History & Biography Ross The Boss, a.k.a. Ross Friedman, was Manowar’s co-founder and guitarist from 1980 until 1989. Previous to that, Friedman was a member of French rock and heavy rock band Shakin’ Street. The ‘solo’ act came together when Majesty’s Tarek Maghary, who is a promoter of the Keep It True Festival, booked the guitarist, alongside members of cover band Men Of War, in 2006. The band would subsequently write original material under The RTB Band monicker. There was a tour with Sinner in 2008. Bloodstock Open Air 2010 was next. Ross The Boss became dormant following the sophomore record before returning with a new line-up in 2015. Headbangers Open Air 2016 billed the band. This was followed by Wacken Open Air 2017. A new album emerged in 2018. Ross The Boss announced it would perform Manowar's Hail To England in its entirety in 2020. European concerts were cancelled in 2020. 2022 brought the announcement of a European tour with Dark Embrace, Ram and Trauma. AFM Records released the Legacy Of Blood, Fire & Steel compilation in 2023. A mini-tour was called Ross The Boss: Kings Of Metal 35th Anniversary Tour 2023. It referred to the Manowar album. A mini-tour of Turkey was booked for April 2025.
Over the years, bassist Mike LePond (Symphony x, Death Dealer, etc.), singer Marc Lopes (Metal Church) and drummer Steve Bolognese (Death Dealer), among others, have been transient members. Ross would comment years later on how mistaken Joey DeMaio of Manowar was for firing him. Ross attributed his firing as greed and DeMaio desiring to have puppets in the band.
Reviews ROSS THE BOSS - NEW METAL LEADER - CANDLELIGHT 
Apparently an ex-Manowar guitarist equals ex-Manowar music. Former Manowar guitarist Ross The Boss is back with his own band possibly finding a renewed interest in metal after appearing with his former band on stage, as documented on The Day The Earth Shook - The Absolute Power DVD. Just in time too; Manowar has abandoned any pretension to composing songs or music and laden its recent output to pomposity that is boring to the nth degree. Ross, on the other hand, resurrects the olden feel of Manowar with song after metal song that is reminiscent of the New Yorkers’ '80s glory.
A short intro later the ironically titled New Metal Leader begins with Blood Of Knives. It is immediately obvious that fans of Manowar’s music will love this disc. Death & Glory is a raging headbanger. I Got The Right, not unsurprisingly, is anthemic. God Of Dying begins slowly and is sharply reminiscent of older material like Battle Hymn or Defender. May The Gods Be With You sounds like an older poppy heavy metal ditty. The lighter song is followed soon by the album’s weakest moment, Matador. With cheesy lyrics branding a man who is torturing and insulting an innocent animal as “legendary” the song turns out to be a disappointment amidst a number of unexpectedly good and listenable tracks. The album also features two songs from Ross’ other band, Brain Surgeons. Plague Of Lies and Constantine’s Sword fit the rest of the material.
The album cover reminds one of Primal Fear with its eagle (the record is mastered by Achim Kohler who has indeed worked with Primal Fear), but the band name and the music point rightly at old Manowar. The material is simple and the metal vintage, but the quality is clear and perhaps even surprising from a man that had otherwise taken a long break from performing or composing. Manowar fans will love this, but more importantly Manowar itself needs to hear this. New Metal Leader could prove inspiring. - Ali “The Metallian”
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