In the early 1970s, when hard rock was ruled by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and AC/DC, Montrose was one of America’s few heavy hitters. With minor FM hits such as “Rock Candy” and “Bad Motor Scooter” and the undeniable fretwork of guitarist Ronnie Montrose, the California quartet achieved more lasting infamy as the primary influence on Eddie Van Halen. Over the course of four albums and two line-ups--the first of which featured future VH vocalist Sammy Hagar on lead vocals--Montrose provided the common link between the hard blues of the Rolling Stones and the Faces and the power metal of the 1980s.