Duane Roland (December 3, 1952 – June 19, 2006) was an American guitarist for the Southern hard rock band

Molly Hatchet Molly Hatchet is an American rock band formed in 1971 by guitarist Dave Hlubek in Jacksonville, Florida. They were a popular band during the late 1970s and early-to-mid 1980s among the southern rock and hard rock communities. The band released ...

. He was a member of the band from its founding in the mid-1970s until his departure in 1990. During that time he recorded seven albums with the band. He is credited with co-writing some of the band's biggest hits, including "Bloody Reunion" and "Boogie No More". After leaving the band he played with the Southern Rock Allstars and

Gator Country Gator Country was an American Southern rock band formed in Davie, Florida, in 2005 by several ex-members of the Southern rock group Molly Hatchet. The band, founded by vocalist Jimmy Farrar, guitarist Duane Roland, drummer Bruce Crump, gui ...

, which included many of the founding members of Molly Hatchet.

Death

Roland died at his home in St. Augustine,

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

of natural causes at the age of 53. Drummer Bruce Crump said Roland was the anchor of Molly Hatchet during the 1980s, a time when the band's lineup was constantly changing. "During all that time, Duane was the constant," said Crump. "I can't imagine playing Molly Hatchet music without Duane Roland. It just wouldn't be the same."ENCORE: The Standard in Live Entertainment News
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References

1952 births 2006 deaths People from Jeffersonville, Indiana American rock guitarists American male guitarists Lead guitarists American Southern Rock musicians Molly Hatchet members 20th-century American guitarists Guitarists from Indiana 20th-century American male musicians {{LouisvilleMSA-stub