While speaking with radio station 101 WRIF in a recent interview, Fozzy vocalist Chris Jericho explained the financial realities of being the opening act for major bands.
Recalling his experience opening for Iron Maiden, Jericho detailed how difficult it is to make a decent paycheck as a supporting act.
“That’s the thing with us — we don’t really open for anybody, because, for example, [when we opened] for Iron Maiden [in September 2019 at the Banc Of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California], they [paid] us a certain amount of money, but there’s no VIP, obviously, and you’re not selling any merch,” Jericho said. “I think there was, like, twenty-eight thousand people [in attendance at the gig], and I think we sold, like, three grand in merch or something like seven cents a head.”
“We’ll make more in Wyandotte [Michigan playing a headlining show] tonight than we made opening for Iron Maiden,” he added. “That’s just the business financials.”
Jericho went on to say that besides Iron Maiden, he also doesn’t think Metallica offers a big payday to their openers either.
“When you open for — you mentioned The Pretty Reckless opening for AC/DC. I’m sure they’re getting paid a decent amount, but AC/DC can pay somebody five grand a night. They don’t care. Anybody would take that,” he said. “Same thing with Metallica. And, obviously, probably 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.”
