Bad Motor Scooter
The Motorcycle Riff That Put Montrose on the Map
“Bad Motor Scooter,” performed live by Montrose on The Midnight Special on March 22, 1974, is the moment the band shifted from cult favorite to hard rock legend.
The performance opens with Ronnie Montrose using a metal slide across the strings of his Gibson Les Paul, imitating the rev of a motorcycle engine. It’s not a gimmick — it’s precision theatre. Every scrape and swell is intentional, timed perfectly, and delivered with the kind of control that separates confidence from chaos.
Ronnie’s tone is lean and unprocessed — just guitar, cable, and amp. No reverb, no fuzz pedals masking mistakes. The iconic slide riff roars to life, and when the main groove drops, it’s executed with military tightness. It carries the same energy he later channeled into “Rock Candy,” but here it’s rawer — less polished, more dangerous. The clean, aggressive, blues-based power is comparable to the precision blues-rock of a player like Jeff Beck.
Sammy Hagar meets that intensity head-on. His vocals are young, loud, and full of conviction. He doesn’t wander off pitch or scream for drama — instead, he locks into the groove and unleashes just enough attitude to match Ronnie’s guitar without overpowering it.
The chemistry between them hints at why later studio tracks like “Space Station #5” felt so electrified — this is where that partnership first truly ignited.
Behind them, Bill Church on bass and Denny Carmassi on drums act like a rock-solid engine. No swing, no looseness — just forward motion. Their tight pulse gives Montrose the foundation to push harder without losing control. It’s a performance built on restraint as much as power.
Recording Details
| Song Title | Bad Motor Scooter |
|---|---|
| Guitarist | Ronnie Montrose |
| Band | Montrose |
| Lineup | Sammy Hagar (Lead Vocals), Ronnie Montrose (Guitar, Backup Vocals), Bill Church (Bass), Denny Carmassi (Drums) |
| Event | Midnight Special Live Performance |
| Venue | NBC Studios |
| Location | Burbank, California |
| Date | March 22, 1974 |
💬 Tell us about this legendary live moment.
This performance served as Montrose’s major breakthrough. What ignites the track’s hard rock power more for you: the iconic slide guitar riff, or the phenomenal rhythmic engine driven by Bill Church and Denny Carmassi? Drop your thoughts below and join the conversation.