IRON MAIDEN fan site (www.maidenfans.com) report that BLAZE frontman/former Maiden vocalist Blaze Bayley recently spoke to Sweden's Metalshrine.se about his battle with alcoholism.
"Yeah, I have had some massive problems," he admitted. "The police phoned my wife and said, 'We have a man unconscious on the street and we think it is your husband.' After that, I had to take a pretty hard look at my life, and think why does that happen? Something inside my made me want to drink myself unconscious to the point of oblivion.
With medication and with seeing a psychiatrist and things like that, I have been able to live a much more satisfied life, I have been a lot more happier and spend less time drunk and more time sober and working on the music and the things that I love, but unfortunately my marriage didn't survive. I survived it, I healed, but the marriage didn't. It's a shame really. You know these things happen.
Metalshrine: You were once new in a band, Iron Maiden, did you learn anything from that experience now when you have two new guys in your band?
Yeah, I suppose. A lot of the feelings I had back then were really uncomfortable, because Iron Maiden was a really big band. I try to keep it with my band to try to be a bit more human about things and basically just have a good time. As long as everybody understands that the single most important thing is the music and doing the best possible show you can for the fans, then that's it. To be doing this and make a living of it is fantastic. Whenever a new person comes in to the band we just try to make them feel comfortable, we all been there, don't worry too much. I'm really proud that the fans we have are so supportive and loyal. It's incredible."
Read the rest of the interview at this location.
As previously reported, Blaze Bayley will be celebrating his birthday at the 15th Anniversary party for Flash Magazine and Metal Shock Magazines 400th issue in Italy on May 29th at Indians Saloon, Bresso, Milan. THE CLAIRVOYANTS, a very popular Italian Iron Maiden tribute band will be performing on the night and Bayley will join them for a few Maiden songs and some Blaze tunes.
The Blaze gig follows hot on the heels of a similar set-up with former STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto, who performed with The Clairvoyants on May 7th. Kotipeltos set list included Maiden classics Aces High, The Trooper, Wasted Years, Flight Of Icarus, Run To The Hills and Running Free, the song Reasons from his new Coldness album, and Forever from the Stratovarius catalogue.
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You know I really like Blaze alot and think he is a great guy. I hope all goes well for him. I look foward to getting the new album.
"Yeah, I have had some massive problems," he admitted. "The police phoned my wife and said, 'We have a man unconscious on the street and we think it is your husband.' After that, I had to take a pretty hard look at my life, and think why does that happen? Something inside my made me want to drink myself unconscious to the point of oblivion.
With medication and with seeing a psychiatrist and things like that, I have been able to live a much more satisfied life, I have been a lot more happier and spend less time drunk and more time sober and working on the music and the things that I love, but unfortunately my marriage didn't survive. I survived it, I healed, but the marriage didn't. It's a shame really. You know these things happen.
Metalshrine: You were once new in a band, Iron Maiden, did you learn anything from that experience now when you have two new guys in your band?
Yeah, I suppose. A lot of the feelings I had back then were really uncomfortable, because Iron Maiden was a really big band. I try to keep it with my band to try to be a bit more human about things and basically just have a good time. As long as everybody understands that the single most important thing is the music and doing the best possible show you can for the fans, then that's it. To be doing this and make a living of it is fantastic. Whenever a new person comes in to the band we just try to make them feel comfortable, we all been there, don't worry too much. I'm really proud that the fans we have are so supportive and loyal. It's incredible."
Read the rest of the interview at this location.
As previously reported, Blaze Bayley will be celebrating his birthday at the 15th Anniversary party for Flash Magazine and Metal Shock Magazines 400th issue in Italy on May 29th at Indians Saloon, Bresso, Milan. THE CLAIRVOYANTS, a very popular Italian Iron Maiden tribute band will be performing on the night and Bayley will join them for a few Maiden songs and some Blaze tunes.
The Blaze gig follows hot on the heels of a similar set-up with former STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto, who performed with The Clairvoyants on May 7th. Kotipeltos set list included Maiden classics Aces High, The Trooper, Wasted Years, Flight Of Icarus, Run To The Hills and Running Free, the song Reasons from his new Coldness album, and Forever from the Stratovarius catalogue.
_________________________
You know I really like Blaze alot and think he is a great guy. I hope all goes well for him. I look foward to getting the new album.