Fozzy – Mean Fiddler 2005

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With third album All That Remains finally marking the point at which Fozzy became a real band with an album of all-original material and live shows in the planning, this was their first ever UK tour and, not entirely unexpectedly, the audience was full of wrestling fans, as metal fans are still viewing the band from a safe distance as perhaps a bit Spinal Tap-ish. It’ll take some time for them to come around, but Fozzy are far from a joke band now (they were a serious band before in terms of talent).

This show had a strangely late start. Doors didn’t open until 8 and openers Head-On weren’t on stage until 8:45 (although from the expressions of the stage crew, I think this was a little later than planned). The Reading based groove-metallers are what we all wish Black Label Society still sounded like. And live Head-On are superb; full of energy, heavy as hell and excellent musicians. The smashing of the acoustic guitar with the hammer was a little lame, but it ushered in their best song Here Comes The Hammer, so all was forgiven.

Fozzy came on around 9:30. The lights moved over the crowd so brightly I realised how dark it had been throughout the Head-On set. It was also at this point that I realised how packed the place was. If this wasn’t a sell out, it must have been close. This tour is in support of the bands third release All That Remains but oddly only two songs from the new album played in the set. But then, this is their first tour ever, so they’ve never had the chance to play material from their first two albums live.

Vocalist and WWE superstar Chris Jericho and guitarist Rich Ward (Stuck Mojo) are joined by original drummer Frank Fontsere on drums (who also played in Sickspeed with Rich), Sean Delson on bass and Mike Martin on lead guitar. The band kicked straight in with To Kill A Stranger from sophomore release Happenstance. This song set the tone for the rest of the show. It was loud, it was heavy, the band were tight, Rich was giving it everything and Chris was proving an excellent vocalist, better than on some of the studio tracks, with all the charisma and showmanship you would hope a wrestling star would bring to the stage.

For a band with three albums containing no less than 14 covers, to only play three all night was a testament to the quality of their own material. Debut album Fozzy only contained two original songs. The first and best of which, End of Days was next up following one of the poorer covers from the same album, Krokus‘ Eat The Rich. Then the first of the two tracks from the new album. Daze of The Weak is not one of the strongest tracks on the record. In fact, it’s quite a surprise that they didn’t play lead single Enemy. Then a quick fire trio of older originals that really shook the place. Crucify Yourself and With The Fire from Happenstance and Feel The Burn from Fozzy went down really well, with most of the crowd knowing all the words and getting fully into the show. Opening track from All That Remains, Nameless Faceless was next, following a joke song called Black Metal Poker (all 1 minute of it).

Then Chris’ Don’t You Wish You Were Me? from the WWE Originals compilation album (actually written and recorded with Ward and to all intents and purposes a Fozzy song) and it was all done. A two-song encore followed with Judas Priest‘s Freewheel Burning and Motley Crue‘s Live Wire. Both good choices as Chris’ voice really excels on the higher pitched covers. See their cover of Black Sabbath’s Mob Rules on Happenstance for evidence as to why he is better at higher pitched stuff.

Overall an excellent show from an excellent band, if a bit too short. The two standout features of the performance were Chris’ professionalism and Rich’s energy. Three months prior to this show, in the same venue, Sebastian Bach and his solo band had terrible microphone trouble which sent Seb into a bit of a frenzy, yelling and screaming and pushing sound-techs around. Tonight, Chris had exactly the same problems. His reaction? To make jokes, share mics with the guitarists and generally put on a show. And Ward is a monster on stage. His performance and energy were nothing short of inspirational.

“ charisma and showmanship ”

Head-On Setlist: Break The Walls Down / Sunrise / Wrecking Ball / The Stomp / Breaking Point / Here Comes The Hammer

Fozzy Setlist: To Kill A Stranger / Eat The Rich / End of Days / Daze of The Weak / Crucify Yourself / With The Fire / Feel The Burn / Black Metal Poker / Nameless Faceless / Don’t You Wish You Were Me? // Freewheel Burning / Live Wire

Photo(s): Johan Eriksson | www.rockersdigest.com

Written by Andy Lye
More: Gigs, Heavy Metal, Fozzy, Head-On