i like vxi, but i agree it was a step backwards from X by going a more metal radio friendly less dark route. i didnt have high expectations with bruce returning. the band had been doing the same kind of albums and the same show with different stage sets and a different bruce rant inserted. i was happily surprised by BNW-now we have the dance of drivel and an album even crapier than their previous worse-NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING!
as far as steve and the other guys knowing if they continued with blaze blablabla-that's bullshit! no matter how many times antiblaze folks want to tell their version it's fairly common knowledge now that the band was trying to go public and sell bowie-bonds and their japanese backers suggested bringing bruce back would boister sales. blaze's health problems caused cancelled shows on both tours he was on which wasnt a good selling point. bruce and adrian were still part of maiden holdings so they came back for the big bucks and blaze got a wad of severance pay.
the dod tour didnt sell out in ny or la-both of blazes tours with them were more successful. i think it should be fairly obvious to everyone (except rod...)
that if the band is going to quit touring and only release albums they better rethink their album production before releaseing more crap like dod.
from their own words and actions i think if we see 2 more studio releases from maiden that will be the end-if the next is like dod 1 more will be 1 too many.
