Ross “The Boss” Friedman – former guitarist of Manowar, The Dictators and Shakin’ Street – has passed away. He was 72. The news was confirmed by the Metal Hall of Fame in a statement released just a few weeks after the start of a fundraiser to cover Friedman’s medical care, following his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. We at RockLine covered that too, in a dedicated news piece at the beginning of this past February.
“With deep sadness, we confirm the passing of the legendary guitarist, our dear friend and Metal Hall of Fame member Ross “The Boss” Friedman,” they wrote in their statement, which continues as follows:
“A true pioneer, he was an inspiration to punk rock and heavy metal bands to come, and was best known as a founding member of Manowar and The Dictators.
Ross will forever remain the Metal Hall of Fame’s ‘global ambassador of metal.’ His outstanding playing, the unmistakable tone and sound he coaxed out of his guitar, and his unwavering focus helped shape generations of musicians and fans around the world.
Ross’s influence on music is immeasurable. From the raw energy of early punk, which was in its absolute infancy in the seventies, to the epic dimension he breathed into heavy metal, his contribution leaves a lasting mark on both genres.
Beyond his achievements on stage and in the studio, Ross was deeply respected among his peers and hugely beloved by fans on a global scale.
In this difficult time, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, bandmates and fans around the world. We will share further details as they become available.”
Friedman was born in New York in 1954, and in 1973 he founded the pioneering proto-punk band The Dictators. After playing on the band’s first three albums – including the classic debut “Go Girl Crazy!” – he moved to Europe to play with the French hard rock band Shakin’ Street, after the band’s original guitarist, Armik Tigrane, was fired for selling his instrument to buy heroin.
Friedman stayed with Shakin’ Street long enough to record the live album “Scarlet: The Old Waldorf” (August 1979) and the self-titled studio album, before the band broke up in 1981. By then he was already an affiliated member of the fantasy-inspired metallers Manowar, where bassist Joey DeMaio, singer Eric Adams and drummer Donnie Hamzik rounded out the lineup. On Black Sabbath’s tour supporting the album Heaven And Hell in 1980, Ronnie James Dio introduced Friedman to Joey DeMaio (Shakin’ Street were Black Sabbath’s opening act on that tour), and later that same year Friedman and DeMaio went on to found Manowar. Manowar quickly became known above all for their look – they dressed in furs – and also for signing the contract for their debut studio album with their then-label in blood, symbolically showing their dedication to heavy metal.
Ross “The Boss” Friedman recorded and released the first six studio albums with Manowar, which are now considered great metal classics. It’s his outstanding talent and sense of phrasing, his unique style, and the tone and sound that mark his guitar showcase, that give these six albums a special place in the entire Manowar discography, revered by many of the band’s followers around the world, as well as by bands who drew inspiration from Manowar and built power metal on their foundations. In this respect, Manowar are seen as a cross-generational inspiration for power metal acts. They’re revered by, among others: Blind Guardian, Rhapsody Of Fire, HammerFall and Sabaton (just think how huge Sabaton have become globally in recent years, editor’s note). Among the bands that had a major influence on their development and style, the melodic death metal sensation Amon Amarth counts them too, among others.
After the release in 1988 of the last Manowar album featuring Ross The Boss Friedman on guitar, “Kings Of Metal,” the band’s leader and bassist Joey DeMaio asked him to leave the band. The shine of the band’s first three albums “Battle Hymns” (1982), “Into Glory Ride” (1983) and “Hail To England” (1983) remains – thanks especially to the guitarist’s contribution – unshakable and eternal!
Over the following years, Friedman worked with a whole series of different artists. Among others, he played with Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom – alongside his fellow Dictators Andy Shernoff and Handsome Dick Manitoba – and went on to work with The Hellacopters, The Nomads, Majesty, The Brain Surgeons, Burning Star, Atlantean Codex, Death Dealer,… For many years he led his own band Ross The Boss, recording and releasing four studio albums with it. He also continued working with The Dictators, who released their sixth album in September 2024. For all the activity of this unforgettable guitarist, though, his work with Manowar shines by far the brightest, and it remains – and will remain going forward – the most treasured.
In the photo: Ross The Boss performing with his band at the Bang Your Head!!! festival on July 13, 2019, in Balingen, Germany (RockLine photo archive 2006-2026, all rights reserved). You can read RockLine’s full review of that day of the festival HERE!
