The King of Metal tour (2012)
The King of Metal tour marked Blaze Bayley’s return to the European stage with a full backing band, in support of his highly anticipated album, The King of Metal. Following the album’s release, Blaze set out on a world tour, kicking off with the European leg. Between March 8 and May 27, 2012, he performed in an impressive range of countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Poland, France, Switzerland, Spain, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Wales, and Italy. This tour was his most extensive in several years, showcasing Blaze’s enduring appeal and the dedication of his loyal fanbase. During the tour, Blaze was accompanied by a talented lineup: Matteo "Lehmann" Grazzini on bass, Claudio Tirincanti on drums, Andrea Neri on guitar, and longtime collaborator Thomas Zwijsen on guitar. Together, they delivered a high-energy, dynamic performance, seamlessly blending material from The King of Metal with classic anthems from Blaze’s extensive career, including his time with Iron Maiden and Wolfsbane. Notably, all the songs from The King of Metal were written by Blaze and Zwijsen, with the exception of "The Black Country," co-written with Jase Edwards.
Key Highlights
- Claudio Tirincanti, who drummed on the Promise and Terror tour, continued in the same role during the King of Metal tour. He was the only member from the Promise and Terror era to continue to work with Blaze.
- This also marked the first tour with longtime guitarist Thomas Zwijsen. Zwijsen and Blaze would go on to collaborate on the albums Russian Holiday (2013) and December Winds (2018), in addition to embarking on several acoustic tours together.
- The King of Metal tour was also the only tour during which Blaze performed material from his album King of Metal.
Setlist
The setlist for this performance predominantly highlighted Blaze Bayley’s solo work, with a strong focus on Silicon Messiah (2000) and The King of Metal (2012). Out of the 17 songs performed, five tracks were drawn from The King of Metal, including Dimebag, The King of Metal, The Rainbow Fades to Black, Fate, and Leap of Faith. Silicon Messiah was equally well-represented, contributing five tracks such as The Launch, Ghost in the Machine, Silicon Messiah, Stare at the Sun, and The Brave. While the set placed significant emphasis on Blaze's solo material, it also featured a selection of Iron Maiden classics. Lord of the Flies, The Clansman, Virus, and Man on the Edge were included. Interestingly, for the first time in years, material from The Man Who Would Not Die (2008) and Promise and Terror (2010)—albums that had heavily dominated his setlists for the past five years—was entirely absent from this performance, marking a significant shift in focus towards other material.
Setlist at Mc Pekarna, Maribor, Slovenia, 18 March 2012
- Will to Win – Blood and Belief (2004)
- Lord of the Flies – Iron Maiden cover, The X Factor (1995)
- The Launch – Silicon Messiah (2000)
- Dimebag – The King of Metal (2012)
- Ghost in the Machine – Silicon Messiah (2000)
- The King of Metal – The King of Metal (2012)
- Silicon Messiah – Silicon Messiah (2000)
- The Rainbow Fades to Black – The King of Metal (2012)
- Fate – The King of Metal (2012)
- The Brave – Silicon Messiah (2000)
- The Black Country – The King of Metal (2012)
- Leap of Faith – Tenth Dimension (2002)
- Stare at the Sun – Silicon Messiah (2000)
- The Clansman – (Iron Maiden cover, Virtual XI, 1998)
- Man on the Edge – (Iron Maiden cover, The X Factor, 1995)
- Futureal – (Iron Maiden cover, Virtual XI, 1998)
Encore:
- Virus – (Iron Maiden cover, Best of The Beast, 1996)
Tour Dates
- 12 March: Logo, Hamburg, Germany
- 14 March: KC Novodvorska, Prague, Czech Republic
- 18 March: McPekarna, Maribor, Slovenia
- 20 March: Boogaloo, Zagreb, Croatia
- 23 March: Silver Church, Bucharest, Romania
- 25 March: Club 202, Budapest, Hungary
- 29 March: Faval Music Circus, Brno, Czech Republic
- 02 April: Klub Graffiti, Lublin, Poland
- 04 April: CSW Laznia, Gdansk, Poland
- 07 April: La Scene Bastille, Paris, France
- 14 April: Korigan, Luynes, France
- 18 April: Azkena, Bilbao, Spain
- 21 April: Bar La Gramola, Orihuela, Spain
- 28 April: Little Devil, Tilburg, Netherlands
- 02 May: Grand Central, Manchester, England
- 05 May: Snooty Fox, Wakefield, England
- 08 May: Ivory Blacks, Glasgow, Scotland
- 18 May: Monto Water Rats, London, England
- 20 May: The Public, West Bromwich, England
- 25 May: The Grim Club, Cesa, Italy
- 31 May: Bierbauch, Cologne, Germany
Personnel
- Blaze Bayley – Vocals
- Matteo "Lehmann" Grazzini – Bass
- Claudio Tirincanti – Drums
- Andrea Neri – Guitar
- Thomas Zwijsen – Guitar
