Ross The Boss (Death Dealer) interview

Death Dealer is a new heavy metal band consisting of five, very talented, seasoned musicians. While their debut album "War Master" hits the market within a few days, we grabbed the chance to talk with one of their two lead guitarists, the mighty Ross The Boss pretty much about everything. Let's see what he has to say not only about his new band, but also about his past with the Dictators and Manowar.

Mr. Ross The Boss, congratulations for laying down that absolutely energetic metal album.
Thank you very much, it’s a great CD.

First of all, what’s the story of how you got together? It was Stu and Sean that started the project, right?
Yes, you’re right. Sean Peck and Stu Marshall called me via facebook and they asked me if I wanna play on some tracks and when I heard them I thought: “Fantastic! Yes!”

Could you tell us a bit about the songwriting and the recording procedure?
Yes. We all were together. We recorded basic drums bass and guitars, Sean had some vocals and when we were at home we proceeded to build the record via internet. Our song writing process is typical. Someone comes in with a riff or completed song and we build it from there.

I totally agree with your statement about "War Master": "It’s classic power metal with the brutal edge of speed, thrash and precision". You wanted the album to sound just like that from the very beginning or it just turned out that way?
There was no possible chance that the five of us would be capable of producing anything but the Death Dealer sound. I think that heavy metal scene is quite ready for this.

If I’m not mistaken, you have always been in several bands with only you as the lead guitarist, whereas in Death Dealer you and Stu share the leads and the solos. Is it easier or harder to be in a band with another great lead guitarist?
Excellent question. I feel that Stu is magnificent guitar player. He inspired me and I inspired him and that makes for the excellent guitar tracks you hear on “War Master”.

Could you describe both as musicians and persons each one of your partners in Death Dealer?
Rhino is my brother, he’s an excellent man and he’s an amazing singer, songwriter, producer in his own right and not to mention one of the best drummers on the planet. Mike Davis is a great great bass player and in the music business he’s a lifer like me. He’s also an amazing cook. Stu Marshall is my partner on guitar. We spent many many hours fussing over the “War Master”. He’s a great guy and I’m looking forward too many years sharing stage and studio with him. Last but not least Sean Peck: If you hear his lyrics there are very deep and very very well crafted. He is a great organizer, leader and not to mention the greatest heavy metal voice on the planet right now.

After the release of the album, you are obviously planning to do a tour. Have you confirmed any dates that you’re gonna play or the places that you might visit?
Well, we will start of course in west coast in June playing in Mexico and as you can possible imagine the dates are coming in very quickly.

Do you know that "Death Dealer" had been the nickname that David Shankle used before he replaces you as a lead guitarist in Manowar? That’s a clear coincidence I think!
Yes, I knew that but Sean didn’t know that when he named the band Death Dealer and I don’t think that it would have mattered.

I suppose that almost every heavy metal fan that meets you for the first time, asks you a couple of questions about Manowar, so allow me for a couple of more!
Ok, go ahead.

When you started Manowar in the early 80s you were not teenagers but about 25-30 years old. Had that fact played an important role on how the band and its music were evolved?
When I started Manowar I had already made four albums on major labels and toured the world many times over. That experience really guided us when we created Manowar.

Do you think that you parted ways with Manowar due to personal or musical differences?
I was asked to leave Manowar on the eve of the release of “Kings Of Metal”. That decision was made by one person. I’m sure for personal reasons.

Looking back at the 80’s and the years that you spent with Manowar, what’s the thing that you‘re proud of the most?
The first six records are all classic and never have been duplicated in heavy metal.

A lot of people believe that the Dictators have been a very important band for the punk rock scene. After a lot of decades that have passed, how do you think that the world remembers Dictators? And how you would like people to remember this band?
The Dictators remain a truly influential rock ‘n’ roll band to many generations of musicians. It’s almost like bands go to school on us. I would like for us to be remembered as a band that was ahead of our times and still we are. When we play these songs live they still sound fresh and as new as the day that they were written.

Apart from Dictators and Manowar, what the best record you’ve made in the past?
I say from Ross The Boss band “New Metal Leader” and “Hailstorm”, from Brain Surgeons, “Denial Of Death” and from Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom, “…And You?”.

And what about all the other bands that you are in at that time? I suppose that you continue with your own band and Manitoba Band as well. Do you have any other project in mind?
Three projects it’s enough…for god sakes!

Taking a look into all the bands you’ve been in, it is obvious that there is a rock ‘n’ roll side and a heavy metal side of yours. Which elements do you love in each of these different genres?
I know what you’re saying, but I played the same way in both the Ditactors and Manowar. Let's say I changed up the attack a little bit.

Although you are a very talented musician technically, it is more than clear to me that throughout all the music that you have recorded, the emotion that you put in your playing made you really an extraordinary guitarist. Do you agree with that? What do you think about all the shredders out there who can play everything but cannot write influential music?
First of all thank you for your nice words. I play my guitar first through my heart and that’s it. I can play very technical stuff but I think that this is less important. What matters most is that I play the right notes whether there are three or three thousand notes. For me Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen and of course Stu Marshall are all geniuses. I don’t play like them at all, but that’s good.

If you had the chance to pick up any musician you’d like and form a new band, who would you pick?
This week it would be Pete Townshend so I can pick his brain for a week. He’s a total genius.

Thanks a lot for this interview; it has been real honor for me. Wish you all the best with Death Dealer. The last words belong to you.
Thank you too for the interview, great questions! Hope to see you soon on the road.