RTB: It’s more like 20 years in the making actually! I left Manowar in 1988 and since then I have been doing other things like playing in ‘The Dictators’ and ‘Manitobia’s Wild Kingdom’, raising my son for example, and that’s been one of the most important things. But after Manowar I did not really know what to do, should I have done Manowar too or something, I wasn’t sure whether I had to do that anymore. I did 6 records with them, I am still very proud of those albums. So when I was the guitarist in ‘Manitbia’s Wild Kingdom’, I was keep on getting these royalty cheques so I thought why not, I kinda felt like a hired gunslinger. It wasn’t until 2005 when I did a couple of songs with Manowar at the Earthshaker Festival that this promoter that I knew very well asked me to play the ‘Keep It True VI’ Festival in 2006 because he said everyone wants to see the old Manowar really bad. So I agreed, but then I said that I don’t have a band! The promoter said no need to worry; he had this band on the side called ‘Man-of-War’, a tribute band. I thought he was kidding me at first! But really there was this band. So I played the festival with these very professional people in this side project of theirs (PM: Their main band was ‘Ivory Night’), did 3 or 4 shows with them and loved it. Then it kind of grew from there. I did not want to keep on doing covers in effect, so I wrote a couple of songs, ‘We Will Kill’ and ‘We Got the Right’ and then went into the studio to record them, if the band was going to work then this is what we had to do and go out on our own. I guess the rest is history!

PM: Did the entire band record in the studio together?

RTB: I am in New York; the band is mainly in Germany. I went over for a couple of weeks and recorded the album, but we did what most people do now a days and file share music between ourselves to get things laid out.

PM: For this release and music in general, where do you draw your influences?

RTB: Well this is a metal band, kind where I left off in 1988, so this is where my heart is, this is what I do; I just love to play guitar.

PM: The album appears to have charted well in Germany, what has been the response in general from the fans and the press in different countries?

RTB: Yeah I mean, we wont know or sure till the tour starts (PM: At the time of writing this interview the tour was in full swing), but we want to get out more and do this stuff. It’s all heavy metal right?

PM: Most definitely!

PM: I see on the Russian & CIS release, you have a video for ‘Blood of Knives’ included. Will this be released as a separate single?

RTB: There is a video made, but as to a single release, I am not sure. It’s on the digi-pack release though in general not just the Russian/CIS release.

PM: Who did the artwork for the album and who came up with the concept?

RTB: A young Romanian artist Dimitar Nikolov (www.dimitarnikolov.com) who has a fantastic talent and has been involved in artwork for the Keep it True Festival.

PM: Well it certainly says that it’s a metal album…

RTB: Yeah, I certainly did not want a cartoon on the cover. People see this, and they know what to expect really, that’s how it is for me anyway.

PM: What made you decide on doing two ‘Brain Surgeons’ covers from the ‘Denial of Death’ album?

RTB: I always thought that the album in question did not get a fair shot, and not many people had heard them, it had more to give and realistically I felt that the two tracks we used on ‘New Metal Leader’ (‘Plague of Lies’ & ‘Constantine’s Sword’) fitted well with the overall sound of the album.

PM: What kit do you use to record and do you use the same amp/guitars etc for live shows?

RTB: I use the same kit I always have, I use an ESP Les Paul style cut-off split ESP EC1000, and ESP endorses me. I also use strictly the Marshall 800 or 900 amp head, nothing else, just myself!

PM: Is this the same set up you will tour with?

RTB: Yeah basically. If it isn’t coming out of my hands then it isn’t coming out.

PM: The tour with ‘SINNER’ starts soon (PM: See earlier note – at the time of writing the tour was in progress), Do you think there will be any UK dates added?

RTB: We would love too, if the UK books us, then we will come! I always remember the Hammersmith Odeon and the UK crowd, I mean ‘Hail to England’ (Manowars’ 3rd album released in 1984) there is a message there. You know what, I will give you my word…we will come eventually!

PM: Well, here’s hoping!

As I mentioned to Ross at the beginning of the interview, I had a few general questions to ask, after we had dealt with the current release.

PM: The ‘Dictators’ – are you planning anything with these soon?

RTB: We did a whole week in Spain with those guys, and that was good, but for now it’s all about ‘Ross the Boss’, now it’s the metal business you know.

PM: Do you still keep in touch with the guys in MANOWAR?

RTB: There is not a lot of communication; I would say that we are on good terms; they were ok when I left the band 20 years ago. I do have contact with Rhino (Ex-Drummer) and Scott (current Drummer).

PM: What do you think of Manowar in terms of today’s music scene?

RTB: They are doing what they are doing and I am still very proud of my association with that band, still to this day.

PM: What do you think of the state of the current metal scene within your genre in the USA and in Europe? Are there differences that you have seen?

RTB: The future for metal is good; things are on the up and up. People that love metal, love metal; it’s not a case of different scenes on different continents.

PM: It has never gone away; it’s just that the general media didn’t seem to want to know a few years back.

RTB: We all know what the general media is like, if metal would go away then that’s all that they would wish for. But it’s not and never will! They can try to ignore it but it will never go away, that’s just the way it is for me.

PM: What are your personal influences music-wise?

RTB: Well I would have to start at the beginning and say ‘The Beatles’, ‘The Who’, ‘The Rolling Stones’ but ‘The Yardbirds’ really got me listening to the guitar and blues artists such as ‘BB King’ and ‘Muddy Waters’. I could say that Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck is where I developed my style from, I like to listen to all those guys, they were gods, and in fact they still ARE gods. The maddening thing about music is that no one has come around and played better than that, those guys were right up there. The “shredding” guys can claim the fastest riffs and chords but for me once you have heard one solo you have heard them all, its all about the arrangement and the whole package. I mean if we get into more hard rock and roll then the guys for me would be Angus Young and Gary Moore.

PM: If you could only own 3 albums in the world, what would these be?

RTB: today I would say ‘The Who – Live at Leeds’, ‘Cream – Disraeli Gears’ and ‘Black Sabbath – Masters of Reality’. That’s today, it changes everyday as you can imagine!

PM: Thank you very much for your time and it was a pleasure to speak to you.

RTB: Your very welcome sir and I hope to meet you one day. (PM: me too!).

For more on the band check out http://www.myspace.com/newmetalleader
http://www.ross-the-boss.com/
http://www.ross-the-boss.de
http://www.afm-records.de

Interviewed by Paul Maddison

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