FOZZY's CHRIS JERICHO: 'I'd Expect Nothing Less Than Arenas For Us In The Future'

In a recent interview with the 107.7 The Bone radio station, FOZZY singer Chris Jericho spoke about his previous characterization of his band as a "17-year overnight sensation."

"When 'Judas', the song, came out, it became kind of the elusive hit single," he said (see video below). "I think we're at 32 million views on YouTube or something like this. It puts things in a different world. And then 'Painless' and 'Burn Me Out' were both Top 10s following that up. It just really took us to a different level.

"People say, 'Are you surprised?' I'm not surprised, 'cause I knew it was gonna happen," he continued. "It just was the right place at the right time for the right band with the right group of songs. So the best part of it was we were ready for it. When the record exploded, we had a great rock and roll band that was very tight that had been playing for years. Like you said, a [17]-year overnight sensation. So we were very prepared for all these successes and all these big opportunities — like playing with NICKELBACK or IRON MAIDEN at a stadium.

"To know that we're gonna be doing a stadium with IRON MAIDEN, you can't be a band that doesn't have confidence. You can't — 'cause you'll get eaten alive by the fans, by the production. We know exactly what we're doing, so when we go on stage with a band like that or NICKELBACK, we set up our stuff and take it off so fast, they're, like, 'What happened?' We have a crew that's completely knowledgable and they're like ninjas and the band are like ninjas, and that comes from experience. We're not just a bunch of 22-year-old kids, like, 'We've got a hit song on the radio. Let's go play some rock and roll, smash some TVs and throw some bubbly against the wall.' That doesn't get you very far. When you have FOZZY, with some experienced vets who are now getting to this next level, and with 'Nowhere To Run', our new song that just came out, it's already a hit in five days. So that's from… I don't know what the old adage is… Success is when luck meets preparation… So, point being, when you have that experience and that respect. It's like touring with the guys from STEEL PANTHER. They're great guys. With all the success they've had, they're still very humble, because they know STEEL PANTHER, as a concept, as a project, was their last chance. They were Hollywood musicians for years, L.A. Sunset Strip guys — they just never made it. And their last-ditch effort was, 'Let's just go out and have some fun. We'll never make it. Who cares?' Suddenly they make it huge. They're very humble and respectful because of it, 'cause they don't take it for granted. We have the same attitude."

The 48-year-old wrestling legend, who recently became AEW's first world champion, was also asked if FOZZY's recent success enables him and his bandmates to take more risks in the future, just as he did in the wrestling arena.

"I haven't been full time in the [wrestling] business since 2010," he said. "I just pick and choose my spots. You pick the right spots. And that's basically still what I'm doing. Because FOZZY was the priority, I knew we could make it and get to the next step and continue to grow. And I think the potential we have is still endless. I'd expect nothing less than arenas for us in the future, but you have to put the time in and you have to put the work into it. So wrestling, I've gotten to a certain level, but you still, if you wanna stay on top, still have to put your focus in that as well. And that's why you see, last year, I think I had five matches maybe. This year, now that AEW is about to start in October, I've had two matches this year. The most that I'll have in any given year is 15 or 20, whatever. It's not a lot, but if you're picking your spots, it's enough to still make a big difference, as we still continue to build the FOZZY machine as well."

FOZZY's forthcoming follow-up to 2017's "Judas" album is tentatively due in the spring of 2020 via RED Music.