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Ross Friedman

Ross the Boss
Death Dealer – Headbangers Open Air 2015 15.jpg
Ross the Boss performing in 2015
Background information
Birth name Ross Friedman
Born (1954-01-03) January 3, 1954 (age 63)
Bronx, New York, US
Genres Heavy metal, punk rock, proto punk
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, keyboards
Years active 1973–present
Associated acts Manitoba, Manowar, The Dictators, Brain Surgeons, Fabienne Shine, Shakin' Street, Manitoba's Wild Kingdom
Website The Official Ross The Boss Website

Ross Friedman (born January 3, 1954, in the Bronx, New York), also known as Ross the Boss, is a guitarist, known as a founding member of both the punk band The Dictators, and the heavy metal band Manowar.

Friedman formed the New York-based punk rock band The Dictators with Andy Shernoff in New Paltz, New York in 1973. Prior to this, Friedman had played in a local band, Total Crudd. After recording three albums with the Dictators, Friedman went to France and worked for one year in Fabienne Shine's band Shakin' Street. On Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell tour in 1980 (on which Shakin' Street were the support act), Friedman was introduced to bass player Joey DeMaio by Ronnie James Dio. Later in 1980, Friedman and DeMaio formed Manowar, with whom he recorded six albums before DeMaio asked him to leave the band after the 1988 album Kings of Metal.

In 1990, Friedman joined Manitoba's Wild Kingdom with fellow Dictators Andy Shernoff and Handsome Dick Manitoba. With drummer J.P. Patterson the band released the album, "...And You?" to critical acclaim. The album was in heavy rotation on MTV.

In 1994, Friedman had a blues rock band called "Heyday" and in 1999 CMC records released the Spinatras album, "@Midnight.com", a band whom Friedman has described as "The Dictators meet Cheap Trick".

The Dictators started playing again in 1996, touring heavily. In 2001, with original rhythm guitar player Scott Kempner now back in the fold, the band released their album "D.F.F.D." which they then toured to support in the US and Europe. A resulting live album was released from the European tour, entitled "Viva Dictators".


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