Michael Lee Firkins, Ronnie Montrose: "I Still can't believe he is gone."

Michael Lee Firkins:


RIP Ronnie Montrose- I Still can't believe he is gone. I got to play 31 shows this year with this great guy! He helped me get to another level on this earth. Even after a 4 day weekend of 4 shows with him, I would come home KNOWING I was a better player and person for being around him. Ronnie was so cool to me. Not only did he let me play MY music for HIS crowd, but he invited me up to play his b...iggest hit every night. I am so Lucky for this. At 44, you really don't think someone could come into your life and have such an impact. You think you've already seen it all. Then poof, there is this guy Montrose pointing to center stage saying "get up here and show em' what you got"!!! And I did. Then he and I would go into our Bad Motor Scooter routine. Out of the 30 versions of this song we did, 2 or 3 times Ronnie would say That was our best one yet! I knew it too, but he would always say it first. He still REALLY cared about the MUSIC. I am FOREVER changed by his life and death. My Heart goes out to his wife Leighsa, his children, his Bandmates, and anyone else who is hurtin' like I am.

Photo Credit Bill Towner 

Photo Credit Bill Towner