FOZZY has announced that co-founding drummer Frank Fontsere has stepped down to focus on his family. The band also revealed that after a lengthy audition process, Grant Brooks, formerly of Through Fire, will take over drumming duties and make his debut with the band March 14-18 on Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager At Sea. “After almost 2 decades, Frank Fontsere is stepping down as the drummer of FOZZY to focus on his family and other projects. We wish him nothing but the best and thank him for his years of maximum rock!” read social media posts from the band on Monday.
“However, we are SO excited to announce that after an extensive audition process, our good friend Grant Brooks is the new drummer for FOZZY!! We are stoked to unleash the pure energy & talent that Grant brings to the band and we are ready to EXPLODE in 2022 … as we look forward to the BIGGEST year in our history! Love you guys and see you soon! – Chris, Rich, Billy & PJ.”
Brooks also commented on joining the band via social media. “For 4 years I have played with Through Fire. I joined the band in the summer of 2017, starting with some of the biggest festivals I have played in my music career- from Louder Than Life with Ozzy Osbourne to Sonic Boom with Five Finger Death Punch, followed by touring across the USA several times. Being with Through Fire took me from being a local musician to a national touring artist and I will never forget these memories with my brothers who will always be my family. However, my time has come to an end with Through Fire. There is no bad blood and they will continue to shine with the new music coming out, that I love and know all of you will as well!”
“Having said all that, I’m very happy to announce that I have accepted the offer to be the NEW official drummer for FOZZY! I’m super excited to start this journey with my friends and crew in the band. So thankful for this amazing opportunity! Huge shoutout to Rich Ward, aka The Duke and Chris Jericho for reaching out to me and offering me the gig. My first shows will be on the Jericho Cruise setting sail from Miami, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas on March 14-18! Thank you all for the support and can’t wait for the future. So many more exciting announcements coming soon!”
Through Fire’s music was also featured at WWE Backlash in 2016.
FOZZY will release its new album, “Boombox”, on April 15. The LP, which includes the top 10 singles “Nowhere To Run” and “Sane”, was produced by Johnny Andrews. Andrews, who worked on FOZZY’s biggest album to date with 2017’s “Judas,” returned as producer. FOZZY also recently announced the next U.S. trek of their “Save The World” tour which starts on March 31 in Detroit, Michigan and runs through a May 16 date in Sauget, Illinois. The tour also includes an album-release party on April 11 at Irving Plaza in New York City.
The majority of writing for “Boombox” was completed by guitarist Rich Ward and Andrews, and the album was primarily recorded in Atlanta, Georgia. Andrews, also known for his work with All That Remains, Three Days Grace and Halestorm, previously co-wrote the FOZZY’ song “Lights Go Out” in 2014. Jericho told Loudwire Nights in July that “Boombox” features 12 new songs. “All of these songs you could hear on the radio,” he said. “It’s almost like we have another (Def Leppard’ album) Hysteria’, where you could release eight singles from this album if you wanted to.”
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