Fozzy

There's not much room in the world for a sub-par Spinal Tap ... unless it's in the anything-sells world of professional wrestling. And Fozzy, a mostly fictional band fronted by the very real wrestler Chris Jericho (in the persona of singer Mongoose McQueen), will likely find an audience only inside WWF arenas. Not that the band Fozzy, rounded out by the real rock/metal lineup of Stuck Mojo, with alter-egos such as KK La Flame and the Kidd, is bad. In fact, they're an adequate cover band serving up decent renditions of second-echelon songs from top-drawer metal bands. Tunes by the Scorpions, Dio, Judas Priest, Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, and Krokus are Fozzy-ized, topped with Jericho/McQueen's slightly irritating, high, pop-leaning metal vocals. Like Spinal Tap, the band is an elaborate ruse with an extensive fake history, only sans the humor. Yes, old-school metal is as over the top as wrestling. And yes, the Jericho association might sell albums. But on their own merit, Fozzy will likely amuse only rabid wrestling fans. --Katherine Turman