MANOWAR
THE KINGS OF METAL

The bandmembers

Vocals : Eric Adams 1980- today
E-Guitar : Ross "The Boss" Friedman 1980- 88
Michael Shankle 1989- 93
Karl Logan 1994- today
Bass : Joey DeMaio 1980- today
Drums : Karl Kennedy 1980
Donny Hamzik 1981- 82
Rhino 1992- 95
Scott Columbus 1983- 91, 1995- today



MANOWAR was founded in Auburn (1980) by Joey DeMaio and Eric Adams. The first guitar player was Ross "The Boss" Friedman and behind the drums sat Karl Kennedy. The four just left High School and they decided to put the false ones and the enemies of METAL in the dust !!
Well, the NAME of Manowar was described by Joey as a compiliation of WAR (because life is WAR, in his opinion) and MANnish substance (because the metal scene had and has a lot of whimps). WHO ARE THE 'FALSE ONES'? - Joey said that "False Metal" is every band which doesn`t play for their followers. Every band who doesn`t occupy with their fans` wishes and expectations !!

This great band has (`till now) released ten fantastic albums !!!
I`d say some of the best albums ever !! They are holder of two world records !!! They are the loudest band on earth (louder than a starting Jet !!) and they wrote the longest song ever (about 30 Minutes !!) "Achilles, Agony and Ecstasy in 8 parts" !!! MANOWAR are really the KINGS OF METAL !!!!!!!!


The history of the band members

Joey DeMaio : He was born in Auburn, New York. In earlier days he played bass in a schoolband. He was a big fan of Black Sabbath and he met the guys on their "Heaven and Hell" tour. He got closer to them as he lended some of his equipment to Terry "Geezer" Butler. So he worked as a roadie for Black Sabbath. In 1980 he founded the great MANOWAR !!!

Eric Adams : He was also born in Auburn, New York and he is a school days friend of Joey. He started singing when he was a 9 year old boy. Earlier than Joey began to play his bass. The two never played in the same band before MANOWAR came to life. Even not in a schoolband!

Ross Friedman : He was born in Australia, but moved to New York City. He became the "The Dictators`" guitar player (1975) and published 3 albums with this band. After that he visited France and worked there for about 1 year in "Shaking Street". "Shaking Street" was Black Sabbath`s opener on the "Heaven and Hell"- tour. That is how Joey DeMaio met "The Boss". He was member of MANOWAR `till 88, when he left, after "Kings of Metal" album, the band. He decided to play more "Blues" and similar things. I think that this was his biggest fault ever !!!!

Donny Hamzik : He came from Poland and like Karl Kennedy (the former drummer), he was also found through a newspaper advertisement. MANOWAR searched for an appropriate drummer with "heart black enough". Why he left the band I don`t know. I assume that he wasn`t good enough for the KINGS OF METAL !!

Scott Columbus : He worked in a plumber shop in a little town in the State New York.

David Shankle : He played for a while for "Chicago", before he was choosen from about 150 guitarists to replace Ross. Eric and Joey met him while recording "Kings of Metal" in Chicago.

Karl Logan : He comes from Clarks Summit Pennsylvania, USA. His first band was called Arc Angel. Karl was the main lead guitarist in the band for about 6 years until the band disbanded in 1990. He met Eric Adams at a motorcycle show in State College, Pennsylvania, because they are both very big fans of motorcycles. Eric said to him, "You look like a musician." they continued to chat a while then went their seperate ways.
He had put together a little demo package that made its way to producer Tony Bongiovi. Tony liked what he saw and heard, and contacted Karl to tell him that a band who was established and had released some famous works, is looking for a new guitarist. Karl knew nothing about which band has invited him until he was sent to a studio in New Jersey. He has said that it was the toughest auditioning he ever went through. Though he passed the audition, and became a member of MANOWAR !


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