Blaze Bayley
Encyclopedia
Blaze Bayley is an English
singer and songwriter
. He has been the lead singer of Wolfsbane
from 1984 to 1994, and nowadays since their recent reunion. Blaze is however world-known for having been the lead singer of British metal band Iron Maiden
from 1994 to 1999. After that experience he also built a solid solo career, recording studio albums first as Blaze and the following with a self-titled band.
heavy metal/hard rock
band Wolfsbane
, upon their formation in 1984. When Bruce Dickinson
departed fellow English heavy metal band Iron Maiden
in 1993, Bayley was chosen as his replacement in 1994 after hundreds of auditions. His departure from Wolfsbane led to their disbandment later on that year. After a bad motorcycle accident caused by losing control and clipping his knee on a catseye
in the road, which put him out of action for a year, his first album with Maiden was The X Factor
, released in 1995. Bayley went on to tour with the band in support of the album. Another Iron Maiden album with Bayley on vocals, Virtual XI was released in 1998.
The two Iron Maiden albums released during Bayley's time in the band did not chart as well as that to which the band were accustomed. The X Factor peaked at #8 on the UK Albums Chart
and Virtual XI hit only #16, both being the lowest charting Maiden studio albums since Killers
was released in 1981, which peaked at #12. Some of this comparative commercial failure could be attributed to fans disliking Blaze's singing style and tours being cut short due to Bayley's frequent sickness.
In February 1999, when Iron Maiden announced that vocalist Bruce Dickinson
was returning to the band, Bayley departed by mutual consent, and he remains on good terms with his former bandmates. Iron Maiden occasionally performed songs from the two Maiden albums featuring Bayley, including "Man on the Edge
" and "Futureal
", which he co-wrote, though no Bayley era songs have been on the band's set list since 2004. Likewise, Bayley has performed Iron Maiden songs originally recorded by the Dickinson and Paul Di'Anno
led line-ups at some concert
s.
In 2007, Wolfsbane reformed for a one-off performance, with Bayley again taking up vocal and frontman duties. They supported The Wildhearts
on a short UK tour in December 2007. Their next tour came in December 2009 supporting The Quireboys
on their 'A Little Bit of What You Fancy 20th Anniversary Tour'. Wolfsbane played a headline show at the Borderline in London on the 9th April 2011. This was followed by a tour supporting Saxon in April 2011. A new album (Wolfsbane Save the World) and UK tour has been announced for October / November 2011.
For further updates on Wolfsbane please see the related Wolfsbane
articles.
, and signed a deal with German
label SPV
, releasing the band's debut studio album in 2000, Silicon Messiah
. The album was followed up by Tenth Dimension
in 2002 and the band's first live album in 2003, As Live As It Gets
.
After recording the live album, Jeff Singer announced he was leaving the band. Three months later, Rob Naylor was also leaving. Session drummer Phil Greenhouse and bassist Wayne Banks were hired for the rest of the Tenth Dimension tour until permanent replacements could be found. Guitarist Jason Banks was drafted in for a few gigs at the end of 2003 to cover for John Slater.
At the end of 2003, Blaze began writing material for their third studio album, Blood & Belief
. Phil Greenhouse was replaced on drums by Jason Bowld for recording and Dave Knight for touring. The band began to tour for the album shortly after it was released in 2004, but were set back again by the news that John Slater could not perform a large section of the tour. Despite rejoining the band later in the year, Slater eventually left the band in September with Steve Wray to form the band Rise To Addiction
. Bassist Wayne Banks and drummer Dave Knight left the band to join the Robin Gibb
band in September 2004.
Blaze performed a number of shows in 2004 and 2005 with the lineup of Bayley, guitarist Oliver Palotai
, guitarist Luca Princiotta
, bassist Nick Douglas, and drummer Daniel Löble
. The two guitarists were eventually kept on as full members. The band's lineup shifted once again when Löble quit to join German power metal
band Helloween
early in 2005 and when Douglas returned to another German heavy metal band, Doro
. The two were replaced by unknown German musicians Daniel Schild and Christian Ammann respectively. With the new line up, Blaze began to work on a fourth studio album for a release in 2007, but in January that year it was announced the entire line-up had to part ways with Bayley due to serious financial matters. Following the lineup change, Bayley opted to rename the band under his name, Blaze Bayley.
, released later on that year. Bayley announced that Rich Newport had left the band to pursue a career as a guitar teacher later on that year, and Jay Walsh would replace him onstage for the remainder of the tour. Jay was made a full member of the band in November 2007. Bayley also announced the addition of drummer Lawrence Paterson
, formerly of British metal bands Chokehold
and Shadowkeep
at the same time.
In July 2008, Blaze Bayley Band (BBB) released their debut studio album, The Man Who Would Not Die
. The album also contained the band's first single, "Robot", despite only being available digitally. It is sometimes regarded as a mini-compilation as it includes many bonus tracks. The band recorded another DVD live at Z7, The Night That Will Not Die
, which was released in March 2009. Blaze Bayley announced that the band started recording for their new album on September 28, 2009. A contest was run on the band's forum.The two first people who guessed the title of the new album received a free signed copy. The title was revealed to be Promise and Terror
a few days later.
