Former Manowar guitarist Ross “The Boss” Friedman, a key architect of the band’s early sound, has once again strongly criticized the band’s decision to re-record their classic albums, deeming the practice “horrible” and “unnecessary.” Friedman played on Manowar‘s first six albums, including influential releases like Battle Hymns, Into Glory Ride, and Hail To England, before his departure after 1988’s Kings Of Metal.
In a recent interview on the Hear 2 Zen podcast, Friedman didn’t mince words about the re-recorded versions. “What do I think of it? I think it’s horrible. I honestly do,” he stated (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “I think it’s totally unnecessary and a waste of time, and I don’t know why. I don’t know why they would do that.”
His core objection lies in altering the original chemistry and conditions under which the albums were made. “I could see re-recording those records with maybe the same personnel, the same people,” he clarified. “But not with a different group and a different guitar player. I just think it sounds horrible. It just sounds horrible.”
Friedman emphasized that he would never undertake such a project with his own band, Ross the Boss. Asked if he’d consider it, he replied firmly: “Me doing it with my band? No. Never. It’s a waste time. Those records are those records. Those records should not be messed with. And they have been. And that’s what’s really… It’s heartbreaking.”
This isn’t the first time Friedman has voiced these concerns. Speaking to Sofa King Cool in 2022 about the 40th anniversary of Battle Hymns, an album he considers pivotal, he expressed similar sentiments. “It is obviously an iconic record that has pretty much started power metal,” Ross said. “We pretty much put power metal on the map with that record… I think Battle Hymns was the first real, true power metal record. That was my baby.”
Regarding the re-recordings of Battle Hymns and Kings Of Metal led by Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio, Friedman stated bluntly in that 2022 interview: “Both s*ck. ‘Cause you can’t re-record a record; you can’t redo it. It’s like Twisted Sister redoing Stay Hungry, you just can’t do it.”
He elaborated on the specific issues: “Especially, he did it without me. I mean, I could see if he had the original lineup… But without me? And you tune down those songs. They were written in standard pitch. And then Manowar‘s tuning ’em down for [singer] Eric [Adams]. Those songs lose all their energy. No. Nah nah nah nah nah nah. You’ve gotta leave genius alone, leave greatness alone. They’re untouchable.”
In a separate March 2022 interview with Rat Salad Review, he reiterated the importance of the original lineup: “If you’re gonna do a classic old record… why don’t you just get the original lineup back? For Battle Hymns, he could have done it; he could have had the original lineup: me, Donnie [Hamzik, drums], Eric [Adams, vocals] and Joey… you’re not gonna recreate that same vibe, that same magic, that same chemistry…”
The strained relationship between Friedman and DeMaio is central to the situation. Asked by Rat Salad Review why he wasn’t involved in the re-recordings, Ross simply said: “[Joey and I] don’t talk.” When questioned by Sofa King Cool about a potential reunion for the Battle Hymns anniversary, he explained: “You wouldn’t say that I don’t have a good relationship with my old partner, but it’s just not there… [Joey] doesn’t want any part of me telling him what he should be doing… I don’t have to be in a band with a tyrant.”
Friedman previously opened up about the circumstances of his 1988 departure in a September 2021 interview with Waste Some Time With Jason Green, attributing it to internal conflict with DeMaio. “When a band gets big and the money hits, greed, avarice and evil takes place. A guy that I thought was my partner wasn’t,” he said, referring to DeMaio. “So he wanted me [out]… [It was] ego, greed, avarice, evil… When [Joey] met me, I had already four major albums. He had done zero… I had no will to fight him. If I were to fight him, I would have k*lled him. He’s just a f**king pariah… You can’t live with that.”
During that same fiery interview, Friedman initially dismissed reunion possibilities due to DeMaio‘s nature, calling him a “sc*mbag” and stating, “He’s secure in the fact that Manowar are mediocre f**king pieces of sh*t right now.” However, he later issued a public apology for the harsh language. “I would like to apologize to Manowar, the fans and Joey for the insult,” Friedman wrote. “If anyone knows me, you know that’s not my style… I violated my own rule. Again, I am truly sorry.”
Despite the past turmoil with Manowar, Friedman remains active musically with his solo band Ross the Boss, Death Dealer, and the punk pioneers The Dictators.
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