In a new interview with Metal Hammer, former Iron Maiden singer, Blaze Bayley, opens up on the emotional struggles he faced after being let go from the band in 1999. He was replaced by returning singer Bruce Dickinson, who had left the band six years prior. Bayley had joined Maiden following Dickinson's initial departure, and recorded two albums with the metal icons, 1995's The X Factor and 1998's Virtual XI.

"Let’s face it, Bruce Dickinson is the absolute benchmark of what it is to be a heavy metal frontman," Bayley tells Metal Hammer. "He’s one of the greatest singers and performers in any genre of music, and he’s just left your favourite band and they’ve got this idiot from Tamworth in? A lot of fans hated me on principle. There is a percentage of fans that still hate me. There are some people who have never even heard me, but still hate me because I’m not Bruce.”

Read more at Metal Hammer.

Upcoming Blaze Bayley tour dates are listed below. Ticket links can be found at the Blaze Bayley website, here.

October
27 - Bridgwater, UK - Cobblestones

November
3 - Nuneaton, UK - Queens Hall
4 - Oxford, UK - Rabidfest
5 - Bradford, UK - Nightrain
10 - Winchester, UK - The Railway
11 - Milton Keynes, UK - Craufurd Arms

February
3 - Skylite Room - Warrenpoint, Ireland
4 - Bogans Bar - Omagh, Ireland
7 - Voodoo - Belfast, Ireland
8 - Upstairs at Whelan's - Dublin, Ireland
9 - Dolans - Limerick, Ireland
10 - Fred Zeppelins - Cork, Ireland
11 - Cork, Ireland     - Fred Zeppelins
29 - Lille, France - The Black Lab

March
1 - Verviers, Belgium - Spirit Of 66
2 - Nancy, France, Chez Paulette
3 - Lyon, France - Rock'n'Eat
6 - La Rochelle, France - Crossroad
7 - Toulouse, France - L'Uisine Musique
8 - Clermont-Ferrand, France - Chorus
9 - Marseille, France - Jas Rod
13 - Cham, Germany - L.A. Cham    
14 - Vienna, Austria - Viper Room
15 - Pilsen, Czech Republic - Serikovka
17 - Erfurt, Germany - From Hell

April
13 - Huskvarna, Sweden - Huskvarna Metal Fest