FOZZY // KK’S STEEL MILL, WOLVERHAMPTON

Fozzy and Friends Light Up KK’s Steel Mill

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5)

FOZZY AT KK’S STEEL MILL, WOLVERHAMPTON
PHOTOCREDIT: DAVID RATTENBURY

Melodic metallers Fozzy closed out their two-week run at KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton with a celebration of a successful two weeks on the road, and brought the party atmosphere. The Eyes on You 2026 tour hit its 13th and final show here—proof that thirteen can be lucky, with Chris Jericho and the band firing on all cylinders. There was no sense of winding down; instead, Fozzy played like they still had loads of energy to use up before they went home. With Marisa and the Moths bringing grit and melody, and Tailgunner delivering pure, no-nonsense metal as support, the night felt deliberate, tight, and anything but routine.

Marisa and the Moths set the tone early with an opening performance that felt both intimate and defiant. From the moment she stepped on stage, Marisa commanded the room with an easy, natural charisma, quickly having the audience eating out of her hand. Effortlessly switching between guitar duties and lead vocals, she carried the set with confidence and emotional weight, never letting the energy dip. A standout moment for me came when she paused to deliver a heartfelt speech, urging the crowd to live life to the fullest and refuse to be defined or defeated by anxiety and depression—a message that landed hard and felt genuinely lived-in rather than rehearsed. The band followed it up with upcoming single Nothing’s Getting Better, a song that resonated deeply, as phone lights flickered across KK’s Steel Mill and the audience swayed along in unison. It was a powerful, human opening that lingered long after the final chord.

Tailgunner hit the stage with huge energy and even bigger personality, turning their support slot into a statement of intent. Every member made a point of engaging with the crowd at every opportunity, feeding off the room and giving it straight back in kind. Their sound wears its Iron Maiden influence proudly, from galloping riffs to soaring melodies, but it never feels like pastiche —Tailgunner bring a fresh, punchy edge that keeps things feeling current. Frontman Craig Cairns was a constant focal point, commanding attention with a confident, animated presence that tied the whole set together. A playful highlight came when he hoisted his mic stand into the air, revealing its base shaped like the band’s logo, a small but memorable detail that drew cheers from the floor. With the recent release of their second album Midnight Blitz, this felt like a band very much on the rise, hungry, tight, and clearly enjoying every second on stage.

Fozzy’s longevity is impossible to ignore. Formed back in 1999, and, as Chris Jericho proudly noted, have been visiting the UK for the past 20 years, this is a band that knows exactly who they are. They opened with Fall in Line, immediately setting a tight, purposeful tone that felt more like a celebration than a victory lap. Jericho took a moment to soak it in, grinning as he talked about how special it felt to play a venue owned by KK Downing of Judas Priest, adding that “no matter how old you get, things like that feel fucking cool.” Chris has always been open about his heavy metal influences, and with their long career and performances like this, Fozzy are themselves part of heavy metal history.

While Jericho may be a former WWE champion and current AEW star, it’s clear Fozzy is where he indulges himself creatively. From a well-adapted metal cover of ABBA’s SOS, to originals like Painless, I still Burn, Drinking with Jesus, the creativity spilled over into the performance, with everyone in the band giving every ounce of energy to the crowd. I particularly enjoyed shooting guitarist Billy Grey, who leapt around the stage while founder guitarist Rich Ward danced back and forth. Jericho’s performance was also aided by an ever-changing parade of jackets—red sequins, metal-studded leather, purple flair, and full leopard print—each one adding a new layer of style.

Jericho’s command of the audience bordered on cult-leader intensity, every cue followed without hesitation. The main set closed with Judas, his AEW entrance theme, sending the crowd into chaos, with at least one replica championship belt raised high. The encore took things to the pinnacle, with Jericho ditching the jackets for a topless blistering rendition of Crazy Train, in tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, which—here in the Midlands—landed exactly as it should: loud, sweaty, and triumphant.

As the band noted this is the biggest UK tour they’ve ever done, and after tonights show I hope that next time its even bigger!

REVIEW + PHOTOS BY: DAVID RATTENBURY