Chris Jericho, original lead vocalist for Fozzy and All Elite Wrestler, took a hiatus from his wrestling with the AEW to take the band on their 25th Anniversary Tour. The stop at Wooly’s in the East Village of Des Moines, IA was just a little more than halfway through this phase of their 2025 Anniversary Tour. Supporting acts included The Nocturnal Affair and Liliac.
The Nocturnal Affair, a dark rock band from Las Vegas kicked off the evening as the first supporting artist, setting the mood with the crowd for the night. Liliac, a five-piece hard rock band from Atlanta, GA, made up of the Cristea family siblings, amped the energy level even further prior to Fozzy taking the stage.
The crowd was more than eager for Fozzy to make their appearance. Chants of “Fozzy! Fozzy! Fozzy!” echoed throughout Wooly’s in anticipation for their arrival on stage. A purple glow emanating from the signature box (which was a focal point of their stage design) entranced fans. The house lights darkened, and there was nothing but the glow of the box, adorned with the band’s name on it.
Grant Brooks took his spot at the drums, getting the beat set for their opening number. Fozzy kicked off their set with “Fall in Line.” Released in 2025, this song is their newest single, and a follow-up to their 2023 track, “Spotlight.” Jericho, sporting a sequined jacket and coordinating pants definitely did not blend in, as the lyrics of “Fall in Line” suggest that society should do.
While the normal smoke effects were used on stage throughout the night, additional effects were provided with Jericho taking control of the smoke cannon and projecting it out into the audience.
After performing “Nowhere to Run,” Chris obviously ran somewhere, as he returned to the stage donning a leopard print jacket (his second change of the night) for a little play on words, as next on their setlist was “Spotlight.” After a bit of “Drinkin’ With Jesus” and interacting more with his fans, having them all turn on the flashlight on their phones, Chris disappeared and reappeared with wardrobe change number three! This time, a Steampunk style black leather jacket with numerous long spikes jutting out from all around. Keeping the energy thriving on stage, Jericho and fellow bandmates, lead guitarist Rich Ward, rhythm guitarist Billy Grey, bassist P. J. Farley, and drummer Grant Brooks continued to deliver for the final two songs, “Purifier” and “Enemy.”
They ended their set with “Enemy,” one of their older singles from 2005, before taking the stage once more for their encore. Rich Ward and Billy Grey just shredded during the end of “Enemy,” feeding off of each other, creating a more increased level of energy from the crowd.
Appearing once more in another one of his signature wardrobe items, Chris Jericho sported a black leather jacket emblazoned with gold lettering; the lyrics of “Judas,” the first of their two encore songs. Fozzy ended the evening with a cover of Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades.”
Only seven more shows remain on this leg of their anniversary tour, circling around through Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois, with their final show taking place at District 142 in the historic and picturesque town of Wyandotte, MI. A few of these shows have already sold out!
GALLERY: Fozzy at Wooly’s in Des Moines, Iowa (May 4, 2025)
