Ross the Boss, Heavy Metal Pioneer, Passes Away

0:00On March 29th, rock guitarist Ross the Boss, real name Ross Friedman, passed away at 72 from ALS just weeks after his diagnosis. Known as a pioneer in New York's punk scene, he helped kick off the heavy metal world too, leaving a huge mark on music history. He co-founded the dictators back in 1973, laying groundwork for punk rock in the city. Then in 1980, while touring with Black Sabbath, he teamed up with bassist Joey Demayo to star Manoar, cranking out that epic heavy metal. Sound. Fans and family poured out love when he shared his ALS news last month on February 9th. He called a crushing not to play guitar anymore, but said the support from everyone blew him away. ALS, or Lou Garrick's disease, slowly paralyzes the body with no cure in sight. Doctors first thought his hand and leg weakness came from minor strokes, so they tried diet changes, exercise and therapy. But nothing slowed it down, and the disease progressed fast.

1:02His official Instagram confirmed he died the night before Friday, noting how music was his everything until ALS took that spark. Rest in power, Ross. Your riffs live on. I'm Cory with the story, and you've been listening to entertainment and celebrity news today. AI-powered pop culture coverage.