"We met on English ground, in a backstage
room we heard the sound, and we all knew
what we had to do..."
-- Lyrics from the song "Manowar"
(R. Friedman/J. DeMaio)

In 1980, Ross the Boss was the guitarist for Shakin Street, who was on tour as one of the opening bands for Black Sabbath. Ross heard pyro tech Joey DeMaio play bass and thought he was unbelievable. They decided to put together a "power trio" which evolved into the four piece band Manowar.

The group's kitschy approach was designed to be the raw, primal, macho antithesis of classic rock. Their music was based on raw, aggressive riffs, and their lyrics were mostly about fighting, violence, and death. The group dressed in animal skins in concert to underline the point." -- Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Critics love to tear the band apart. Maybe because they've proclaimed themselves "The Kings of Metal". But if you can make it past the infamous cheesy lyrics, you'll see the brilliance that lies beneath.

All of the musicians in Manowar were supremely talented. They fearlessly demonstrated the love they had for the genre of Heavy Metal while proudly embracing all the cliches.

Ross spent eight years in Manowar, and recorded the first six albums with the band, attracting an unbelievably loyal cult following who widely consdiers Ross The Boss to be the definitive Manowar guitarist.

Manowar was his chance to really let loose and play as wildy and fiercely as he dared.

... The problem is that so many musicians have gotten lazy and are prepared to play safe. If your sound is smooth, inoffensive, and runs into all the other songs played on the radio every day, then you're safe. The end result is this 'faceless' music played by all these 'faceless' bands who've got no identity and no balls!" -- Ross The Boss

Just before the release of "Kings of Metal" in 1988, Joey unceremoniously dismissed Ross from the band they created together as partners. Manowar could never have been without Ross' distinctive style, enthusiasm for collaboration and Rock-and-Roll street cred from previously having been in established signed bands.

Ross left Manowar proud of the music he'd made and feeling as if he'd more than proven his original point. He used the split as an opportunity to play with his old NYC friends again in an updated, more metal version of The Dictators (Manitoba's Wild Kingdom) and he stayed close to home so he could raise his son right. Another project he's also very proud of.

In July 2005 Ross was reunited on stage with Manowar for two songs at the Earthshaker Festival in Germany which the band headlined. They also held a MegaFan Convention that year, alongside the festival, featuring a Ross The Boss guitar clinic.