I was vaguely indifferent to head of Ronnie Montrose's death at 64 year old. You can't head everyone and I hadn't heard of him.
But since then I've listened to several of the great guitarists albums from the 1970s and 1980s, and it sure sounds like early metal to me. Both Iron Maiden and Van Halen have covered him and, er, he introduced the world to Sammy Hagar!
If that wasn't enough (and it might not be), Montrose played on Van Morrisons masterful Tupelo Honey and yeah, that would do it. That'll get him in the hall of fame!
Our condolences to his family.