnie Montrose was planned. “This is definitely not a tribute band or a tribute show,” St John pointed out. “This is just four guys with strong connections to the music and personally to Ronnie, who want to play the music we love to play.”

--Information and photo submitted to Patch