Rockoverdose and Zisis Petkanas had the honor to speak with Blaze Bayley, singer of the reunited Wolfsbane, who became globally famous in 1994 when he replaced Bruce Dickinson in Iron Maiden and releasing two studio albums with them.
Read below what Bayley says for his new releases, for his best moment with Iron Maiden and his love for the Greek fans…
Rockoverdose: Welcome to Rockoverdose.gr Blaze, How are you?
Blaze: Fine. These days I am at the studio where we record the drums. We’ve completed three new songs so far. I am also the producer of the album with a lot of help of course since it’s the first time I produces an album and I really go deep into the songs.
Rockoverdose: You announced that you are doing a massive European tour. How does it feel?
Blaze: It’s the biggest tour I’ve done for years. It’s great. Returning to some of the places and meet the fans again is great. It was hard for me to return with a tour, a good band and possibly with a new album and up until now it goes very well. I am excited. It’s very busy time but I am glad that I can see my fans and play them my new songs.
Rockoverdose: You’ve announced a new line-up for these concerts right?
Blaze: Yes. I do not have a constant line-up and so what I do is to find musicians that I want to work with for the album and they are the guys that follow me on tour. It’s a great feeling so far, to have fantastic musicians in the band and we are very excited that we will go on tour.
Rockoverdose: Would you like to tell us a couple of things about the line-up?
Blaze: Yes I have two guitar players, one bass player and a drummer. One is from Holland, three from Italy and me from England.
Rockoverdose: You mentioned in Facebook that you will record the show in Derby and Bromwich.
Blaze: Yes. I hope it will work. The last two times I tried to record a live show it didn’t go very well. I hope it will work now. It will be close to the end of the tour and we will have played 40 concerts so we can practice.
Rockoverdose: We wish it will come as you want it. Why did you decide to reform Wolfsbane who has been inactive since you went to Iron Maiden?
Blaze: We wanted to make a new album and play some gigs for fun. We have some very good ideas and we wanted to do it. The new album comes out very good and we hope that we will do some shows this year in a couple of summer festivals and some in October and then next year.
Rockoverdose: What are the reactions of the fans today? How do they react to the reunion of Wolfsbane?
Blaze: We have a lot of support which is very good. We would be glad to see you to some of our shows.
Rockoverdose: We’ve been to one of your show in Greece a couple of years ago and we can say that it was one of the most honest show we’ve been. It seems that the years in Iron Maiden haven’t changed you at all.
Blaze: Yes. Actually the true kings of metal are the fans, and that’s why I dedicate my new album to the fans and I named it “The King Of Metal”. Without fans there is no heavy metal. The fans in Greece are so passionate with metal music and that’s why I love playing in Greece. It’s my favorite place in the world to play because fans respect what I do.
Rockoverdose: Of course. Greek fans are the most passionate. Is it true that you are going to tour with Paul Di’ Anno?
Blaze: Yes. I am going to Russia. Someone got me in contact with Paul and he asked me “do you want to come to Russia and sing some songs together?” Actually it will be for some headlining shows and I said that I wanted to do it because my last visit there was awful.
Rockoverdose: Awful?
Blaze: Absolutely awful. We were supposed to play five show and we ended playing two. The others got cancelled because the promoters failed to pay the electricity bills. I thought that it couldn’t go worse. At least now I will have Paul to talk English if something goes wrong. I really want to go to Russia. I have played some shows with my personal band, not with Iron Maiden and that’s why I am really happy to do it.
Rockoverdose: Would you like to tell us a couple of things about the new Wolfsbane album?
Blaze: Well that name of the new album is “Wolfsbane Save The World” and that’s because the world is quite tough and we must gather like wolfs, be united so we can change it.
Rockoverdose: Do you keep in contact with any of the Iron Maiden members?
Blaze: Yes I still talk with Steve Harris. We communicate with e-mails.
Rockoverdose: What was your best moment with Iron Maiden?
Blaze: I believe it was when we were in Greece and I got my first gold records. Madonna was first in charts but “X-Factor” sold more so we went to No 1. So when I was in Iron Maiden, we were first in Greece. That was my best moment.
Rockoverdose: Let’s go to the last question. What do you think about the current music situation? I believe that only small independent companies will survive. What do you believe?
Blaze: That’s what I think as well. I am a heavy metal singer and I have a recording company on my own and that’s in my opinion will be the future of the music. The artists will do everything on their own. I have some people that help me with the concerts but most of the things I do them myself. I produce my music, I am making the announcements and that’s the future I think.
Rockoverdose: Totally agree. Would you like to add anything else before the end of the interview?
Blaze: I would like to say a huge thank you to all my Greek fans. Thank you very much for your support, and thank you because I am still able to be a heavy metal singer. Thank you Greece.
Questions: Apostolos Pantazoglou
Transcription: John "Dr.Feelgood" Koutsosimos
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