Ross the Boss: Punk to Metal Legend's Legacy

0:00On March 28th, Ross DeBoss Friedman, the legendary guitarist who co-founded the punk band Dictators and jammed with heavy metal giants, Man of War, passed away at 72. His death on March 26th came just a month after he shared his ALS diagnosis that brutal Lou Gehrig's disease. Friedman kicked off in New York's early punk days back in 1973 with the Dictators dropping key albums like Manifest Destiny that even hit the Billboard 200. Then in 1980, he teamed up with Joey Demio to launch Man of War, cranking out six albums over a decade, including Hale to England, which cracked Rolling Stones' top metal list. Fans and family are pouring out love on his socials, calling him a bronze icon whose riffs shaped punk in metal worlds. Man of War hid back with their own tribute, mourning the loss of a true original who lived for the music. After leaving Man of War in 1989, Friedman kept the fire going with bands like Death Dealer, The Brain Surgeons, and his own Ross the Fee, Boss Crew, plus Dictators Reunions over

1:05the years. His spirit in those killer guitar lines echo on, reminding us how one player's fire can light up scenes forever. Stay tuned with music news today, AI-powered updates.