The 2nd album Promise and Terror
was released on the 1st Feb 2010. Professional reviews have generally been very positive about the album. The album was produced by Jason Edwards.
On Feb 6th 2010 BBB started their 2010 world tour in Dudley UK. They spent the next months playing the UK, France, Italy, Germany before leaving for the South American leg of the tour. They then returned to Europe later in the year.
In May 2010 Larry Paterson
, the drummer for the band left due to personal and professional reasons, although none were specified. Their manager, Anna, announced her departure from the band. She claimed that the band's idea of where to go next and hers were not in the same direction.
Following the departure of Larry Paterson
the Blaze Bayley Band engaged Claudio Tirincanti to continue the Promise and Terror
tour.
On July 10, 2010 Blaze Blayley claimed live on stage that his current album was his best-selling as a solo-artist shedding some light on the recent changes in his line-up and management.
On December 18, 2010 they played a Big Bash at JB'S in Dudley Birmingham. Despite the snowy weather the band made it back from mainland Europe to play the show.
The BBB embarked on a short European tour in early 2011 and were supposed to follow that up in May 2011 with more dates in the UK, however on March 29 via his official channels, Blaze Bayley stated that he had to part ways with the band due to both health and financial reasons.
on the guitar, and two Belgian musicians (Steve Deleu and Nick Meganck) respectively on the other guitar and the bass. Alongside the reunion and new recordings of Wolfsbane
, Bayley has played a two-week acoustic solo tour in the UK in Sept 2011 with fellow Wolfsbane guitarist Jase Edwards plus a few unplugged gigs in Italy with Andrea Neri on the guitar. Then the singer hit the stages of some summer festivals and after that has been travelling to the USA in October/November 2011 for his first full US Headline tour since his days with Iron Maiden
, supported by North-American musicians. Blaze will finish the Promise and Terror world tour in December 2011 before beginning to write new material.
On the 19th August 2011 Blaze announced that recording of a live Dvd filmed at his show in Antwerp, Belgium on the 23rd September 2011, in which he presented also the first new song with the renewed line-up, called "Black Country".
-in Istanbul, for the first gig played after the split with BBB, the singer has been supported by Turkish band Apsent
Note: Promotional videos were released for the Blood and Belief song "Hollow Head" and the Silicon Messiah song "Ghost in the Machine", but these were originally only made available to fan club members. Later on, the video for "Silicon Messiah" was put on to the second disc of a limited edition of Tenth Dimension along with an EPK titled Inside the Tenth Dimension. The video of "Hollow Head" was only made available worldwide in 2007 and can be found on the Alive in Poland DVD under the "Extras" menu. The video of "Robot" was also released in February 2009.
Blaze singing Wasted Years with Clairvoyants a Tribute band
Blaze singing Trooper with Clairvoyants
Blaze singing Wrathchild with Maiden
Blaze Bayley performing Blackmailer at the 12 Bar Swindonon the 11th Feb 2011.
Blaze Bayley performing Voices from the Past live at the Marrs Bar Worcester England on the 6th Dec 2008
Blaze Singing Wasted Years and The Trooper Acoustic
. On 6 July 2008, Hartland suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was hospitalised. She died on 27 September 2008, after having suffered a stroke two days before.
Blaze Bayley got engaged on Christmas Day 2010 to his girlfriend Eline.
Bayley in 2011 has announced that he has parted ways with his previous musicians due to financial and medical reasons.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. He has been the lead singer of Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane (band)
Wolfsbane are an English heavy metal band. Formed in 1984, the band remained active until lead singer Blaze Bayley went on to join Iron Maiden in 1994. After a couple of reunion shows in 2007 and 2009, Wolfsbane officially reunited in June 2010...
from 1984 to 1994, and nowadays since their recent reunion. Blaze is however world-known for having been the lead singer of British metal band Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
from 1994 to 1999. After that experience he also built a solid solo career, recording studio albums first as Blaze and the following with a self-titled band.
Wolfsbane, Iron Maiden and Wolfsbane reunion (1984-1999, 2007-onward)
Blaze Bayley started his musical career as the lead vocalist of TamworthTamworth
Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
heavy metal/hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane (band)
Wolfsbane are an English heavy metal band. Formed in 1984, the band remained active until lead singer Blaze Bayley went on to join Iron Maiden in 1994. After a couple of reunion shows in 2007 and 2009, Wolfsbane officially reunited in June 2010...
