Blaze Bayley among the most humble musicians

[ShadowWalker]

I saw Blaze Bayley for the second time in three weeks and I am impressed at just how humble this man is. Three weeks ago, I went up to NJ to see MindMaze, who was opening for him. My only knowledge of his music was his two Maiden albums, which I never really listened to. But he put on a great show and I picked up the two CDs he had on sale at the show and two more at Vintage Vinyl the day after. Been digging his music. The MindMaze guitarist posted after the show how he approached them to buy a CD from them, and when they tried to just give it, he insisted he pay. Clearly a working musician understanding that other working musicians need to make money as well.

Fast forward to three weeks later. This time, I go to the show outside of Baltimore to support him. More of his music was added to the collection (which is now complete, not counting his Wolfsbane material and assorted guest appearances). I miss the first three openers and catch A Sound of Thunder's set. Before their set, Blaze is milling about, talking to fans, signing autographs, taking pictures and being generally approachable. I get my X Factor and Virtual XI booklets signed. After A Sound of Thunder's set, I go to their merch table to buy a couple of CDs and a graphic novel. As I am closing the transaction with that band's lead singer, Blaze comes up and lets her know that while the table was unmanned, he sold a CD for them while he was standing near it and passed along the money from the sale.

Seeing a headlining musician who once fronted one of the most popular metal bands of all time doing the little things to help the local bands was cool. He clearly gets it. How many headlining acts would help man the merch table of the local support band? Just a really cool interaction to witness. He is the kind of musician I will continue to support, even if the music doesn't resonate with me. Luckily for me, I have been thoroughly enjoying his solo material. 

[El Barto]

Blaze is an awesome guy. He's definitely been humbled by life, but he's of such character that he wears it really well. We saw him play down here for the Survive and Endure tour. He played a shithole on the far side of Ft. Worth where at most 20 people showed up, and a few of them were regulars sitting at the back. When the band came out he huddled them at the back of the stage for a minute or so, most likely telling them that we deserve the same show they'd play for 500, and then put on a damn fine set. It was both thrilling and depressing at the same time. More people should appreciate the guy. It was really unfortunate, as had he played in Dallas he would have gotten a decent turnout. His promoter really screwed him on his Texas tour.

Also, his band is great. Bass and drums are super tight, and Chris Appleton is fantastic.

[cramx3]

I've always liked Blaze, I should have gone to that NJ show but I didn't find out about it until too late. 

[nobloodyname]

He's as down to earth as they come. Genuinely nice person, just about making a living as a musician.

[Stadler]

As I am closing the transaction with that band's lead singer, Blaze comes up and lets her know that while the table was unmanned, he sold a CD for them while he was standing near it and passed along the money from the sale.

I'm not the biggest fan of the music, but very much a fan of the man.  This is the kind of thing that would make me buy the music just because and go to the gig just because.  That's one of the coolest things I've ever heard.

[Samsara]

As I am closing the transaction with that band's lead singer, Blaze comes up and lets her know that while the table was unmanned, he sold a CD for them while he was standing near it and passed along the money from the sale.

I'm not the biggest fan of the music, but very much a fan of the man.  This is the kind of thing that would make me buy the music just because and go to the gig just because.  That's one of the coolest things I've ever heard.

Bingo. If he ever plays out by me again, I plan to make an effort to be there. Because someone who does that deserves the support. I like the music enough that making an effort to go and support someone who does things like that is an easy call.

[El Barto]

As I am closing the transaction with that band's lead singer, Blaze comes up and lets her know that while the table was unmanned, he sold a CD for them while he was standing near it and passed along the money from the sale.

I'm not the biggest fan of the music, but very much a fan of the man.  This is the kind of thing that would make me buy the music just because and go to the gig just because.  That's one of the coolest things I've ever heard.

Bingo. If he ever plays out by me again, I plan to make an effort to be there. Because someone who does that deserves the support. I like the music enough that making an effort to go and support someone who does things like that is an easy call.

And buy a shirt while you're there. I've worn mine to a couple of shows just to try and keep the guy in public realm. And like I said, the man puts on a great show, so it's not like it's charity or anything.

[Mladen]

I saw Blaze thrice, and every single time he hung around for a while signing stuff and taking photos. He once just sat at the edge of the stage right after the show and allowed fans approach him. He's truly an amazing guy.

Oh yeah, lets not forget he's a awesome singer who added a lot of personality to Maiden's The X Factor and whose solo material is pretty much constantly good.

[Grappler]

  SILICON MESSIAH 

I love Blaze.  Always have, even though his Maiden albums are fairly low on my list, they still have some fantastic songs and I'm glad that he continues to play them.  His solo albums are always rocking.

Luke Appleton (Iced Earth) will be joining his brother (Chris) in Blaze's band this summer for their festival sets, where Blaze will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of his joining Iron Maiden by playing a large group of his songs from that era.

[ShadowWalker]

And buy a shirt while you're there. I've worn mine to a couple of shows just to try and keep the guy in public realm. And like I said, the man puts on a great show, so it's not like it's charity or anything.

I did. There wasn't anything left that I wanted to buy at the second show (I bought the tour shirt along with the two CDs he was selling at the first gig I went to) so I went to his website and purchased an older tour shirt to add to the collection and throw a little more support his way. I thought about buying the CDs I didn't have yet there too, but with everything, plus the exchange rate to the UK and shipping, it was getting a cost prohibitive. So I just stuck with the t-shirt. Since he has no label, I figure he will still get money from the sales through Amazon and iTunes that I picked up to fill in the blanks in my collection.

