In 1973, session guitar god Ronnie Montrose (who played with Van Morrison, Herbie Hancock, Edgar Winter Group, including the monster hit Frankenstein) decided to suck it up and form his own band.

He signed up future rock and metal god Sammy Hagar, along with bassist Bill Church and drummer Denny Carmassi.

Together they released two albums, including some initially-minor hits. But never underestimate these guys: Their music never stopped selling, so that over the course of two decades those two albums each managed to rack up over a million copies in sales, for platinum status.

With all of the members thence quitting to record Sammy Hagar albums, Ronnie replaced them with other musicians, recording three more albums that were considerably less successful, but kept them in recording contracts.

Ronnie took his own life in 2012. The rest of the original lineup played a tribute concert in his honor, with Joe Satriani subbing for him on guitar.