, upon their formation in 1984. When Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
departed fellow English heavy metal band Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
in 1993, Bayley was chosen as his replacement in 1994 after hundreds of auditions. His departure from Wolfsbane led to their disbandment later on that year. After a bad motorcycle accident caused by losing control and clipping his knee on a catseye
Cat's eye (road)
The cat's eye is a retroreflective safety device used in road marking and was the first of a range of raised pavement markers. It originated in the UK in 1933 and is today used all over the world....
in the road, which put him out of action for a year, his first album with Maiden was The X Factor
The X Factor (album)
Initially, The X Factor was met with lukewarm responses from critics. Allmusic rated the album two stars out of five, stating that "suffering from a lack of powerful riffs and tightly written songs, The X Factor is a lackluster latter-day album from Iron Maiden...
, released in 1995. Bayley went on to tour with the band in support of the album. Another Iron Maiden album with Bayley on vocals, Virtual XI was released in 1998.
The two Iron Maiden albums released during Bayley's time in the band did not chart as well as that to which the band were accustomed. The X Factor peaked at #8 on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
and Virtual XI hit only #16, both being the lowest charting Maiden studio albums since Killers
Killers (Iron Maiden album)
Killers is the second album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 2 February 1981 in the UK, and 6 June 1981 in the US. The album was their first with guitarist Adrian Smith and their last with vocalist Paul Di'Anno, who was sacked after problems with his stage performance arose due...
was released in 1981, which peaked at #12. Some of this comparative commercial failure could be attributed to fans disliking Blaze's singing style and tours being cut short due to Bayley's frequent sickness.
In February 1999, when Iron Maiden announced that vocalist Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
was returning to the band, Bayley departed by mutual consent, and he remains on good terms with his former bandmates. Iron Maiden occasionally performed songs from the two Maiden albums featuring Bayley, including "Man on the Edge
Man on the Edge
"Man on the Edge" is a single from the Iron Maiden album The X Factor. It was released in 1995. The song is based on the film Falling Down, starring Michael Douglas...
" and "Futureal
Futureal
"Futureal" is a single from the Iron Maiden album Virtual XI, released in 1998. Just months after this single was released, vocalist Blaze Bayley would part ways with Iron Maiden. The song was voted as one of the most popular Iron Maiden songs of all time in a fan poll taken during the making of...
", which he co-wrote, though no Bayley era songs have been on the band's set list since 2004. Likewise, Bayley has performed Iron Maiden songs originally recorded by the Dickinson and Paul Di'Anno
Paul Di'Anno
Paul Andrews , better known as Paul Di'Anno, is an English singer best known as the first vocalist to record with the iconic heavy metal band Iron Maiden, from 1978 to 1981....
led line-ups at some concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s.
In 2007, Wolfsbane reformed for a one-off performance, with Bayley again taking up vocal and frontman duties. They supported The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are a British rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica...
on a short UK tour in December 2007. Their next tour came in December 2009 supporting The Quireboys
The Quireboys
The Quireboys are an English hard rock band formed in 1984 in London, England, with strong ties to Newcastle. When the band formed they were originally known as The Queerboys and later as the London Quireboys in the United States....
on their 'A Little Bit of What You Fancy 20th Anniversary Tour'. Wolfsbane played a headline show at the Borderline in London on the 9th April 2011. This was followed by a tour supporting Saxon in April 2011. A new album (Wolfsbane Save the World) and UK tour has been announced for October / November 2011.
For further updates on Wolfsbane please see the related Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane (band)
Wolfsbane are an English heavy metal band. Formed in 1984, the band remained active until lead singer Blaze Bayley went on to join Iron Maiden in 1994. After a couple of reunion shows in 2007 and 2009, Wolfsbane officially reunited in June 2010...
articles.
BLAZE (1999-2007)
Following Blaze Bayley's departure from Iron Maiden in 1999, he formed his own band, BLAZE, in March that year. Bayley recruited guitarist Steve Wray, guitarist John Slater, bassist Rob Naylor, and drummer Jeff SingerJeff Singer
Jeff Singer is a British musician and former drummer of Paradise Lost.Singer has recorded three albums with Blaze...
, and signed a deal with German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
label SPV
SPV GmbH
SPV GmbH is an independent German record label.Founded on January 1, 1984, it has slowly grown to be one of the largest independent distributors and record labels worldwide....
, releasing the band's debut studio album in 2000, Silicon Messiah
Silicon Messiah
Silicon Messiah is the debut studio album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, then known as Blaze, released in 2000. The South American and Japanese versions of the album include several bonus tracks...
. The album was followed up by Tenth Dimension
Tenth Dimension
Tenth Dimension is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, then known as Blaze, released in 2002. It is a concept album.-Track listing:Disc 1# Forgotten Future - 1:02# Kill and Destroy - 4:26# End Dream - 5:13...
in 2002 and the band's first live album in 2003, As Live As It Gets
As Live As It Gets
As Live As It Gets is the third release and first live album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, then known as Blaze, released in 2003. It features mostly the band's original material, though they also play some Iron Maiden and Wolfsbane covers, as lead singer Blaze Bayley used to be in both...
.