I kinda wish I was in Europe for one of the festival gigs where he is going an all-Maiden set from his two albums. I got to hear him do four songs (Virus, Man on the Edge, Futureal, Lord of the Flies) and they, in their own way, sounded better than the original Maiden recordings. Hoping one of the sets gets recorded for release.

[cramx3]

I kinda wish I was in Europe for one of the festival gigs where he is going an all-Maiden set from his two albums. I got to hear him do four songs (Virus, Man on the Edge, Futureal, Lord of the Flies) and they, in their own way, sounded better than the original Maiden recordings. Hoping one of the sets gets recorded for release.

Those may be the four songs where his voice works really well with it compared to the other IM tracks where I think Bruce works better.  Bruce even sang Man on the Edge, Futureal and Lord of the Flies in live performances and none sounded as good as with Blaze.

[El Barto]

I kinda wish I was in Europe for one of the festival gigs where he is going an all-Maiden set from his two albums. I got to hear him do four songs (Virus, Man on the Edge, Futureal, Lord of the Flies) and they, in their own way, sounded better than the original Maiden recordings. Hoping one of the sets gets recorded for release.

Those may be the four songs where his voice works really well with it compared to the other IM tracks where I think Bruce works better.  Bruce even sang Man on the Edge, Futureal and Lord of the Flies in live performances and none sounded as good as with Blaze.

Sign of the Cross is definitely a Blaze song. Bruce sings it just fine, but Blaze has more "attitude." The other epic Blaze song is Clansman, but I think Bruce might sing it better. He belts out the "freedoms" harder than blaze.

And it occurs to me that I've heard both singers sing plenty of the same songs, including both of those.

[TAC]

My favorite Blaze Bayley album is Promise And Terror. That suite at the end of the album about his wife's death is breathtaking.

[cramx3]

I kinda wish I was in Europe for one of the festival gigs where he is going an all-Maiden set from his two albums. I got to hear him do four songs (Virus, Man on the Edge, Futureal, Lord of the Flies) and they, in their own way, sounded better than the original Maiden recordings. Hoping one of the sets gets recorded for release.

Those may be the four songs where his voice works really well with it compared to the other IM tracks where I think Bruce works better.  Bruce even sang Man on the Edge, Futureal and Lord of the Flies in live performances and none sounded as good as with Blaze.

Sign of the Cross is definitely a Blaze song. Bruce sings it just fine, but Blaze has more "attitude." The other epic Blaze song is Clansman, but I think Bruce might sing it better. He belts out the "freedoms" harder than blaze.

And it occurs to me that I've heard both singers sing plenty of the same songs, including both of those.

We'll agree to disagre on Sign of the Cross.  Blaze isn't bad or anything negative on that one, but I just like Bruce better on it, and the Clansman as well.  I'm not sure there are other Blaze era songs Bruce has sung though?  Although I'm not sure Blaze sounds better on any Bruce songs, I never thought his voice was good for those songs although there were some he was solid with.  I'm thinking Afraid to Shoot Strangers might have been one, Heaven Can Wait.... I forget which others I may have enjoyed since it's been awhile since I listened to IM bootlegs with Blaze.

[wolfking]

I've been a massive fan of him since I heard the XFactor back when I was a young teen.  His solo albums are amazing but the last few I've struggled to like.

He has had such adversity and challenges but his Will to Win attitude and fight to get going with a smile on his face is remarkable.  Reading that OP doesn't surprise me, he is a champ of a man.

We share the same birthday too! 

[TAC]

he is a champ of a man.

We share the same birthday too! 

Birthday of Champions!

[wolfking]

he is a champ of a man.

We share the same birthday too! 

Birthday of Champions!

    

[Mladen]

My favorite Blaze Bayley album is Promise And Terror. That suite at the end of the album about his wife's death is breathtaking.

This one is my favorite as well. Despite its brutality, it's also gorgeous in terms of tunes and choruses.

[wolfking]

I've always loved The Man Who Would Not Die.  Raw, lots of variety, heavy and lots of good songs. 

[Grappler]

I always love The Man Who Would Not Die.  Raw, lots of variety, heavy and lots of good songs.

Silicon Messiah is my favorite, but this one likely comes in at #2.  I was surprised at how heavy the album was when I first heard it.

[Stadler]

I kinda wish I was in Europe for one of the festival gigs where he is going an all-Maiden set from his two albums. I got to hear him do four songs (Virus, Man on the Edge, Futureal, Lord of the Flies) and they, in their own way, sounded better than the original Maiden recordings. Hoping one of the sets gets recorded for release.

Those may be the four songs where his voice works really well with it compared to the other IM tracks where I think Bruce works better.  Bruce even sang Man on the Edge, Futureal and Lord of the Flies in live performances and none sounded as good as with Blaze.

Sign of the Cross is definitely a Blaze song. Bruce sings it just fine, but Blaze has more "attitude." The other epic Blaze song is Clansman, but I think Bruce might sing it better. He belts out the "freedoms" harder than blaze.

And it occurs to me that I've heard both singers sing plenty of the same songs, including both of those.

Huh.  I've heard Bruce do The Clansmen (EXCELLENT!) but the thing I'm waiting for most on this tour (I'm seeing them in August) is Sign Of The Cross.   

(By the way, not talking about CDs or live cuts, I'm talking in person). 

[Art]

Blaze is an awesome guy, i saw him 4 times and he was an incredibly humble guy all the times. Puts on a great show, too. My favorite is Silicon Messiah.