FOZZY - WOLVERHAMPTON KK'S STEEL MILL, 21.02.26

BY SHARI BLACK VELVET

February 2026 saw Fozzy’s biggest tour of the UK so far kicking off on February 6th in Brighton, before the band made their way through an array of delightful coastal and inland towns, including Margate, Torquay and Southampton, before the final show in Wolverhampton on February 21st. It was a continuation of Fozzy’s 25th anniversary celebrations, and everyone in attendance was more than happy to help the American musicians extend their celebrations.

Marissa And The Moths and Tailgunner preceded the U.S. rockers on stage; both bands have been a part of the UK music scene for a few years now, each with a couple of albums under their belts. Both have found their own niche and are increasing their fan base with every show that they play. While Tailgunner have honed in on classic British heavy metal, and perform a dynamic set, packed full of energy, electrifying guitars and eighties vibes, Marissa And The Moths have chosen a more composed, modern, alt-rock path. Marissa has a strong voice that immediately brings to mind the magnificent Lzzy Hale. Both bands are impressive in their own right, and we will no doubt be hearing a lot more from them in the future.

Fozzy’s current tour is named the 'Eyes On You' tour, and all eyes are most definitely on the stage, eager for the band to jumpstart the show. A large white FOZZY logo on the LED backdrop signals that their time is near. Powerful new song ‘Fall In Line’ kicks off the set, with its nonconformist attitude. ‘They want me to act like them. They want me to look like them. They want me to think like them. Better to just blend in, but I, I won’t fall in line’, vocalist Chris Jericho sings, defiantly. While Chris graces the riser in the centre of the stage, wearing superb glittery trousers, shoes and a sequined red jacket, his bandmate and guitarist Rich Ward bounces and spins around on stage. The tour’s setlist features 15 of the band’s best original tunes, plus a cover of Abba’s ‘SOS’ (which the band initially recorded on their ‘Do You Wanna Start A War’ album in 2014), which kicks ass and fits well into the set, and Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Crazy Train’, which ends the show.

Grant Brooks’ high, twirling drumsticks do not go unnoticed in the hard and heavy ‘One Crazed Anarchist’, while Chris asks, “Are you ready for a rock ‘n’ roll party?" before the pumping ‘Burn Me Out’. “We wanna see you give us some energy on this one,” Chris adds. The infectious chorus definitely ignites the audience, who bound up and down.  

Before ‘I Still Burn’, Chris tells the crowd that Fozzy have been coming to the UK for 20 years and how the fans have helped them make their dreams come true, in getting to tour the world, playing in front of audiences. “And if we can make our dreams come true, you can make your dreams come true, too.” The inspiring ‘I Still Burn’ is about the fire they still have inside to do great things. 

Throughout the set, Chris has numerous jacket changes. ‘Spotlight’ sees the singer wearing a sparkly brown jacket, while he changes into a black jacket with huge, porcupine-like metal spikes for ‘Nowhere To Run’. Although it’s the glitzy purple jacket that he wears for ‘Sane’ that we love the most. As a wrestling legend, he knows how to entertain the crowd, look larger than life, and put on a show. He is given the infamous smoke gun to spray smoke over the crowd during ‘Do You Wanna Start A War’ and urges the audience to sway their arms along to the song. 

Guitarists Rich Ward and Billy Grey come together for a fantastic duel during ‘Enemy’, taking over the spotlight. Rich covers Billy’s eyes as he plays, showing the crowd his bandmate’s talent in an almost theatrical performance.

The encore begins with fan favourite ‘Judas’, before the aforementioned tribute to Ozzy Osbourne via a cover of ‘Crazy Train’. Chris takes off his jacket, performing bare-chested, in the spirit of Ozzy. It wraps up a fantastic show, and tour. Fozzy definitely know how to put on a rock ‘n’ roll party, and I bet Ozzy was enjoying it all from up above, looking down proudly, with a big smile. 

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