After recording the live album, Jeff Singer announced he was leaving the band. Three months later, Rob Naylor was also leaving. Session drummer Phil Greenhouse and bassist Wayne Banks were hired for the rest of the Tenth Dimension tour until permanent replacements could be found. Guitarist Jason Banks was drafted in for a few gigs at the end of 2003 to cover for John Slater.
At the end of 2003, Blaze began writing material for their third studio album, Blood & Belief
Blood & Belief
-Personnel:*Blaze Bayley – vocals*Steve Wray – guitar*John Slater – guitar*Wayne Banks – bass*Jason Bowld – drums...
. Phil Greenhouse was replaced on drums by Jason Bowld for recording and Dave Knight for touring. The band began to tour for the album shortly after it was released in 2004, but were set back again by the news that John Slater could not perform a large section of the tour. Despite rejoining the band later in the year, Slater eventually left the band in September with Steve Wray to form the band Rise To Addiction
Rise To Addiction
Rise To Addiction is a British heavy metal band formed in 2004 by former Blaze Bayley guitarists John Slater and Steve Wray.A self-titled EP was released on Madman records in 2004 with the help of Harry Armstrong on vocals Rob Naylor on bass, and Ben Calvert on drums.RTA's full touring lineup Rise...
. Bassist Wayne Banks and drummer Dave Knight left the band to join the Robin Gibb
Robin Gibb
Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
band in September 2004.
Blaze performed a number of shows in 2004 and 2005 with the lineup of Bayley, guitarist Oliver Palotai
Oliver Palotai
Oliver Palotai is a heavy metal musician.-Career:He made his name playing keyboards and guitar for Doro and keyboards for Circle II Circle before joining Blaze Bayley's BLAZE as a replacement for founding guitarist John Slater in 2004...
, guitarist Luca Princiotta
Luca Princiotta
Luca Princiotta, born July 12, 1982 in Como, is an Italian guitarist. He began his career playing in the thrash metal band Deathector between 1996 and 1998, before joining the Iron Maiden tribute band The Clairvoyants. His most prominent role to date has been in BLAZE as a replacement for their...
, bassist Nick Douglas, and drummer Daniel Löble
Daniel Löble
Daniel "Dani" Löble is a Swiss-German drummer, who since 2005 has been playing in the legendary power metal band Helloween. Dani began his career with Rawhead Rexx, a band that he helped form but departed due to his new commitments to Helloween. He was also a touring drummer for Blaze Bayley from...
. The two guitarists were eventually kept on as full members. The band's lineup shifted once again when Löble quit to join German power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
early in 2005 and when Douglas returned to another German heavy metal band, Doro
Doro (musician)
Dorothee Pesch , popularly known as Doro Pesch or Doro, is a female rock vocalist, formerly of the German heavy metal band Warlock ....
. The two were replaced by unknown German musicians Daniel Schild and Christian Ammann respectively. With the new line up, Blaze began to work on a fourth studio album for a release in 2007, but in January that year it was announced the entire line-up had to part ways with Bayley due to serious financial matters. Following the lineup change, Bayley opted to rename the band under his name, Blaze Bayley.
Blaze Bayley Band (2007-2011)
In February 2007, Blaze Bayley Band (also known as BBB) added guitarists Nick Bermudez and Rich Newport, bassist Dave Bermudez, and drummer Rico Banderra to the band and recorded the live DVD album Alive in PolandAlive in Poland
Alive in Poland is the fifth release and second live album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, released in 2007. It features mostly the band's original material, though they also play some Iron Maiden and Wolfsbane covers, as lead singer Blaze Bayley used to be in both bands.-Track listing:#...
, released later on that year. Bayley announced that Rich Newport had left the band to pursue a career as a guitar teacher later on that year, and Jay Walsh would replace him onstage for the remainder of the tour. Jay was made a full member of the band in November 2007. Bayley also announced the addition of drummer Lawrence Paterson
Shadowkeep
Shadowkeep is a British heavy metal band, formed in Guildford, England, in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson .-Early recordings, concerts and festival appearances:...
, formerly of British metal bands Chokehold
Chokehold
A chokehold or choke is a general term for grappling hold that critically reduces or prevents either air or blood from passing through the neck of an opponent. The restriction may be of one or both and depends on the hold used and the reaction of the victim...
and Shadowkeep
Shadowkeep
Shadowkeep is a British heavy metal band, formed in Guildford, England, in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson .-Early recordings, concerts and festival appearances:...
at the same time.
In July 2008, Blaze Bayley Band (BBB) released their debut studio album, The Man Who Would Not Die
The Man Who Would Not Die (album)
The Man Who Would Not Die is the fourth studio album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, released in 2008. It is the first studio album released by the band since they changed their name from "Blaze" and the first with the completely new band line-up other than Blaze Bayley himself...
