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FOZZY
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The REAL story...In the fall of 1980 things looked bleak for good old American rock and roll, asnew wave, disco and punk were all destined to be the next big thing. It wasthen, amidst this musical melee, that five 18-year-old kids from Delaware were becoming known as a promising young heavy metal band. Taking the name FOZZY from a famed East Belgium battleship from the Korean War era, the band was just a short while ahead of their time. Following the tried and true way of getting famous i.e.: playing gigs, shopping demos etc.the band was losing their momentum and energy, as the Go-Go's listening, Flock of Seagulls haircut wearing folk just weren't getting it. Somehow, one of their demo tapes made it across the Pacific and into the hands of Masami Sammy Tomami, President of Big Happy Rock Mountain Records, one of Japan's biggest record companies at the time. Sammy contacted the band and arranged to fly them to the Orient where he offered them an exclusive, Japan-only 20 year contract. He claims the deal was great for a band with minimal exposure, minimal experience and minimal talent. The brash, young rockers happily and dreamily signed away the next 20 years of their lives. Four days later, due to Sammy and many tawdry investments, Big Happy Rock Mountain records went out of business and Sammy went into hiding. At that moment, FOZZY became another victim of the monster we know and love as the music business. At this point, FOZZY was stuck in Japan with no money and no fame. In order to eat and keep a roof over their heads, they were forced into the various worlds of menial labor. Moongoose McQueen (the flamboyant lead-vocalist) worked at Makudonaldo playing the character Donaldo Makudonaldo (aka Ronald McDonald). Shawn Sports Pawpp (level-headed bassist) was an escalator hand rail wiper at a downtown Tokyo department store by day and a towel boy at a local bathhouse by night (where the band soon took up residence, which explains their amazingly youthful looks). No one has been able to find out exactly what happened to The Kid (non-speaking rhythm guitarist) to quiet his demeanor. Duke LaRue (blissfully unaware guitarist) was a chef at a sushi restaurant and KK LaFlame (dangerously unstable and irresponsible drummer) fed his dairy fetish as a sampler in a cheese shop. While their unflattering jobs and overwhelming depression all too often got the very best of them, they always had an outlet for their pent-up anger and frustration. FOZZY didn't let the music business heartbreak get them down, and they got through the worst of times by having the best of times doing what they do best... making music! Even though their various incomes afforded them only the worst studio in Tokyo (Sounds Castle Magic), they made the music that would re-define a musical era. In 1983, they started to hear ridiculous rumors that the music they had put their hearts and souls into had leaked back to the United States and was in the midst of becoming hugely popular. At first they were excited and looked forward to their long awaited return along with the hordes of screaming women that were sure to greet them upon arrival, as they had finally become the rock stars they were meant to be. Sadly, that never came to be, as rumor turned to fact when a sampler included in a Japanese music magazine, Riot Patch came their way. Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio, Twisted Sister, the Scorpions and several others were performing and becoming mega-stars from the now-legendary songs that FOZZY had spent so much time perfecting. Fueled by this heart-wrenching news, FOZZY worked even harder to make the money needed to return to the US and reclaim the glory that was rightfully theirs. After too many years at minimum wage salaries, they've returned to the United States and are ready to reclaim their heavy metal crown. For More info go to www.fozzyrock.com
