Wife says he suffered from clinical depression
Ronnie Montrose, who was found dead in his home March 3, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound the San Mateo County coroner said Friday.
The guitarist, Ronni Montrose, led a number of his own bands, as well as working with a variety of musicians, including Van Morrison and Boz Scaggs.
Ronnie Montrose, who was 64-years-old at the time of his death, was found in the living room of his home last month. He was pronounced dead at the scene. At the time of his death, his family led people to believe that he had died from cancer complications, as it was well known that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007. In 2009, however, the guitarist had announced it was in remission.
A statement was posted to Ronnie Montrose’s official website shortly after the coroner’s report went public. “By now, the devastating truth of Ronnie’s death is public knowledge. We hope you can understand why we wanted to keep this news a private family matter for as long as possible. We can only hope that you will choose to celebrate Ronnie’s life, and what his music meant to you, rather than mourn his passing. Ronnie would have wanted it that way.”
Leighsa Montrose, Ronnie’s wife, said he did not leave a suicide note, reported the San Fransisco Chronicle. “He didn’t give any indication. When his mind is made up you can’t reason with him with logic. I guess he just let it get the better of him. He was tormented.”