. The album also contained the band's first single, "Robot", despite only being available digitally. It is sometimes regarded as a mini-compilation as it includes many bonus tracks. The band recorded another DVD live at Z7, The Night That Will Not Die
The Night That Will Not Die
The Night That Will Not Die is the second live album with British heavy metal singer Blaze Bayley. It was released on 30 October 2009 and is a 2 CD set containing 21 songs, all recorded on 13 December 2008 at the Z7 concert in Pratteln, Switzerland. It is also the second Live DVD....
, which was released in March 2009. Blaze Bayley announced that the band started recording for their new album on September 28, 2009. A contest was run on the band's forum.The two first people who guessed the title of the new album received a free signed copy. The title was revealed to be Promise and Terror
Promise and Terror
Promise and Terror is the fifth and last studio album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, released in 2010. It is the second studio album released by the band since they changed their name from Blaze...
a few days later.
The 2nd album Promise and Terror
Promise and Terror
Promise and Terror is the fifth and last studio album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, released in 2010. It is the second studio album released by the band since they changed their name from Blaze...
was released on the 1st Feb 2010. Professional reviews have generally been very positive about the album. The album was produced by Jason Edwards.
On Feb 6th 2010 BBB started their 2010 world tour in Dudley UK. They spent the next months playing the UK, France, Italy, Germany before leaving for the South American leg of the tour. They then returned to Europe later in the year.
In May 2010 Larry Paterson
Shadowkeep
Shadowkeep is a British heavy metal band, formed in Guildford, England, in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson .-Early recordings, concerts and festival appearances:...
, the drummer for the band left due to personal and professional reasons, although none were specified. Their manager, Anna, announced her departure from the band. She claimed that the band's idea of where to go next and hers were not in the same direction.
Following the departure of Larry Paterson
Shadowkeep
Shadowkeep is a British heavy metal band, formed in Guildford, England, in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson .-Early recordings, concerts and festival appearances:...
the Blaze Bayley Band engaged Claudio Tirincanti to continue the Promise and Terror
Promise and Terror
Promise and Terror is the fifth and last studio album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, released in 2010. It is the second studio album released by the band since they changed their name from Blaze...
tour.
On July 10, 2010 Blaze Blayley claimed live on stage that his current album was his best-selling as a solo-artist shedding some light on the recent changes in his line-up and management.
On December 18, 2010 they played a Big Bash at JB'S in Dudley Birmingham. Despite the snowy weather the band made it back from mainland Europe to play the show.
The BBB embarked on a short European tour in early 2011 and were supposed to follow that up in May 2011 with more dates in the UK, however on March 29 via his official channels, Blaze Bayley stated that he had to part ways with the band due to both health and financial reasons.
Solo career (March 2011 - Present)
On 31 March 2011, Blaze announced that he would continue as a solo performer working with different musicians. The new official line-up for live gigs features the confirmed Claudio Tirincanti on the drums, old occasional touring member Dave AndrewsDave Andrews
Dave Andrews is an Australian Christian anarchist author, speaker, social activist, community developer, and a key figure in the Waiter's Union, an inner city Christian community network working with Indigenous Australians, refugees and people with disabilities in Australia...
on the guitar, and two Belgian musicians (Steve Deleu and Nick Meganck) respectively on the other guitar and the bass. Alongside the reunion and new recordings of Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane may refer to:* Aconitum, a flowering plant and herb* Wolfsbane , an English heavy metal/hard rock band* Wolfsbane , the 1994 album from Wolfsbane* Wolfsbane , a Marvel Comics superhero...
, Bayley has played a two-week acoustic solo tour in the UK in Sept 2011 with fellow Wolfsbane guitarist Jase Edwards plus a few unplugged gigs in Italy with Andrea Neri on the guitar. Then the singer hit the stages of some summer festivals and after that has been travelling to the USA in October/November 2011 for his first full US Headline tour since his days with Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, supported by North-American musicians. Blaze will finish the Promise and Terror world tour in December 2011 before beginning to write new material.
On the 19th August 2011 Blaze announced that recording of a live Dvd filmed at his show in Antwerp, Belgium on the 23rd September 2011, in which he presented also the first new song with the renewed line-up, called "Black Country".
Main line-up
- Blaze Bayley - VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(March 1999–present) - Dave AndrewsDave Andrews (musician)Dave Andrews is a musician and composer of original music for film based in Buckinghamshire UK. He has toured and played guitar for Wolfsbane frontman and former Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bayley...
- GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(occasionally touring member 2009/2010 also at BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
–present) - Steve Deleu - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(April 2011–present) (also in Fireforce) - Nick Meganck - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(April 2011–present) - Claudio Tirincanti - Drums (May 2010–present) (also in Opposite Sides, Db Stroyer)
Usa line-up
- Blaze Bayley - VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Rick Plester - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(also in Black Simphony) (october 2011-present) - M.G. Jones - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(also in Man the Destroyer) (october 2011-present) - Matt Maclean - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(also in Man the Destroyer) (october 2011-present) - Bill Legue - Drums (also in Man the Destroyer) (october 2011-present)
Other live musicians
-in Italy Blaze Bayley has occasionally performed with the following line-up:- Blaze Bayley - VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Lorenzo Carancini - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Andrea Neri - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(also in Makay) - Simone Massimi - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(also in Makay) - Roberto Pirami - Drums (also in Makay)
-in Istanbul, for the first gig played after the split with BBB, the singer has been supported by Turkish band Apsent
BLAZE mark I
- Blaze Bayley - VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(March 1999– January 2007) - Steve Wray - guitars (March 1999-September 2004)
- John SlaterJohn SlaterJohn Slater may refer to:Business and government*John Fox Slater , American philanthropist, son of John Slater *John Slater , father of John Fox Slater, brother and partner of Samuel Slater...
- guitars (March 1999-September 2004) - Rob Naylor - bass (March 1999-April 2003)
- Jeff SingerJeff SingerJeff Singer is a British musician and former drummer of Paradise Lost.Singer has recorded three albums with Blaze...
- drums (March 1999-January 2003)
BLAZE mark II
- Blaze Bayley - VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(March 1999– January 2007) - Luca PrinciottaLuca PrinciottaLuca Princiotta, born July 12, 1982 in Como, is an Italian guitarist. He began his career playing in the thrash metal band Deathector between 1996 and 1998, before joining the Iron Maiden tribute band The Clairvoyants. His most prominent role to date has been in BLAZE as a replacement for their...
- guitars (October 2004-January 2007) - Oliver PalotaiOliver PalotaiOliver Palotai is a heavy metal musician.-Career:He made his name playing keyboards and guitar for Doro and keyboards for Circle II Circle before joining Blaze Bayley's BLAZE as a replacement for founding guitarist John Slater in 2004...
- guitars (October 2004-January 2007) - Christian Ammann - bass (December 2005-January 2007)
- Daniel Schild - drums (December 2005-January 2007)
Blaze Bayley Band
- Blaze Bayley - VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(March 1999–present) - David Bermudez - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(March 2007–March 2011) - Nico Bermudez - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(March 2007–March 2011) - Jay Walsh - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(November 2007–March 2011 - Lawrence "Larry" PatersonShadowkeepShadowkeep is a British heavy metal band, formed in Guildford, England, in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson .-Early recordings, concerts and festival appearances:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(November 2007–May 2010)
List of all past members
- Steve Wray - guitars (March 1999-September 2004)
- John SlaterJohn SlaterJohn Slater may refer to:Business and government*John Fox Slater , American philanthropist, son of John Slater *John Slater , father of John Fox Slater, brother and partner of Samuel Slater...
- guitars (March 1999-September 2004) - Rob Naylor - bass (March 1999-April 2003)
- Jeff SingerJeff SingerJeff Singer is a British musician and former drummer of Paradise Lost.Singer has recorded three albums with Blaze...
- drums (March 1999-January 2003) - Jason BanksJason BanksJason Ryan Banks is a free agent American football defensive end who last played for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Grambling, and played his high school ball at McKinley Senior...
- guitars (October 2003-January 2004) - Wayne Banks - bass (April 2003-September 2004)
- Nick Douglas - bass (October 2004-December 2005)
- Phil Greenhouse - drums (January–December 2003)
- Jason Bowld - drums (January–September 2004)
- Dave KnightDave KnightDave Knight is an American slalom canoer who competed in the early 1970s. He won a gold medal in the mixed C-2 event at the 1973 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Muotathal.-References:*...
- drums (December 2003-September 2004) - Daniel LöbleDaniel LöbleDaniel "Dani" Löble is a Swiss-German drummer, who since 2005 has been playing in the legendary power metal band Helloween. Dani began his career with Rawhead Rexx, a band that he helped form but departed due to his new commitments to Helloween. He was also a touring drummer for Blaze Bayley from...
- drums (October 2004-December 2005) - Luca PrinciottaLuca PrinciottaLuca Princiotta, born July 12, 1982 in Como, is an Italian guitarist. He began his career playing in the thrash metal band Deathector between 1996 and 1998, before joining the Iron Maiden tribute band The Clairvoyants. His most prominent role to date has been in BLAZE as a replacement for their...
- guitars (October 2004-January 2007) - Oliver PalotaiOliver PalotaiOliver Palotai is a heavy metal musician.-Career:He made his name playing keyboards and guitar for Doro and keyboards for Circle II Circle before joining Blaze Bayley's BLAZE as a replacement for founding guitarist John Slater in 2004...
