Manowar

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Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York, formed in 1980, known for their loud, epic sound and lyrics drawing from fantasy and mythology themes like sword-and-sorcery and Norse/Greco-Roman mythology. The band is significant for maintaining a distinctive style of big, orchestral heavy metal music and celebrating both the genre itself and its dedicated fanbase at a time when such grandiose metal was becoming less common.

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Key facts

Musical artist.background: group_or_band
Musical artist.name: Manowar
Musical artist.image: Manowar London 19 July 2025.jpg
Musical artist.caption: Manowar performing in 2025
Musical artist.landscape: yes
Musical artist.origin: Auburn, New York, U.S.
Musical artist.years_active: 1980–present
Musical artist.current_members: Joey DeMaio Eric Adams Dave Chedrick Michael Angelo Batio
Musical artist.past_members: Carl Canedy Ross the Boss Donnie Hamzik Scott Columbus David Shankle Kenny Earl Edwards Karl Logan Anders Johansson E. V. Martel

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official website: manowar.com
Image: Manowar 2016 (cropped).jpg

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Commons category: Manowar
social media followers: 393000
inception: 1980-00-00
start of work period: 1980-00-00

Sources (3)

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~17 min read

Article

20 sections

Contents

History
Origins (1980–1981)
''Battle Hymns'' (1981–1982)
''Into Glory Ride'' and mainstream success (1983–1988)
New albums, live releases (1992–2002)
''Warriors of the World'', ''Hell on Earth'', and Magic Circle Music (2002–2005)
''Gods of War'' and ''Thunder in the Sky'' (2006–2009)
Scott Columbus' death, ''Battle Hymns MMXI'', and ''The Lord of Steel'' (2010–2013)
''Kings of Metal MMXIV'' (2013–2014)
Logan's arrest and continued touring (2015–present)
Musical style
The Faceless Warrior
The Sign of the Hammer
Legacy
Band members
Awards
Discography
See also
References
External links

Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on fantasy (particularly sword and sorcery) and mythology (particularly Norse and Greco-Roman mythology) as well as numerous songs celebrating the genre and its core audience. The band is also known for a loud and emphatic sound. In an interview for MTV in February 2007, bassist Joey DeMaio lamented that "these days, there's a real lack of big, epic metal that is drenched with crushing guitars and choirs and orchestras... so it's nice to be one of the few bands that's actually doing that". In 1984, Manowar was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for delivering the loudest performance, a record that they have since broken on two occasions. They also hold the world record for the longest heavy metal concert after playing for five hours and one minute in Bulgaria (at Kavarna Rock Fest) in 2008. They are known for their slogan "death to false metal".

==History== ===Origins (1980–1981)=== Manowar's history began in 1980, when bassist Joey DeMaio met guitarist Ross the Boss while working as a bass tech and fireworks manager for Black Sabbath on the Heaven & Hell Tour. Ross the Boss, a former member of the punk rock band the Dictators, was the guitar player in Black Sabbath's support band, Shakin' Street. The two bonded over their shared musical interests and decided to form a band upon the suggestion of Black Sabbath singer Ronnie James Dio. Following the tour, the duo formed Manowar. To complete the roster, they hired drummer Donnie Hamzik and singer Eric Adams, a former classmate and friend of DeMaio. Adams's real name is Louis Marullo; Ross the Boss proposed him to use a stage name instead, and he chose "Eric Adams" as an homage to his sons Eric and Adam. The name Manowar was suggested by the band's instrument designer, John "Dawk" Stillwell. The name is a shortened version of the phrase "man of war", and although it may be understood as a reference to the man-of-war naval ships, DeMaio simply chose it as a synonym of "warrior".