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Coroner: Guitarist Montrose Committed Suicide
The death of rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose, who formed an eponymous band in the 1970s and played with heavy hitters such as Van Morrison and Herbie Hancock, has been ruled a suicide.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports the San Mateo County coroner has concluded that Montrose took his own life last month at his home in Millbrae, Calif.
His widow, Leighsa Montrose, tells the newspaper that her 64-year-old husband was tormented by clinical depression for much of his life. She says he suffered from severe self-doubt that caused him to harshly evaluate his performances, even on nights audiences gave him multiple standing ovations.
Photo: Paul Breski
Orange Blossom Junction, Exeter, Calif.
Leighsa Montrose says her husband left no suicide note. She says she was bewildered by his decision to take his life, especially since he spent two years being successfully treated for prostate cancer.