“I hope people hear these albums and go, ‘Oh, this is where that legendary American rock guitar archetype is from’”: This unsung guitar hero's band was called the American Led Zeppelin, and his virtuosic playing paved the way for Van Halen and Satriani

Ronnie Montrose performs onstage with Montrose at the The Valley in London on May 18, 1974.

“RONNNNIIIIEEEE!”

With that epic battle cry, Mr. Big vocalist Eric Martin opens the floodgates on Heavy Traffic, the lead track on 10x10, the recently released final album from the late Bay Area–bred guitar giant Ronnie Montrose. It’s a fitting call to arms that immediately leads into a patented chunky power riff to signal that, yes, Montrose is in the house, he’s kicking major fretboard ass, and he’s taking names.