In the latest episode of the 80's Glam Metalcast, former Iron Maiden vocalist Blaze Bayley discusses his new album, War Within Me. He also talks about Wolfsbane and his audition and time Iron Maiden.

On his new album War Within Me

Blaze: "With this album, I wanted to do something that was overtly positive. Something that was personal to me, about my problems with depression and a self destructive nature..but something that also says that I can do something about this, I don’t have to be a victim of circumstances. I can make some changes. That’s what I put in the lyrics of many of the songs on the album. I think it came out pretty good. Some of the words and phrases I used in the dark times, I’ve used in the lyrics for songs like 'War Within Me', 'Pull Yourself Up', and 'Warrior'. It’s seemed to work out well. The luxury that I have, is the album was out before the tour. Many fans have had a chance to listen to it quite a bit. My fans are singing along to those new songs just like they sing to the old ones. That’s a great feeling! A feeling that’s so good, I don’t want the government to find out about it because they’ll tax it!" 

On auditioning for Iron Maiden 

Blaze: "They held a lot of auditions and had a lot of tapes, and they already had my CDs. I asked for an audition and I got it. I really thought they’d be going for someone that sounded like Bruce. Bruce Dickinson is a very influential metal singer, and there’s a lot of singers that sounded similar to him because of that influence. I don’t know why, but I think they choose me because I was different. I was shocked, because I didn’t think I would get it. 

It was an audition of 10 songs that were almost always in the setlist. Songs like 'Fear Of The Dark', 'The Trooper', and 'Hallowed Be Thy Name'. I thought for an hour, I am the singer of Iron Maiden, and no one can take that away from me. That’s how I approached it, there was nothing more I could do. There’s no more preparation. If I mess up, it’s over. I knew all the parts because I was a huge fan. I felt I did okay. Then there was a second audition where they record your voice to see how you are going to be in the studio, which is very smart. I asked Steve Harris if I could get a tape of me singing with the backing track of the band. He said 'If you don’t get in, we’ll send you a tape of the bloke who did,' which I thought was very harsh! A few weeks later I got a phone call that I was in. It was like a roller coaster ride after that, so intense!" 

On how his era in Iron Maiden is looked at and his thoughts on the band today 

Blaze: "It’s the girlfriend situation. It’s where your favorite singer leaves your favorite band... it’s heartbreaking! It’s like you break up with your girlfriend and you see her with a guy who’s taller, slimmer, and has better hair than you the next week. I understand how fans would feel. A lot of fans from that era absolutely hate me, and that won’t change. Some fans listen to The X Factor and say Bruce sounds so different on this one! If their lucky, they find out it’s a completely different singer and they go down the Blaze Bayley rabbit hole! Maiden still plays some songs from my era because they are a real band, that makes real music. 

We were all 100% committed at the time. To not acknowledge that era of change is to say 'It wasn’t our choice, we didn’t really like it,' and 'We didn’t give it 100%.' Maiden put those songs in their set and do songs from every album (including the first two with Paul Di’Anno and my two) because everything is done with heart. Everything is done with passion. You would never hear them say 'We just did those albums for the money.' That’s not Iron Maiden. Iron Maiden is passion and it’s all about the music. They don’t compromise and they don’t give in to anybody’s idea of what Maiden should or shouldn’t be.... and that’s why we love them! I am so lucky. I’ve been at the very top of my profession in what I consider to be the greatest heavy metal band of all time. They are really one of the greatest bands in the history of music, right there along side Led Zeppelin and The Who." 

Bayley released his 11th studio album, War Within Me, on April 9th. It was recorded during 2020 with work split between Blaze’s studio at home in the West Midlands and Christopher Appleton’s studio in Greater Manchester. The now very consistent line-up, chosen from British metal band Absolva, played on the album - Christopher Appleton (guitar, backing vocals), Martin McNee (drums), Karl Schramm (bass). Blaze and Appleton shared the work mixing and producing, whilst Ade Emsley (Iron Maiden, Tank, British Lion, Voodoo Six) handled the mastering.

The album features art design by Akirant Illustration.

Tracklisting:

"War Within Me"
"303"
"Warrior"
"Pull Yourself Up"
"Witches Night"
"18 Flights"
"The Dream Of Alan Turing"
"The Power Of Nikola Tesla"
"The Unstoppable Stephen Hawking"
"Every Storm Ends"