Page 36 - Black Velvet Issue 87

BV87 pg36,37,38,39:BV87 pg36 20/12/2015 00:08 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 36

REAL HUGE
REAL HUGE

ozzy are a band that pride themselves with having integrity. Originating as a fun party band,
Fover time the outfit transformed into a more serious, original rock band. While on a recent
tour of the UK, Fozzy’s Rich Ward took time to chat to Black Velvet about unravelling the band’s
history, the state of society today, and what it was like to play in Paris a week after the terrorist
attacks. What the amiable guitarist had to say was both interesting and thought-provoking.
hen Rich, Chris Jericho (vocals) sicians realised that they had the potential than to satisfy our own kind of personal
Wand Frank Fontsere (drums) first to do so much more than cover somebody whim, so it was more of a hobby,” Rich tells
formed the band they all had other full-time else’s songs. They had already decided to Black Velvet. “Then we decided to take it
commitments so played just a handful of omit ‘Osbourne’ from their name, they then seriously and you can imagine how hard
gigs a year. Jericho was a professional dropped the gimmicks as original material that is to overcome – basically telling
wrestler while Ward and Fontsere were in began taking over. “Our other bands were everyone you’re a joke, now take us seri-
pioneering rap-metal band Stuck Mojo. our day jobs and we always just considered ously; it’s been very difficult,” Rich notes.
For a short period they were known as Fozzy an opportunity to have fun and play “We left kind of a history that we were
Fozzy Osbourne; a fun time party band, songs that we really enjoy. There was never going to have to overcome because we
adopting stage personas, wearing wigs and a blueprint, it was just very organic, we were redefining who we are as a band. We
costumes as they performed cover ver- picked songs that we like to play and there have a sports star as a lead singer and
sions. It wasn’t long though before the mu- was no real pressure to do anything other that’s a huge obstacle as well because he

FOZZY