ROSS “THE BOSS” Friedman’s uscular riffs and robust solos have powered not one, but two seminal New York-based bands that he co-founded: During the 1970s, there was the protopunk/garage rock kings the Dictators, followed a decade later by the wildly influential power metal outfit Manowar. However, despite his brawny approach to the guitar, Friedman first got the six-string itch from watching a lovable pack of madcap TV mop tops.
“THERE’S PICTURES OF ME OUT THERE THAT ARE SO EMBARRASSING. HEY, AT LEAST I KEPT MY PANTS ON” — ROSS THE BOSS
“Oh, I loved the Monkees,” Friedman says. “As a kid, seeing them on TV was really exciting. They had amazing songs. I could really relate to ‘Last Train to Clarksville.’ What a solo! Of course, I didn’t know it was studio musicians on those first records, and it didn’t matter. The playing was incredible.”
The Monkees were Friedman’s gateway
