Fozzy frontman and multifaceted entertainer Chris Jericho recently offered a candid perspective on the financial realities of touring for rock bands, asserting that major headliners like Metallica often pay their support acts minimally due to the high demand for such prestigious opening slots. Speaking with Meltdown of Detroit’s WRIF radio, Jericho explained that the allure of exposure often outweighs direct financial compensation for bands joining these massive tours.
Detailing the dynamic, Jericho stated (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), “Same thing with Metallica. And, obviously, probably a Limp Bizkit is getting a decent amount of money [to support Metallica at stadiums on their 2025 tour], but a Mammoth WVH or Ice Nine Kills or the opening of the opening [bands at those shows], I’m telling you, they’re not making the money that you think because Metallica doesn’t have to pay it.” He emphasized the desire bands have for such opportunities: “You wanna go on tour with Metallica for the summer? Yes. Where do I sign? And any band would take that.”
Jericho used a hypothetical scenario with another colossal band to illustrate his point further: “You’re not negotiating to open for AC/DC. Here’s what you get. Take it or leave it, ’cause if you don’t want it, any other band in the world will take it.”
This perspective shapes Fozzy‘s own touring strategy. While acknowledging the benefits of playing to large crowds, Jericho explained why his band often finds headlining smaller venues more financially viable than supporting mega-acts, where opportunities for merchandise sales and VIP packages are typically non-existent for openers. He recalled Fozzy‘s experience opening for Iron Maiden in September 2019: “They [paid] us a certain amount of money, but there’s no VIP, obviously, and you’re not selling any merch. No one’s going to a Maiden show to buy Fozzy merch… I think we sold, like, three grand in merch or something like seven cents a head.” He contrasted this by stating, “But we’ll make more in Wyandotte [Michigan playing a headlining show] tonight than we made opening for Iron Maiden. That’s just the business financials.”
Jericho noted that Fozzy has developed a “great business model” over their 25 years, allowing them to tour successfully and make a decent living by being “smart about it,” even if their nightly attendance doesn’t match that of a band like Iron Maiden. “You don’t start out in a tour bus. You start out in vans, and to have a tour bus is a big deal,” he added, highlighting the journey for many bands.
He also touched upon the current touring climate, observing that after an initial post-COVID surge in concert attendance, the market has become more saturated. “Now here we are, two, three years later, there’s a huge glut of bands ’cause everybody’s out touring. It’s harder to draw a crowd,” Jericho commented. “But that’s show business, man.”
