Guitarist Ross 'The Boss' Friedman Named First-Ever Global Metal Ambassador

Wacken Open Air, one of the world's largest Heavy Metal music festivals, and the Hall of Heavy Metal History, have joined forces to Induct Legendary Manowar co-founder-guitarist/Dictators guitarist Ross "The Boss" Friedman, as the first ever "Global Metal Ambassador." The on-stage Induction Ceremony took place August 3, 2017, in front of 75,000 metal fans, in Wacken, Germany. Joining Ross on stage were Hall of Heavy Metal History Board members Whitney Alyson Ribbins, and Steve Goldby.

"We are very happy to have had this very special ceremony with Ross the Boss on our stage for the very first time," says one of the Wacken Open Air promoters, Thomas Jensen.

"It is a great honor to join with Wacken Open Air to Induct Ross "The Boss" Friedman, with the "Hall of Heavy Metal History Global Metal Ambassador Award," says Hall of Heavy Metal History Founder/CEO Pat Gesualdo."If anyone deserves this award, it's Ross. He has been working extremely hard for decades to ensure that metal continues to thrive."

"It was a huge privilege to be inducted into the 2017 Hall of Heavy Metal History, along with Randy Rhoads, Ronnie James Dio, Lemmy kilmister, and the other superstar inductees," says Ross "The Boss" Friedman. "Now I am the very first "Global Metal Ambassador" in the music Industry. That is a huge honor as well."

WATCH: Ross "The Boss" Gets the 'Global Metal Ambassador' Award at Wacken

More About Wacken Open Air Wacken Open Air (W:O:A), is a summer open-air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the village of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Hamburg. The festival was first held in 1990 as a small event for local German bands with about 800 fans. W:O:A is usually held at the beginning of August and lasts four days. It is currently considered the biggest heavy-metal festival in the world.

More About the Hall of Heavy Metal History The Hall of Heavy Metal History is dedicated to enshrining forever, those Legendary musicians, record company executives, journalists, and producers who are responsible for making Heavy Metal music what it is today. Their contribution to the genre is invaluable, and they keep inspiring Heavy Metal fans throughout the world, from generation to generation. The Induction Ceremony and Celebrity Awards Gala is held every January in Anaheim C.A.