the guitarist released two more montrose band albums in the rock/vocal format ("warner bros. presents montrose!" (1975) and "jump on it" (1976), featuring vocalist bob james replacing sammy hagar), then shifted direction and released his debut solo album, the all-instrumental "open fire" (1978) before returning to the rock-vocal format and forming gamma in 1979, initially releasing three albums under that name with davey pattison singing.