07-SMS:A1L
Educated Fool
I'm going to be diving deep into Blaze Bayley's complete touring history! I feel like his extensive touring history doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.
Might be one of the best songs in the BLAZE discography. Saw Blaze play it during a acoustic show in 2011.Life and Death performed in 2004 with an orchestra.
The BLAZE albums are great, and Tenth Dimension and Blood & Belief in particular. Not to shit on Silicon Messiah, but I think it suffers a bit from the Powerslave syndrome, with a heavy back and front and, by comparison, a meandering middle. I do wish he'd play more BLAZE tracks live nowadays, as there have been many Maiden-heavy sets the past 8 or so years.I agree. Steve Wray and John Slater certainly wrote some good melodies and riffs for Blaze.
The Big Bash in 2004 was recorded for a DVD but was never released. I would love to see the footage from this show.Blood and Belief tour (2003)
The Blood and Belief tour was Blaze Bayley’s third major solo tour following his departure from Iron Maiden in 1999. It was designed to promote his third studio album, Blood and Belief, which was released in 2004. The album marked a significant shift in Blaze's musical direction, featuring more personal and emotional themes compared to the science fiction-focused concepts of his previous two albums. The tour lasted a little over a year, spanning from early to late 2004, and included around 39 shows. Blaze performed a mix of headlining gigs and support slots, offering fans a powerful mix of new material alongside fan favorites from his earlier solo albums. Blaze Bayley’s band underwent significant turmoil, particularly after the release of their first live album, As Live as It Gets, in 2003. The album had garnered positive reviews, but soon after its release, the band faced a series of challenges that led to significant lineup changes. These issues stemmed from both financial problems and disputes with their record company, ultimately causing instability within the group. The first major shift came when Jeff Singer, the band's drummer, announced he was leaving after the live album was recorded. Not long after, Rob Naylor, the bassist, also decided to depart, which further compounded the band’s difficulties. In response, Blaze recruited Phil Greenhouse as a session drummer and Wayne Banks as a session bassist to fill in for the remainder of the Tenth Dimension tour. To cover for John Slater, the band’s lead guitarist, who was temporarily absent due to personal reasons, Jason Banks was drafted in for several shows at the end of 2003. Despite these changes, Blaze and his band pressed forward, and at the end of 2003, Blaze began writing material for their third studio album, Blood & Belief. During the recording process, Phil Greenhouse was replaced by Jason Bowld on drums, and Dave Knight was brought in as the new touring drummer. These changes solidified the new lineup, which was set to begin touring in 2004 to promote the album. However, the Blood & Belief tour was not without its setbacks. John Slater was once again unable to perform for a significant portion of the tour, and although he rejoined the band later, he eventually left in September 2004 to form a new project called Rise to Addiction with Steve Wray. This departure, coupled with the news that Wayne Banks and Dave Knight were leaving the band to join the Robin Gibb band, created further instability for Blaze. The band’s lineup was in flux once again, but Blaze continued to push forward. To maintain momentum, Blaze forged ahead with a new lineup that included himself on vocals, Oliver Palotai and Luca Princiotta on guitars, Nick Douglas on bass, and Daniel Löble on drums. This configuration played several shows throughout 2004 and into 2005. However, once again, the band saw lineup changes. Daniel Löble left in early 2005 to join Helloween, and Nick Douglas also departed to rejoin Doro, a well-established German metal band. To fill the gaps left by the departing members, Blaze brought in two relatively unknown German musicians, Daniel Schild on drums and Christian Ammann on bass.
Key Highlights:
- Guest appearances: Blaze made special guest appearances with Doro Pesch’s Metal Classic Night Orchestra at various festivals and shows throughout 2004.
- Co-headlining gigs: The band co-headlined several shows with Circle II Circle in June 2004, bringing diverse live performances.
- New guitarist integration: Oliver Palotai (ex-Doro) joined Blaze as the new guitarist, quickly bonding with the band musically and personally, and was welcomed by the fans despite the lineup changes.
- Improvised solos: Palotai explained how he took a more personal approach to solos, opting to improvise and create his own versions instead of replicating John Slater’s original parts note-by-note, ensuring a fresh and authentic performance.
