Ross The Boss @ Texas Necropolis

Ross Friedman (born 3 Jan 1954, New York City), also known as Ross Funicello or Ross The Boss, is a guitarist best known as a founding member of Manowar (from 1980 since 1988). RTB band as an idea, begun at the "Keep It True" festival where he teamed up with "Men Of War" (a tribute band for Manowar) from Germany, for a jam back in 2006. Last year’s "New Metal Leader" was a pleasant surprise for both Manowar fans and Heavy metal ones, in general. So see him performing live in Greece, was something I couldn’t miss and by the way the night turned out to be, I feel lucky that I was there. By the time I arrived the guys from Marauder (who ware the supporting act) were just about to spread their old-fashioned, classic (never dies) heavy metal.
\r\n

\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nBeing an extremely experienced band, they gained easily the crowd’s support and made the atmosphere hot, as they use to do it for about 20 years. Very tight rhythm section and with the guitar duet spreading the riffs, you had no other option but to join them, singing and participating. Having their own person handling the sound, resulted in a rather good and well arranged one. That was a very pleasant surprise for everybody’s ears and help the group deliver its music without any distraction. Performing songs (from all four of their releases) like "Power From the Sky", "Free Like An Eagle", "Born Again", "The Return Of The Warrior", "Born To Rock" and ending with "The Greek Revolution Begins" (where the crowd went mad), proved once more that the respect that they have gained through these years isn’t accidental.
\r\n

\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nIt was about 22:15, when the band hit the stage and Ross announced that their singer Patrick Fuchs went "mute" due to the continuous shows (five in a row in Greece) and his position would be covered by local scene’s singers, while they would only perform Manowar songs!! Well I can tell that the majority didn’t bother at all. Who calling himself "Greek Metalhead", hasn’t listened or sang those legendary songs before? I think that when you go to such a concert, there is no other option that you "destroy" both your neck and your throat and the "die-hard" Manowar fans proved me right. Opening the gig (or should I call it a "party") with "Manowar" featuring Anorimoi’s singer and continuing with "Death Tone" and "Hail To England", you already knew that everything would go more than average and the disadvantage of the lack of their singer, would turn out to be a great opportunity for the Greek audience to prove their devotion to the music of the "Kings Of Metal". After "Shell Shock", it was time for the vocalist of Crimson Fire to join the band, for "Thor" and the crowd went furious, while, when the first riff of "Blood Of My Enemies" (featuring Alexandros from Marauder) entered, everybody had already forgotten the intro speech of Ross.
\r\n

\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nThe band seemed to live the moment and the whole mood was great, even for the unlucky Mr. Fuchs who was standing by his band mates when he was off stage. Solid drum and bass and good stage show, especially by the "low end guy", whose playing and performing influences’ orientation, could easily be recognised. And what can we say about "the man" himself!! He was standing and performing like a true titan, spreading his familiar riffs and smiling with satisfaction to everybody. The overall sound was more than average, but these are just the details of a show, full of (both crowd’s and band’s side) passion, energy and great songs.
\r\n

\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\n

\r\nAs a conclusion I would like to express the thoughts of the opposite side, which say that the promoter should cancel the gig and refund the money to the people, who paid to watch the show with a full force band. I think that even these are opinions
\r\nof the minority of people, we should take them under consideration,too. For the rest of us that we enjoyed the show, I don’t think that there are better words to describe the performance of such a musician, than "HAIL and KILL". \r\n

\r\n

\r\n Marauder setlist:
\r\n
\r\n1. Firebrands
\r\n2. Power From The Sky
\r\n3. Free Like An Eagle
\r\n4. Born To Rock
\r\n5. The Return Of The Warrior
\r\n6. Born Again
\r\n7. Cry For The Glorious Town
\r\n8. Say It Again
\r\n9. The Greek Revolution Begins
\r\n
\r\nRoss The Boss Band setlist:
\r\n
\r\n1. Manowar
\r\n2. Death Tone
\r\n3. Hail To England
\r\n4. Shell Shock
\r\n5. Thor
\r\n6. Blood Of My Enemies
\r\n7. Hail And Kill
\r\n8. Gloves Of Metal
\r\n9. Fighting The World
\r\n10. Metal Daze
\r\n11. Kill With Power
\r\n12. Battle Hymns\r\n
\r\n

\r\n

\r\nJohn “L.O.V.E. Machine” Litinakis\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\n\r\npictures: Jim "Phopethographer" Hatzimoisis \r\n\r\n

\r\n