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Nicko McBrain explains the difference between Bruce Dickinson and Blaze Bayley

Nicko McBrain and Blaze Bayley

Classic Rock

Nicko McBrain explains the difference between Bruce Dickinson and Blaze Bayley

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After Bruce Dickinson decided to leave Iron Maiden in 1993, they brought in Blaze Bayley from Wolfsbane, with whom they recorded two studio albums: “The X Factor” (1995) and “Virtual XI” (1998). In an interview with Kerrang! to promote the band’s new documentary “Burning Ambition”, the band’s drummer, Nicko McBrain (now retired from touring), reflected on Blaze’s era with the band and what the difference was between him and Bruce.

Nicko McBrain explains the difference between Bruce Dickinson and Blaze Bayley

“For Blaze to replace Bruce was very difficult. Bruce was more soprano than baritone, which is what I think Blaze was, so there was an issue with the fans accepting him and we were playing the small theatres, and played some clubs in Florida. But here’s the thing: it never diminished the spirit of the band. Certain shows Blaze had a struggle with and fans kind of went, ‘Oh, this isn’t really Maiden at their finest,’ but we were still Maiden , we were just a different Maiden . The essence of the band hadn’t changed in the slightest.”

“With Blaze, I loved that guy. I was a father figure to him, I said, ‘I’ll take you under my wing when we go out.’ We spent a lot of time together, and I loved him. At the end, I did have my trepidation, if you like, about some of the performances as we were going down the line into the ‘Virtual XI’ tour, which is documented in the movie. But we never lost the essence of what Iron Maiden was, especially with Steve at the helm. Steve never wavered and was 125,000,000 percent supportive of Blaze, as we all were. But then cracks started to appear. It was looking like, ‘We’ve got to either change this or we aren’t going to survive.’ And then Bruce, obviously (returned) and we know the story of what happened,” Nicko McBrain said.

Next Iron Maiden tour dates

May

  • 23 – Athens, GREECE – OAKA – Anthrax
  • 26 – Sofia, BULGARIA – Vasil Levski Stadium – Anthrax
  • 28 – Bucharest, ROMANIA – Arena Națională – Anthrax
  • 30 – Bratislava, SLOVAKIA – Národný Futbalový Štadión – Anthrax

June

  • 2 – Hannover, GERMANY – Heinz von Heiden Arena – Megadeth
  • 3-6 – Solvesborg, SWEDEN – Sweden Rock
  • 6 – Nurnberg, Zeppelinfield, GERMANY – Rock IM Park
  • 7 – Nurburgring, Nurburg, GERMANY – Rock AM Ring
  • 10 – Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS – Ziggo Dome – Evergrey
  • 13 – Nickelsdorf, AUSTRIA – Nova Rock
  • 14 – Hradec Kralove, CZECH REPUBLIC – Rock For People
  • 17 – Milan, ITALY – San Siro Stadium – Trivium
  • 19 – Clisson, FRANCE – Hellfest
  • 22 – Paris, FRANCE – Paris La Défense Arena – Evergrey
  • 24-27 – Copenhagen, DENMARK – Copenhell
  • 25 – Oslo, NORWAY – Tons of Rock
  • 28 – Lyon – Décines, FRANCE – Groupama Stadium – Anthrax
  • 29 – Antwerp, BELGIUM – Live is Live

July

  • 1-4 – Viveiro, SPAIN – Resurrection Fest
  • 4 – Cartagena, SPAIN – Rock Imperium Festival
  • 7 – Lisbon, PORTUGAL – Estádio da Luz – Anthrax
  • 11 – Knebworth, UK – Knebworth Park – The Darkness, The Hu, Airbourne + The Almighty

August

  • 29 – Toronto, ON, CANADA – Scotiabank Arena – Megadeth
  • 30 – Toronto, ON, CANADA – Scotiabank Arena – Megadet

September

  • 3 – Montréal, QC, CANADA – Parc Jean-Drapeau – Megadeth + Anthrax
  • 5 – Harrison, NJ, USA – Sports Illustrated Stadium – Megadeth + Anthrax
  • 6 – Harrison, NJ, USA – Sports Illustrated Stadium – Megadeth + Anthrax
  • 9 – Boston, MA, USA – TD Garden – Megadeth
  • 11 – Bristow, VA, USA – Jiffy Lube Live – Megadeth
  • 12 – Charlotte, NC, USA – PNC Music Pavilion – Megadeth
  • 15 – Hershey, PA, USA – Hersheypark Stadium – Megadeth
  • 17 – Louisville, KY, USA – Louder Than Life Festival
  • 19 – Shakopee, MN, USA – Mystic Lake Amphitheater – Megadeth
  • 22 – Chicago, IL, USA – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre – Megadeth
  • 25 – Los Angeles, CA, USA – BMO Stadium – Megadeth + Anthrax
  • 26 – Los Angeles, CA, USA – BMO Stadium – Megadeth + Anthrax
  • 29 – San Antonio, TX, USA – Alamodome – Megadeth + Anthrax

October

  • 2 – Mexico City, MEXICO – Estadio GNP Seguros – Anthrax
  • 5 – San Salvador, EL SALVADOR – Estadio Jorge “Mágico” González – The Raven Age + Souls of Steel
  • 8 – San José, COSTA RICA – Estadio Nacional – The Raven Age
  • 11 – Bogotá, COLOMBIA – Vive Claro – The Raven Age
  • 14 – Quito, ECUADOR – Estadio Atahualpa – The Raven Age
  • 17 – Lima, PERU – Estadio Nacional – The Raven Age
  • 20 – Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA – Estadio Hurácan – LA H NO MURIÓ
  • 25 – São Paulo, BRAZIL – Allianz Parque – Alter Bridge
  • 31 – Santiago, CHILE – Estadio Nacional – Mammoth + Nuclear

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I'm a Brazilian journalist who always loved Classic Rock and Heavy Metal music. That passion inspired me to create Rock and Roll Garage over 6 years ago. Music has always been a part of my life, helping me through tough times and being a support to celebrate the good ones. When I became a journalist, I knew I wanted to write about my passions. After graduating in journalism from the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, I pursued a postgraduate degree in digital communication at the same institution. The studies and experience in the field helped me improve the website and always bring the best of classic rock to the world! MTB: 0021377/MG

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