Setlist:
This performance featured a well-rounded mix of Blaze’s solo material from Silicon Messiah and The Tenth Dimension, as well as fan-favorite covers from his time with Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden. The set started with high-energy tracks like "Ghost in the Machine" and "Silicon Messiah," showcasing his new work, while also giving a nod to his past with classic covers like "Man Hunt" (Wolfsbane) and "Futureal" (Iron Maiden). Blaze’s presence on stage was commanding as he connected with the audience, blending his solo work and influences from his Maiden and Wolfsbane days into a memorable performance.
Setlist (December 17, 2004 Biebob, Vosselaar, Belgium)
Encore:
- Alive (from Blood and Belief, 2004)
- Ghost in the Machine (from Silicon Messiah, 2000)
- Silicon Messiah (from Silicon Messiah, 2000)
- Born as a Stranger (from Silicon Messiah, 2000)
- Identity (from Silicon Messiah, 2000)
- The Launch (from Silicon Messiah, 2000)
- Stare at the Sun (from Silicon Messiah, 2000)
- Kill and Destroy (from Silicon Messiah, 2000)
- The Tenth Dimension (from The Tenth Dimension, 2004)
- Stealing Time (from Silicon Messiah, 2000)
- Speed of Light (from Silicon Messiah, 2000)
- Living Someone Else's Life (from Silicon Messiah, 2000)
- Ten Seconds (from Silicon Messiah, 2000)
- Life and Death (from The Tenth Dimension, 2004)
- Blood and Belief (from Blood and Belief, 2004)
- Will to Win (from Blood and Belief, 2004)
- Regret (from The Tenth Dimension, 2004)
- Soundtrack of My Life (from The Tenth Dimension, 2004)
- Steel (Wolfsbane cover, from Wolfsbane, 1989)
- Man Hunt (Wolfsbane cover, from Wolfsbane, 1989)
- Futureal (Iron Maiden cover, from Virtual XI, 1998)
- Virus (Iron Maiden cover, from Virtual XI, 1998)
- Man on the Edge (Iron Maiden cover, from The X Factor, 1995)
Tour Notes:
- Re-establishing Blaze as a Solo Artist: This tour marked Blaze Bayley’s continued journey as a solo artist following his departure from Iron Maiden. It was part of his mission to solidify his identity outside of the band and to promote his Blood and Belief album.
- Collaborations with Circle II Circle: Blaze co-headlined several shows with Circle II Circle during the European leg of the tour, offering fans a great chance to see two powerhouse acts together.
- Festival Appearances: The tour included major festival appearances like Wacken Open Air Festival and Bang Your Head Festival, both of which were significant moments in Blaze’s career.
- Guest Appearances by Doro Pesch: Blaze joined Doro Pesch for special guest performances during her “Metal Classic Night Orchestra” shows, further enhancing his visibility in the European metal scene.
- Special Performances with Paul DiAnno: Blaze performed at Rock The Nations Open Air in Istanbul, where he performed "Running Free" alongside former Iron Maiden frontman Paul Di'Anno.
Memorable Tour Dates:
- Wacken Open Air Festival (Germany) on August 6, 2004 – A highly notable festival appearance for Blaze, joining Doro Pesch & The Metal Classic Nights Orchestra.
- Rock The Nations Open Air (Istanbul, Turkey) on July 4, 2004 – Blaze performed "Running Free" with Paul DiAnno, which made this performance stand out.
- Circle II Circle Co-headlining Shows (Germany, Switzerland) – Multiple shows across Germany and Switzerland in June and July 2004, where Blaze co-headlined with Circle II Circle.
