Jimmy Kay from Canada's The Metal Voice interviewed the Ross The Boss Band, guitarist Ross Friedman, singer Marc Lopes (Let us Prey) and Bassist Mike Lepond (Symphony X) when they played Foufounes Electriques in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on January 27 2020
WATCH HERE
The band went into detail about the musical direction of the new album and lyrical themes, Ross the Boss then goes back in time and talks about the first 6 classic Manowar album that he played and wrote on, as well as the recording of the classic Manowar album 'Hail to England' which the band is showcasing on this North American tour.
Ross Friedman also explains how he produced the demo that got Anthrax signed on Megaforce Records with Jon Zazula in the early 80's. When asked about the first six Manowar albums "I was just glad to do those first six Manowar records it was an amazing time and an amazing collaboration with me and Manowar's Bassist Joey DeMaio where we wrote 6 album in those 6 years together. I don't think this magic will ever happen again. The songs just kept coming out of us and that is what it is all about in music, writing great songs." Ross The Boss When asked about the making of Manowar's Classic Hail to England Album "What I remember was we were in Canada in Toronto at Phase One studios with Canada's greatest producer Jack Richardson. We had something like 8 days and we recorded two records in that time, Hail to England and most of Sign of the Hammer, we always recorded as much as we could. I did most of my guitar recording in one or two takes and we saved most of the time for Manowar's singer Eric Adams one of the greatest singers." Ross The Boss
When asked how he helped Anthrax get signed to Megaforce Records "As Jonny Zazula re-tells the story in his latest book 'Heavy Tales', Anthrax was bothering him and chasing him everywhere non stop to get him to sign the band on Megaforce but Jonny did not hear anything he liked at the time. Then someone mentioned that I should produce Anthrax's demo. Anthrax already knew Manowar as they opened up for us on some shows. So I said ok and I produced the demo which had the song Soldiers of Metal with Neil Turbin on vocals. Jonny Z heard it and said I'm signing them." Ross The Boss
When asked about the new Ross The Boss Band album's Born of Fire musical direction and lyric themes "It's a little bit of a change, it's more upbeat, more energetic, it's more high energy. I would say there is a more of a thrash element cause of our singer Marc Lopes influence. Two songs are thrash but the rest are just typical Ross the Boss. Bassist Mike Lepond also did an amazing job with the demos, with the songs and the arrangements. I never repeat myself stylistically on any of my records nor in my years with Manowar " Ross The Boss "The new album Born of Fire is 10 times more heavier, I figured on this album let's really get away from the old stuff. Ross has already written 6 of the greatest Manowar albums so for him to duplicate that did not seem like the right thing. It's like Iron Maiden trying to make another The Number of the Beast. It has a very modern and European metal production" Marc Lopes Glory to the Slain- It's like a Motorhead Style song with a slick Riff and I thought it would be cool to have a song in that vain. Mike Lepond Demon Holiday-"I think I was influenced by 80's Judas Priest on that song, very Riff Heavy with a great hook."- Ross The Boss "That song is part 2 to Devils Day. the Devil got to have his holiday now the demons get to play."-Marc Lopes
Maiden of Shadows- Ross was looking for some orchestration in the vain of Conan the Barbarian on that song and it has a Celtic Iron Maiden feel. Stu Marshall from Death Dealer wrote that song and Ross Modified the riffs. Michael Romeo of Symphony X also arranged the orchestration." Mike Lepond "The title of that song actually comes from the Sabrina the good witch series (laughs), they called her the Maiden of Shadows, I thought that was a great title, then I went looking into Celtic legends and there is a legend called Morgana the Goddess of battlefield and that's the song theme."-Marc Lopes Fight the Fight- "Me and Mike Lepond wrote that, Mike came up to me and he said I got this tune it sounds like Manowar's Fighting the World meets Anthrax. As soon as he said Fighting the world, the word FIGHT was stuck in my head and I will fully admit this I stole the melody from the band Hatebreed and they know that." Marc Lopes I am the Sword- "That is a classic Ross the Boss riff. The meaning ended up being kind of like the old Testament story of the Exodus"-Marc Lopes Waking the moon-"That is a Warwolf theme."-Marc Lopes Denied by the Cross- "This is my favorite song, it's brutal, it's about the first ten minutes of Brahn Stoker's Dracula, when he denies the cross and his wife gets killed and the blood comes out I like that kind of stuff."- Marc Lopes Born of Fire- Me and my guitarist Jonathan from our band 'Let Us Prey' wrote that song. I love the verse super old school thrash and the chorus super melodic."-Marc Lopes Due on March 6 via AFM Records, "Born Of Fire" is the fourth album of Friedman and his band, their last album was "By Blood Sworn".in 2018
Carmine Appice Interview- w/ Kodiak & Riot Act Interview- Metal Hall of Fame 2020
Thor Interview-New Album 'The Rising' Metal Hall of Fame 2020- The Metal Voice
Glenn Hughes Interview-Talks The Dead Daisies, Hughes/Thrall-By Neil Turbin NAMM 2020