Friedrich was born to Denise and Al Friedrich of
North Hills. His interest in art began at Brooks Elementary School in Raleigh. He won a $200 cash prize from the Art in the Park painting of
Pullen Park from local reporter Fred Fletcher of
WRAL. He attended
Jesse O. Sanderson High School, where he worked with artist Bob Rankin, and graduated from
East Carolina University in 1989. In 2007 Friedrich was nominated for an
Eisner Award for his book,
Onion Head Monster Attacks. The book was nominated in the Best Humor Publication category, but lost to
Bob Burden's
Flaming Carrot. Friedrich also designed the album covers, poster art and logo for all the CDs released by Monty Warren & the Friggin Whatevers, a roots rock group whose members are based in
Raleigh,
North Carolina and West Palm Beach, Florida: "Trailer Park Angel" (2008), "Let's Go to Therapy" (2012) and "Far Out Close Up" (2015). ==References==