AncientMariner_Essex
Ancient Mariner
I think when people refer to Steve wanting to forget some of the 90’s I don’t think they are specifically referring to just the blaze years.Steve's not a fool, he knows the 90's, and specifically when Blaze was in the band, was not Maiden's heyday, but beyond that, I would say, no other band leader has been prepared to stand over their lesser periods as much as Steve stands over the Blaze era. If anything he has often been referred to as being stubborn in that regard.
You are right that Steve stands over the Blaze years proudly and rightly so. The issues with the 90’s period that maybe the band doesn’t want to dwell on is the whole Bruce leaving affair. When Bruce announced he was leaving but then still did the FOTD tour that must have been so awkward for the band to go out every night with a singer they know doesn’t want to be there.
I remember in the uk press around this time there was a lot of mud slinging and name calling. Steve once said in an interview “Bruce would record a country and western album if he thought it would sell” lol. The band all accused Bruce of putting no effort in during the tour and mumbling words on stage and only ever put effort in if cameras were filming like at Donnington.
That’s the 90’s stuff that Steve and the band don’t want to drag up. Plus Steve was in a dark place going through a divorce. The band ploughed on with Blaze but I imagine it was tough when a lot of fans and press were unkind about blaze and the band were playing small venues and album sales were low.
Then the band had to deal with firing Blaze which couldn’t have been easy as I recall Steve has said he was happy for him to stay but other members of the band wanted him out.
Steve might stand by the blaze years but the 90’s was the decade of un rest and un happiness within the band, more than any other time in their history.
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