Legendary Punk and Metal Guitarist Ross 'the Boss' Friedman Dies at 72

The Bronx-born musician helped shape New York's punk scene before shifting to heavy metal in 1980.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 12:49am

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Ross 'the Boss' Friedman, a guitarist who was instrumental in defining both the early New York punk scene and the heavy metal genre, has died at the age of 72. Friedman co-founded the influential punk band The Dictators in 1973 and later co-founded the heavy metal group Manowar in 1980, where he played on six albums during his decade-long tenure. After departing Manowar in 1989, Friedman continued performing with various other bands until his recent death, which was announced one month after he revealed he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Why it matters

Friedman's musical legacy spanned five decades and crossed multiple genres, making him a pivotal figure in the development of both punk and heavy metal music. His work with The Dictators and Manowar helped shape the sound and attitude of those respective scenes, cementing his status as a legendary guitarist whose influence will continue to be felt by musicians and fans alike.

The details

Born in the Bronx, Friedman co-founded The Dictators in 1973, a group that became synonymous with the New York punk movement. The band released three albums during their initial run, with their 1977 record 'Manifest Destiny' being particularly influential. In 1980, Friedman shifted to heavy metal when he co-founded Manowar, a band known for their slogan 'Death to false metal.' During his decade-long tenure with Manowar, Friedman played on six albums, including the 1984 release 'Hail to England.' After leaving Manowar in 1989, Friedman continued performing with various other bands, including Death Dealer, the Spinatras, the Brain Surgeons, and his own project, the Ross the Boss Band.

  • Friedman co-founded The Dictators in 1973.
  • The Dictators released their album 'Manifest Destiny' in 1977.
  • Friedman co-founded Manowar in 1980.
  • Manowar released the album 'Hail to England' in 1984.
  • Friedman departed Manowar in 1989.

The players

Ross 'the Boss' Friedman

A Bronx-born guitarist who co-founded the influential punk band The Dictators in 1973 and later co-founded the heavy metal group Manowar in 1980, where he played on six albums during his decade-long tenure. After departing Manowar in 1989, Friedman continued performing with various other bands until his recent death at the age of 72.

The Dictators

A punk band co-founded by Friedman in 1973 that became synonymous with the New York punk movement, releasing three albums during their initial run, including the influential 1977 record 'Manifest Destiny.'

Manowar

A heavy metal band that Friedman co-founded in 1980, where he played on six albums during his decade-long tenure. The band was known for their slogan 'Death to false metal' and earned a Guinness World Record for being the loudest band in the world.

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The takeaway

Friedman's passing marks the end of an era for both the punk and heavy metal genres, as he was a pioneering figure who helped shape the sound and attitude of those respective scenes over the course of his five-decade career. His musical legacy will continue to inspire and influence generations of musicians to come.