JudasMyGuide
The incorrigible papist
I have only listened to a couple of the new tracks so far, I think I like the songs, but I agree it sounds horrible.
I just don't agree with that. He could have been promoted far better than he was. Instead he was buried with no fanfare.
They didn't treat him like he was Iron Maiden's ex-vocalist, they treated him like he was Wolfsbane's ex-vocalist. Which maybe is how good he is, but that doesn't mean he didn't deserve at least a push.
bearfan
Ancient Mariner
I'm not really sure how much that would have mattered ...I just doubt there was all that much interest
Look at the timing:
Silicon Messiah was released on May 22, 2000.
Brave New World was released on May 29, 2000.
Blaze could have generated a lot of buzz if his release date was a little more staggered - or if he was on tour with Maiden for the BNW tour. Neither was true. And Silicon Messiah was a great album, easily his best. Tenth Dimension was quite good too. Then he lost his band, and since then, people always say, "lyrically, it's interesting, but musically..."
bearfan
Ancient Mariner
The release date could work either way, you could have Maiden fans show up at a record store (when we still did that) and see the Blaze album sitting on the shelf and pick up both. Him touring with Maiden would have been a poor idea IMO, part of any possibly draw on a Blaze tour is hearing some Maiden songs and it would not have worked well playing Maiden songs to open for Maiden.
I really do not mean to bash on Blaze, he seems like a good guy, it was not his fault his Maiden stint did not go as well as was expected, he handled the breakup with total class (and still does), he certainly has had his share of bad luck ... but I think he vastly overestimated his draw as a solo artist (and overspent on the first album). There is just not much of a market for him (solo) and there never really was. The best parallel for him is Paul Dianno as far as interest in him as a solo act.
JudasMyGuide
The incorrigible papist
Wow, now that's a bit too harsh. IIRC, even though I didn't listen to him at the time, there was a serious buzz around his work up to somewhere around TMWWND/Promise and Terror. I actually remember reading some review in a net magazine saying something like he was the most consistent and probably one of the best "just heavy metal" artists at the time. Also many people whom I talked to about him said that though they didn't like him in Maiden, his solo career is excellent.
The point is, unlike Dianno I think Blaze has proven himself to be a real artist and - outside his stint in Maiden - I come across people who actually like him. So his absurdly low sales and concert attendance baffles me a bit.
bearfan
Ancient Mariner
I think you are right here, I am talking about market interest, not quality of work (or as a person)
JudasMyGuide
The incorrigible papist
I know, what I wanted to say is that - from my admittedly limited subjective experience - I have met/read about enough people who would be willing to pay medium-priced ticket to see Blaze live (and they might not even know how hard he tries to be good in concerts), compared to many people I've met who wouldn't go see Dianno even for free. Not taking any sides, just saying that Blaze IMHO definitely has a better name than Paul.
bearfan
Ancient Mariner
Fair point, what I was thinking was more along the lines of them being at similar points in their career. Say Paul when Maiden was releasing NOTB through Blaze joining Maiden versus Blaze from BNW through now.
TheTalisman
Ancient Mariner
There is nothing wrong with Blood and Belief at all musically, I even think that it is stronger than Tenth Dimension. My opinion is that it is an album which has potential to grow a lot if you give it a real chance. There are no double tracking on the guitars and no backing vocals on it, which makes the sound more close to the style of As Live As It Gets, than the two previous releases.
Both guitarists, Steve Wray and John Slater, stayed in the band to record that album before leaving. It was the last album produced by Andy Sneap as well. Jason Bowld came in and did the drums for them this time, and I think that he did it excellent.
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Forostar
Ancient Mariner
I'd say Blood and Belief contains his best vocal performance of all records he ever sang on. And the sound of the album and most of the songs are excellent. One but best Blaze album, at times even the best.
Hardly anyone talks about it. Very weird. Maybe it's overlooked out here.
Hardly anyone talks about it. Very weird. Maybe it's overlooked out here.
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Honestly if I was going to the record store to pick up the new Maiden and saw Blaze had a new album out, I probably would've picked up both. Or at least gone home and streamed it or something when I needed a break from Maiden. It could go either way but I don't think the label was purposely trying to harpoon his album, they probably figured most people would check out both and that releasing them in close proximity would help raise awareness of it. I just don't see why they would want to ruin the album in the first place, it's not like there was any realistic chance of him stealing sales from Maiden (I highly doubt anybody who bought Silicon Messiah back then didn't buy BNW too), and either way its the same label so they would only lose money by sabotaging him.
I agree putting him on tour with Maiden would've been a great move and I have no idea why they didn't do that. It seems like the only promotional move that would've actually worked for him: Show him off in a setting that fits his singing style more.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
I bought both albums. Maybe "some" other people did not have faith in Blaze and didn't try it. The Maiden album might have put an extra shadow over Silicon Messiah, for these people specifically. Did those people make a dumb choice by ignoring it? Yes they did. I've hardly (or never!) heard people say bad things about the early Blaze albums. These albums were (and still are) simply ignored by a mass of people who didn't have a clue of what Blaze was capable of.
Well that's the issue, if you disliked or merely tolerated the albums he did with Maiden, why even bother with his solo albums? That's why he needed an opening slot with Maiden to really prove his worth to the naysayers.
I think even if you don't like X Factor or Virtual XI, any Maiden fan can at least enjoy Silicon Messiah. I've seen people who the Maiden albums but love SM.
I think even if you don't like X Factor or Virtual XI, any Maiden fan can at least enjoy Silicon Messiah. I've seen people who the Maiden albums but love SM.
bearfan
Ancient Mariner
If he was trying to establish his own non-Maiden identity .. and let's face it, a lot of people did not care for him on those albums .. maybe he wanted to disassociate himself from them. You never saw Bruce open for them and I strongly doubt he would have wanted to if offered.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
Some Maiden association. 
Steve Harris making a guest performance with BLAZE on their Silicon Messiah World Tour, in December of 2000:
bearfan
Ancient Mariner
I think it really comes down to .. how many people were really wanting/looking forward to a Blaze Bayley solo effort? I think that number was quite low, which is what he sold. His name did not really cover much weight, he would have been better off reforming Wolfsbane or creating some new band (not with his name on it). Maybe you could point to a thing here or there that might have promoted it more, but really what label was going to invest heavily in him? Like I said, I think he unfairly got too much blame for Maiden's downfall during his tenure, but he had that tag and honestly, I think there are many Maiden fans like me that can point to good songs on those albums, but Blaze's vocals are not really a big draw. If you like them .. cool, to each his own.
Bruce did not get massive (nowhere near Maiden-level) promotion and he was held in much higher regard.
Bruce did not get massive (nowhere near Maiden-level) promotion and he was held in much higher regard.