- guitars (October 2004-January 2007) - Christian Ammann - bass (December 2005-January 2007)
- Daniel Schild - drums (December 2005-January 2007)
- Glyn Sheperd - bass (occasionally touring member 2007)
- Rico Banderra - drums (November 2006-May 2007)
- Rich Newport - guitars (March–November 2007)
- David Bermudez - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(March 2007–March 2011) - Nico Bermudez - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(March 2007–March 2011) - Jay Walsh - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(November 2007–March 2011 - Lawrence "Larry" PatersonShadowkeepShadowkeep is a British heavy metal band, formed in Guildford, England, in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson .-Early recordings, concerts and festival appearances:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(November 2007–May 2010) - Luke Appleton - bass (occasionally touring member 2010)
- Chris Appleton - guitar (occasionally touring member 2010)
- Paul WhitePaul WhitePaul White may refer to:*Paul Dudley White , cardiologist*Paul Frederick White, anaesthesiologist*Paul White , news director of CBS during WWII*Paul White , "Jungle Doctor"...
- Drums (guest live musician 2010)
Wolfsbane
- Live Fast, Die FastLive Fast, Die FastLive Fast, Die Fast: Wicked Tales of Booze, Birds and Bad Language is the debut album by heavy metal band, Wolfsbane. The album was released in 1989 and produced by Rick Rubin for his label Def American.- Track listing :# "Man Hunt" - 2:54# "Shakin'" - 3:41# "Killing Machine" - 2:55# "Fell Out of...
(1989) - All Hell's Breaking Loose Down at Little Kathy Wilson's PlaceAll Hell's Breaking Loose Down at Little Kathy Wilson's PlaceAll Hell's Breaking Loose Down at Little Kathy Wilson's Place is a mini-album by the band Wolfsbane released in 1990. The song "Kathy Wilson" was inspired by the 1953 sci-fi film Invaders From Mars, and features lines from the film voiced by Blaze Bayley.Many of the songs would become firm fan...
(1990) - Down Fall The Good GuysDown Fall the Good GuysDown Fall The Good Guys is the second full length album by the band Wolfsbane. Two singles were released from the album, "Ezy", which got to number 68, and "After Midnight", which did not chart...
(1991) - Massive Noise InjectionMassive Noise InjectionMassive Noise Injection is a live album by the band Wolfsbane recorded at The Marquee, London on 20 February 1993.- Track listing :# "Protect & Survive" - 3:47# "Load Me Down" - 3:02# "Black Lagoon" - 4:54# "Rope & Ride" - 4:08# "Kathy Wilson" - 4:21...
(1993) - WolfsbaneWolfsbane (album)Wolfsbane was the 1994 third eponymous album from British heavy metal band Wolfsbane. Not long after the album's release, vocalist Blaze Bayley took over Bruce Dickinson's position as the lead vocalist for Iron Maiden...
(1994) - Lifestyles of the Broke and ObscureLifestyles of the Broke and ObscureLifestyles of the Broke and Obscure is a compilation album by the band Wolfsbane consisting of the albums Wolfsbane and Massive Noise Injection .- Track listing :Disc One: Wolfsbane# "Wings" - 4.21...
(2001) - Howling Mad Shithead - The Best of Wolfsbane (2010)
- Did it for the Money (EP, 2011)
- Wolfsbane Save the WorldWolfsbane Save the WorldWolfsbane Save the World is an upcoming fourth studio album by the British heavy metal band Wolfsbane, which will be released in January 2012. This will be the first album of new material that Wolfsbane have released since their self-titled album in 1994, although they did record one new song for...
(2011)
Iron Maiden
- The X FactorThe X Factor (album)Initially, The X Factor was met with lukewarm responses from critics. Allmusic rated the album two stars out of five, stating that "suffering from a lack of powerful riffs and tightly written songs, The X Factor is a lackluster latter-day album from Iron Maiden...
(1995) - Best of the BeastBest of the BeastBest of the Beast was Iron Maiden's first "best of" album, released in 1996 in three formats: a 34 track vinyl, a 27 track CD, a 16 track CD and MiniDisc .-Background:...
(1996) - Virtual XIVirtual XIVirtual XI was met with mixed reviews from critics. Allmusic commented that "on the surface, there's nothing terribly wrong with the record, as it delivers all the crunching riffs and demonic horror of their best records. The problem is that there's nothing memorable about the hooks, riffs, or...
(1998)
Studio albums
- Silicon MessiahSilicon MessiahSilicon Messiah is the debut studio album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, then known as Blaze, released in 2000. The South American and Japanese versions of the album include several bonus tracks...
(2000) - Tenth DimensionTenth DimensionTenth Dimension is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, then known as Blaze, released in 2002. It is a concept album.-Track listing:Disc 1# Forgotten Future - 1:02# Kill and Destroy - 4:26# End Dream - 5:13...
(2002) - Blood & BeliefBlood & Belief-Personnel:*Blaze Bayley – vocals*Steve Wray – guitar*John Slater – guitar*Wayne Banks – bass*Jason Bowld – drums...
(2004)
Studio albums
- The Man Who Would Not DieThe Man Who Would Not Die (album)The Man Who Would Not Die is the fourth studio album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, released in 2008. It is the first studio album released by the band since they changed their name from "Blaze" and the first with the completely new band line-up other than Blaze Bayley himself...
