British metal singer Blaze Bayley has been inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame, where he now sits alongside the likes of Judas Priest and the late great Ronnie James Dio who was Blaze’s earliest influence prompting his ambition to be a heavy metal singer.
Amongst his fellow inductees in the recent ‘virtual’ ceremony were Paul Di’Anno and Derek Riggs (like Blaze, both members of the Iron Maiden family) plus members of KISS, Triumph, Stryper and also Marty Friedman.
Blaze says… ‘This is wonderful for me to be inducted into the same Hall of Fame as Ronnie James Dio, my inspiration. Thank you very very much indeed’
Blaze recently released a lyric video for the title track from his critically acclaimed ‘War Within Me’ album released in April this year, celebrating a return to playing live shows with a UK tour now in course with the following 2021 dates coming up…
September
17: Carlisle, Brickyard
18: Blackpool, Waterloo
19: Stoke, Eleven
24: Norwich, Waterfront
25: Sheffield, Corporation
October
15: Winchester, Railway
16: London, Underworld
November
14: Trecco Bay, Planet RockStock
24: Glasgow, Ivory Blacks
25: Newcastle, Trillians
26: Grimsby, Yardbirds
27: Manchester, Club Academy
December
10: Peterborough, Met Lounge
11: Wolverhampton, KK’s Steel Mill
Blaze started his career in Wolfsbane before being poached in 1994 as the new singer in Iron Maiden, a position he held until Bruce Dickinson’s return in 1999. He subsequently carved out a solo career for himself, proving especially prolific with 7 releases (4 studio, 2 live, 1 acoustic) during the past five years sparked by the success of his Infinite Entanglement trilogy. The latest in his now impressive body of work is ‘War Within Me’ which has attracted very positive media comments, for example…
‘His best to date… hints of Iron Maiden and the precision of classic Megadeth’
Malcolm Dome, Metal Hammer
‘Blaze Bayley is making the best music of his career right now, and War Within Me is an object lesson in passion and potency’
Dom Lawson, Blabbermouth
Blaze is joined on the UK tour by special guests Absolva who have made a name for themselves in their own right as melodic British metal exponents, whilst doubling as Blaze’s backing band from 2013 to present date. Absolva frontman/guitarist Christopher Appleton is also Blaze’s co-writer and co-producer.
Looking ahead to 2022 there is a European Tour planned with several dates already announced, and more to come, whilst the release schedule is awaiting further confirmation soon.
Blaze’s website is www.blazebayley.net
To view the ‘War Within Me’ lyric video https://youtu.be/b_GwQlMGPfk
The Metal Hall of Fame virtual ceremony https://volume.com/metalhalloffame/ – click on ‘past streams’ and you’ll see the link to Metal Hall of Fame / watch the entire ceremony or fast forward to 1 hour 40 mins for the Iron Maiden section)
Absolva’s website www.absolva.com
