A bizarre metal band fronted by a WWE wrestler plays the Bierkeller in Bristol next week.

The curious combo called Fozzy features acclaimed fighter Chris Jericho and members of well-known bands including Rich Ward and other members of Stuck Mojo.

They play covers of their favourite heavy metal songs by bands such as Scorpions, Dio, Judas Priest, Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, and Krokus.

The sub-Spinal Tap affair has been making people laugh since 1999 when Chris saw Stuck Mojo play.

"I was immediately impressed by the band and was even more impressed by their use of wrestling terminology throughout the set and the arrangement of wrestling dolls on the amps during the gig," recalls Chris.

Chris and most of the band then formed Fozzy but the musicians went under false names such as KK La Flame and the Kidd and Chris called himself Moongoose McQueen.

At gigs Chris and the band compete to see who can go the most over the top: the band with their squealing guitar solos and endless drum solos and Chris with his slightly irritating high pop-metal screeching.

There is also a mythology behind the band which was introduced to beat the competition.

"Rich and I decided that there were a million cover bands and tribute bands in the world and it didn't need another one...unless there was a twist," says Chris.

"That's when we decided to implement a Blues Brothers/Spinal Tap/

Traveling Wilbur's story line, where we would all adopt characters and play it as if the songs that the band were covering were really our songs that were stolen from us while we were stuck in Japan due to a bad record deal."

A movie followed which starred Dee Snider, Zakk Wylde, Mike Portnoy and Sebastian Bach and so did a record deal.

Now Fozzy are on a world tour and play the Bierkeller, Bristol on Thursday, February 2.