Ross Friedman (January 3, 1954 – March 26, 2026), also known as Ross the Boss, was an American guitarist, known as a founding member of both the punk band the Dictators and the heavy metal band Manowar.

Friedman was born in the Bronx, New York on January 3, 1954.

He formed the 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.

On February 9, 2026, Friedman announced that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He died of the disease a month later, on March 26, at the age of 72.

Source and more Infos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_the_Boss

Manowar - Death Tone (1982)

Ross the Boss - Fighting the World - Live at Wacken Open Air 2017

 

Rest In Peace Ross The Boss