Fozzy

Fozzy is an American heavy metal band, formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1999, but now based in Florida. The band is currently signed to Riot! Entertainment.

The band consists of professional wrestler Chris Jericho, along with members of Stuck Mojo including Rich Ward, Sean Delson, Mike Martin, and Frank Fontsere.

History

Fozzy started out as Fozzy Osbourne, a play on the name of the singer Ozzy Osbourne and was a cover band assembled by Ward from whatever musicians he could find on a given week. In 1999, Jericho and Ward met in San Antonio after a wrestling show, and was invited to play with the band; Jericho sat in on a few sessions, but did not plan to play with them permanently. In 2000, unable to wrestle for four months due to a severe ankle injury, Jericho rejoined the band and became its front man under the persona of Moongoose McQueen, and the band went on tour.

The band shortened its name to Fozzy, and adopted the satirical back-story that they had signed a 20-year contract to stay in Japan and be huge rock stars, only to discover on their return to America that many famous artists had ripped off their songs.

Soon afterward, Fozzy produced their first album, self-titled and featuring mostly covers of bands such as Dio, Krokus, Twisted Sister, Iron Maiden, M?tley Cr?e and Judas Priest. Also, at one time the band once considered changing their name to Big City Knights.

Fozzy's second album Happenstance was produced in 2002, again featuring mostly covers of bands such as Black Sabbath, Scorpions, W.A.S.P. and Accept.

In 2004, the band dropped its back-story and Jericho's McQueen persona. A year later, they produced their third album, All That Remains, which featured entirely original tracks, including singles "Enemy" and "Daze of the Weak". All That Remains featured guest appearances by musicians such as Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne, Pride and Glory), Bonecrusher, Mark Tremonti (Creed, Alter Bridge), and Butch Walker (Marvelous 3). The album went on to sell over 100,000 copies and was praised by dozens of rock magazines, leading to widespread global recognition and their world tour. In 2005, "Enemy" was the theme song for WWE No Way Out and then in 2006 for a promo video for TNA Bound for Glory. Also in 2005 the band played the Download Festival at Donington Park, England.

Soon after the release of All That Remains, plans for a fourth album were announced.

On March 4, 2009, MetalUnderground.com reported that Fozzy had signed a worldwide record deal with Australian based Riot! Entertainment to release their fourth album in the fall. It was also revealed that the album would be entitled, "Chasing The Grail."

On September 30, 2006, Fozzy appeared at the Delicious Rox music festival in Sedalia, Missouri. Early on during the festival, metal band American Head Charge took the stage to perform. During their set an over-zealous fan tossed a glass bottle on stage, hitting drummer Dane Tuders. Tuders proceeded to pick up the bottle and toss it back into the crowd, hitting a young teenage girl in the process. The girl sustained a severe laceration on her head. While being tended to by the on-site paramedics, the girl was visited by Fozzy's lead singer Chris Jericho, whom she had traveled quite a distance to see perform. The girl was then taken to a local hospital to be checked out by a physician. After the girl was taken away, Jericho confronted Tuders about the incident. The two musicians exchanged words and Jericho reportedly had to be held back by his fellow band members to prevent an altercation from taking place. Later on in the festival, Fozzy took the stage to perform. After the third song in their set, the director of the festival took the stage and informed the crowd (and the band) that the festival was being shut down by the authorities. American Head Charge drummer Dane Tudor was subsequently arrested for assault on the young girl.

Over the band's career, it has undergone numerous line-up changes. The original line-up consisted of Chris Jericho on vocals, Rich Ward on guitar and back up vocals, Dan Dryden on bass, Ryan Mallam on guitar and Frank Fontsere on Drums. Later on, the band introduced both Mike Schneider and Andy Sneap to add more guitarists, but neither appeared on any albums and Mike Schneider left the band after only a year.

Just before the release of their second album, Happenstance, Dan Dryden left the band and was replaced by Keith Watson. Not long after, Ryan Mallam left the band and was replaced by Mike Martin.

In 2004, Keith Watson left the band and was replaced by current bass player Sean Delson. After the release of their third album, All That Remains, drummer Frank Fontsere left the band to be replaced by Eric Sanders, leaving Chris Jericho and Rich Ward as the only remaining members from the original lineup.

On March 7, 2009, Fozzy's official MySpace blog confirmed that founding drummer Frank Fontsere would be returning to the band for its upcoming album Chasing the Grail.

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Original Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fozzy