in 1973, Ronnie Montrose formed his own band, Montrose, featuring Sammy Hagar on vocals. The band released two albums on Warner Bros. Records, Montrose (1973) and Paper Money (1974), before Hagar left to pursue a solo career.
The guitarist released two more Montrose band albums in the rock/vocal format (Warner Brothers Presents… Montrose! (1975) and Jump on It (1976), featuring vocalist Bob James replacing Sammy Hagar), then shifted direction and released his debut solo album, the all-instrumental Open Fire (1978) which explored jazz, rock and acoustic concepts in the vein of Blow by Blow by Jeff Beck. Before returning to the rock-vocal format and forming Gamma in 1979, initially releasing three albums under that name with Davey Pattison singing.
Check out the video clip below for a full live show shot during the Open Fire era, as Ronnie Montrose performs live in New York City, NY on April 3rd, 1978.
SETLIST
Open Fire
Mandolina
Rocky Road
No Beginning / No End
Leo Rising
Town Without Pity
Starliner
