Ross "The Boss" Friedman

Ross "The Boss" Friedman, whose guitar work helped propel the early punk band the Dictators and the fantasy-inspired metal band Manowar, died March 26, 2026, after being diagnosed with ALS at the age of 72.

As a founding member of both the Dictators and Manowar, Friedman was among the rare musicians who shaped not one but two distinct rock genres from the ground up. That double legacy, recognized by the Metal Hall of Fame and celebrated by generations of musicians, is the thread that runs through his entire career.

Born January 3, 1954, in the Bronx, New York, Friedman was among the first in New York's punk rock scene, forming the Dictators in 1972. Confrontational and loud, the band released three albums in their initial incarnation but failed to make waves. It was only years later that they were recognized as early pioneers of the genre. Friedman and the group returned to the stage and studio in 1990 under the name Manitoba's Wild Kingdom to release their fourth studio album of an eventual six. They now have a cult following.

He made a bigger splash when he helped form the metal band Manowar in 1980. The "death to false metal" band put on elaborate stage productions to match its lyrics about fantasy adventures and mythology. Known for both ear-splitting volume and marathon performances, Manowar holds the Guinness World Record for the longest heavy metal concert: five hours and one minute, set in Bulgaria in 2008. The band released 11 studio albums, including their debut, "Battle Hymns," and their best-known record, 1988's "Kings of Metal."

Friedman was fired from Manowar after the "Kings of Metal" tour, right at the peak of their stardom, but this didn't stop him from making music. He recorded with a slew of other bands as well, and he also did solo work.

"His music meant everything to him & his guitar was his life's breath," reads an Instagram announcement of his passing. "[H]is music and spirit impacted fans around the world as much as you impacted him."

His work can be heard with bands like Death Dealer, Shakin' Street, The Hellacopters, and the Ross the Boss Band.

In 2017, Friedman earned a place in the Hall of Heavy Metal History, now known as the Metal Hall of Fame, with his Manowar work being cited as important to the development of speed metal.

"His contributions to the Metal World are undeniable, and so was his friendship if he loved you," Bill Hudson, guitarist for Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Savatage, and others, said on Threads.

Friedman was diagnosed with ALS in February 2026, a little over a month before his passing. He leaves behind a legacy of playing on dozens of albums from an array of hard rock and heavy metal artists.

By Eric San Juan

(Image: Debra L Rothenberg/FilmMagic)