Kari Williams posted on August 09, 2012 00:00
WWE superstar and Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho doesn’t mind that his New York Times bestseller is now sold at dollar stores across the country. Nor does he know who his former alter ego, Mongoose McQueen, would face if he stepped in the squared circle.
But he does know that Fozzy’s latest album, Sin and Bones, is meant to be the band’s Black album.
Fresh off the 1,000th episode of Monday Night Raw, the Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla laced up his metaphorical boots for a string of interviews promoting Fozzy’s latest album “Sin & Bones.” He talked to InsideSTL about working with M. Shadows, touring for Uproar Festival, the upcoming Fozzy show at Pop’s and more.
InsideSTL: How did M. Shadows get involved with the “Sin & Bones” album, specifically the song “Sandpaper?”
Chris Jericho: I’ve know Shadows for a while. We toured together last year for bit... When we were recording “Sandpaper,” there was an intro part [I was recording and] sometimes you don’t feel something you’re doing,... [I gave Shadows a] call to see what he was doing… He actually helped with arrangement of song... and went above and beyond. He really contributed a lot to [the song], not just vocals... It was quite an honor to have him involved...
InsideSTL: What makes “Sin & Bones” stand out from Fozzy's previous albums?
CJ: We really kind of honed in... [and] It’s almost like Metallica and Journey were hanging out together with a little dash of Coldplay. We really took it to the next level... We made a very conscious effort [to create] almost our Black Album. All the songs on top of the Black Album all fit a certain vibe, a certain framework. It became the best and biggest record, and we wanted to make “Sin & Bones” like Fozzy’s Black album.
InsideSTL: How has Fozzy's audience changed since the band dropped the stage names, or has it?
CJ: That was 10 years ago... We’ve been together 13 years; a lot of bands come go in that time. We’re very fortunate after 13 years… You have a lot of people [who were] there because they’re Chris Jericho fans... Mostly now we have people that are Fozzy fans and that’s the most important thing... A gimmick will only last for one time... [People either] like it or they don’t, you’ve either got good music or bad music. At this point in time we really kind of showed people worldwide [we have a] gimmick of this band that’s a really great rock ‘n’ roll band... [with] high energy and a lot of fun.
InsideSTL: How does playing the Uproar festival compare to smaller shows like the show coming up in August at Pop’s?
CJ: Well, both are important. Obviously Uproar is our first U.S. tour festival style... and a lot of people haven’t heard Fozzy, or are not as familiar... When you’re doing your own gig... everybody there does know who you are, does know the words to your songs, is there to see you and only you... It’s been six or seven years [since we’ve been to Pop’s]. We had a great show there... St. Louis is a great rock town, a great Chris Jericho town, a great Fozzy town. Also, when you play, Uproar, [you’re going to] be doing six songs a night. It’s a short period of time to play... [at Pop’s] we get to play as long as we want...
InsideSTL: There hasn't been much publicity for the latest album on WWE programming like with “All That Remains.” How do you feel that will affect album sales?
CJ: It’s a different world now. Back then that was the only publicity we really had. Now it’s a different thing... I think “Sandpaper” is going to be the theme for Summerslam... [But] we don’t really rely on WWE to sell records... Our publicity and our promotion comes from the word of mouth and all [kinds of] other places...
InsideSTL: Would you like to be remembered more for your wrestling career or your music career and why?
CJ: When I was a kid, I had two dreams, [to become a professional wrestler and a rockstar]. I was crazy enough to go for both of them … I mean, obviously wrestling is what I’m known for... [but] who knows what might happen over the next 10 years.
InsideSTL: If Mongoose McQueen stepped into a wrestling ring, who would his opponent be?
CJ: I don’t know, man. He’s probably like fat and bald living in Peoria selling french fries.
InsideSTL: How did you feel when you found out your first biography was being sold in the dollar store?
CJ: Well, if it was released at the dollar store, it’d be a different story. Five, six years after the fact it doesn’t really bother me... I’ve had two books since then... It’s a good value for people who haven’t seen it. And it’s also in libraries now too.
Fozzy released the first single off “Sin & Bones,” “Sandpaper,” featuring M. Shadows, earlier this month. “Sin & Bones” will be released Aug. 14.
To purchase Uproar festival tickets, go HERE.
To purchase tickets to the show at Pop’s, go HERE.