Former AEW World Champion Chris Jericho recently revealed that David Bowie has been one of his biggest inspirations when it comes to career reinvention, and that surrendering creative control on Fozzy's biggest hit "Judas" taught him the power of collaboration.
During an appearance on UNTAPPED with Spencer Matthews, the 55-year-old broke down his philosophy on longevity across wrestling and music — and why refusing to be a nostalgia act has kept him relevant for over 35 years.
I like doing the opposite of what people expect. It's based around David Bowie," Jericho said. "He always reinvented himself. You could go to a Halloween party and see 10 people dressed as David Bowie in different versions, and you'd know them all. I would also venture to say you could see Chris Jericho costumes — different ones — and know each one if you're a fan. I never wanted to be a nostalgia act.
How 'Judas' Became Fozzy's Biggest Song
Jericho also shared how letting go of ego on the songwriting front produced the biggest hit of his music career. "Judas," Fozzy's signature anthem, has amassed over 75 million YouTube views and is approaching platinum status — but Jericho didn't write a single lyric.
I used to write all the lyrics for Fozzy because I'm the singer and I must write the lyrics," he said. "Then we started collaborating with people who are just much better lyric writers than I am. I didn't write a lyric for Judas. That's got nothing to do with me except that I'm the singer who sang it. I could have been stubborn — 'I must write the lyrics.' That probably would not have worked as much. Back off a bit, work with people, collaborate with other creative geniuses, and let's create some cool [stuff].
The wrestling legend also highlighted that creativity and character work matter far more than athletic ability in professional wrestling.
It's the only thing that matters — creativity, personality, charisma," Jericho said. "Doesn't matter the moves that you do. It's how you connect with the crowd, how you build a story that people care about.
Jericho is also in a period of transition in his wrestling career, with his future being widely speculated on across the industry.