(2008) Released on Ltd Ed vinyl Dec 2010 - Promise and TerrorPromise and TerrorPromise and Terror is the fifth and last studio album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, released in 2010. It is the second studio album released by the band since they changed their name from Blaze...
(2010)
DVDs
- Alive in PolandAlive in PolandAlive in Poland is the fifth release and second live album by English heavy metal band Blaze Bayley, released in 2007. It features mostly the band's original material, though they also play some Iron Maiden and Wolfsbane covers, as lead singer Blaze Bayley used to be in both bands.-Track listing:#...
(2007) - The Night That Will Not DieThe Night That Will Not DieThe Night That Will Not Die is the second live album with British heavy metal singer Blaze Bayley. It was released on 30 October 2009 and is a 2 CD set containing 21 songs, all recorded on 13 December 2008 at the Z7 concert in Pratteln, Switzerland. It is also the second Live DVD....
(2009)
Note: Promotional videos were released for the Blood and Belief song "Hollow Head" and the Silicon Messiah song "Ghost in the Machine", but these were originally only made available to fan club members. Later on, the video for "Silicon Messiah" was put on to the second disc of a limited edition of Tenth Dimension along with an EPK titled Inside the Tenth Dimension. The video of "Hollow Head" was only made available worldwide in 2007 and can be found on the Alive in Poland DVD under the "Extras" menu. The video of "Robot" was also released in February 2009.
Guest appearances
- Cerebral FixCerebral FixCerebral Fix are an English thrash/death metal band formed in Birmingham in 1986. They became members of the UK thrash metal and death metal scenes through four albums, three of which were on major labels before finally disbanding in 1993...
- BastardsBastards (Cerebral Fix album)Bastards is the third full-length studio album from English thrash metal band, Cerebral Fix. It is their second on Roadrunner Records and follows Tower of Spite from the previous year....
(1991, vocals on "Smash It Up") - The AlmightyThe Almighty (band)The Almighty are a hard rock/heavy metal band, from Glasgow in Scotland who formed in 1988. They have released seven studio albums, two anthologies and one live album.-1988-1993:...
- Powertrippin (1993, background vocals on "Jesus Loves You ... But I Don't") - Armageddon over Wacken Live 2004 (CD/DVD, 2005, with DoroDoro (musician)Dorothee Pesch , popularly known as Doro Pesch or Doro, is a female rock vocalist, formerly of the German heavy metal band Warlock ....
) - DoroDoro (musician)Dorothee Pesch , popularly known as Doro Pesch or Doro, is a female rock vocalist, formerly of the German heavy metal band Warlock ....
- Classic Diamonds - The DVDClassic Diamonds - The DVDClassic Diamonds - The DVD is a DVD video album by hard rock singer Doro Pesch, released in 2004 by AFM Records. The DVD contains footage from two concerts held during the European tour which followed the release of the studio album Classic Diamonds...
(2004, lead vocals on "Fear of the DarkFear of the Dark (song)"Fear of the Dark" is a song written by Steve Harris, bass player and main songwriter for Iron Maiden, as the title track to Iron Maiden's 1992 album Fear of the Dark...
") - DoroDoro (musician)Dorothee Pesch , popularly known as Doro Pesch or Doro, is a female rock vocalist, formerly of the German heavy metal band Warlock ....
- 20 Years A Warrior Soul (2006, sharing vocals on "Bad Blood" and "All We Are") - Lonewolf - A.O.T.D. (2011)
- Seven - Freedom Call (2011)
- Dragonsclaw - Prophecy (2011)
- SoulSpell (CD, tba)
- DbStroyer (CD, tba)
- Grimskull (CD, tba)
Audio/Video samples
- "Sign of the Cross" - Blaze Bayley singing on the opening track from Iron MaidenIron MaidenIron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
's The X FactorThe X Factor (album)Initially, The X Factor was met with lukewarm responses from critics. Allmusic rated the album two stars out of five, stating that "suffering from a lack of powerful riffs and tightly written songs, The X Factor is a lackluster latter-day album from Iron Maiden...
album.
Blaze singing Wasted Years with Clairvoyants a Tribute band
Blaze singing Trooper with Clairvoyants
Blaze singing Wrathchild with Maiden
Blaze Bayley performing Blackmailer at the 12 Bar Swindonon the 11th Feb 2011.
Blaze Bayley performing Voices from the Past live at the Marrs Bar Worcester England on the 6th Dec 2008
Blaze Singing Wasted Years and The Trooper Acoustic
Personal life
On 14 February 2007, Bayley married Debbie Hartland, his long-time girlfriend, on the island of Gran CanariaGran Canaria
Gran Canaria is the second most populous island of the Canary Islands, with a population of 838,397 which constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago...
. On 6 July 2008, Hartland suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was hospitalised. She died on 27 September 2008, after having suffered a stroke two days before.
Blaze Bayley got engaged on Christmas Day 2010 to his girlfriend Eline.
Bayley in 2011 has announced that he has parted ways with his previous musicians due to financial and medical reasons.