Tour Dates:
Doro Pesch "Metal Classic Night Orchestra" Guest Appearances:
- April 7, 2004 – Bochum, Zeche, Germany
- April 9, 2004 – Antwerp, Hof Ter Lo, Belgium
- October 16, 2004 – Pratteln, Z7, Switzerland
- October 18, 2004 – Berlin, Passionskirche, Germany
- October 21, 2004 – Offenbach, Capitol, Germany
- October 22, 2004 – Stuttgart, Filharmonie, Germany
- October 23, 2004 – Munich, Tonhalle, Germany
- October 24, 2004 – Hamburg, Docks, Germany
Blood and Belief UK Tour 2004:
- April 12, 2004 – Manchester, Bierkeller, England
- April 14, 2004 – Colchester, Soundhouse, England
- April 15, 2004 – Leeds, Warehouse, England
- April 16, 2004 – Bristol, Bierkeller, England
- April 18, 2004 – Glasgow, Cathouse, Scotland (Black Atom)
- April 19, 2004 – Aberdeen, Moshulu, Scotland
- April 20, 2004 – Dumfries, The Venue, England
- April 21, 2004 – Stoke, Rigger, England
- April 23, 2004 – London, Kingston Peel, England
Blood and Belief European Tour 2004:
- April 24, 2004 – Brussels, Ten Weyngaert, Belgium (Double Diamond, Crusader & Stormy Night)
- April 25, 2004 – Hardenberg, The Troubadour, Holland
- April 26, 2004 – Hamburg, Logo, Germany
- April 27, 2004 – Helsingborg, Melrose Rock Club, Sweden
- April 29, 2004 – Oslo, Rock In, Norway
- April 30, 2004 – Västerås, Village, Sweden
- May 1, 2004 – Gothenburg, Sticky Fingers, Sweden (Ram)
- May 13, 2004 – Plzen, KD Šeríkovka, Czech Republic
- May 14, 2004 – Bánská Bystrica, Dom Kultúry, Slovak Republic
- May 15, 2004 – Zlín, RC Golem, Czech Republic
- May 22, 2004 – Split, Fort Gripe, Croatia
- August 6, 2004 – Wacken, Open Air Festival, Germany (Doro Pesch & The Metal Classic Nights Orchestra)
- June 25, 2004 – Ballingen, Bang Your Head Festival, Germany
- June 26, 2004 – Ingolstadt, Ohrakel, Germany (Co-headline with Circle II Circle)
- June 27, 2004 – Berlin, Knaack, Germany (Co-headline with Circle II Circle)
- June 28, 2004 – Bochum, Zeche, Germany (Co-headline with Circle II Circle)
- June 29, 2004 – Weert, De Bosuil, Netherlands (Co-headline with Circle II Circle)
- June 30, 2004 – Aschaffenburg, Coloss Saal, Germany (Co-headline with Circle II Circle)
- July 1, 2004 – Pratteln, Z7, Switzerland (Co-headline with Circle II Circle)
- July 3, 2004 – Andernach, JUZ Live Club Open Air, Germany
- July 4, 2004 – Istanbul, Rock The Nations Open Air, Turkey (Blaze sings "Running Free" with Paul DiAnno)
Blood and Belief European Tour 2004 - Pt. 2:
- September 4, 2004 – Ostend, Velo Rock Festival, Belgium (CANCELLED due to changes in band line-up)
- September 11, 2004 – Raismes, Raismes Festival, France (CANCELLED due to changes in band line-up)
- September 12, 2004 – Paris, La Locamotive, France (CANCELLED due to changes in band line-up)
- September 30, 2004 – Pordenone, Velvet, Italy
- October 1, 2004 – Bergamo, Motion, Italy
- October 2, 2004 – Rome, Bqo, Italy
- October 15, 2004 – Balve, Hoehlenrock Festival, Germany
Blood and Belief UK Tour 2004 (Final Dates):
European Tour 2005:
- November 30, 2004 – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall, England (WHITESNAKE headline)
- December 10, 2004 – Dublin, The Village, Ireland
- December 11, 2004 – Belfast, Rosetta, Northern Ireland
- December 17, 2004 – Vosselaar, Biebob, Belgium
- December 18, 2004 – Dudley, JB´s, England (Blaze Big Bash)
- December 5, 2005 – Paris, France – CANCELLED (due to problems with local promoter)
- December 6, 2005 – Duisburg, Parkhaus Meiderich, Germany – Methusalem
- December 10, 2005 – Brescia, La Sfinge, Italy – CANCELLED (due to problems with opening time of venue)
- December 10, 2005 – Milano, Transilvania Live, Italy – Methusalem
- December 11, 2005 – Roma, Circolo Degli Artisti, Italy – Methusalem
- December 15, 2005 – Dudley, JB’s, England – Blaze Big Bash (with The Whiskey Syndicate)
UK Tour 2006:
- February 17, 2006 – Birmingham, Edwards No8, England
- February 18, 2006 – Accrington, Kings Pub, England
Personnel:
- Blaze Bayley – Vocals
- Steve Wray – Guitar
- Oliver Palotai – Guitar
- Wayne Banks – Bass (until September 2004)
- Nick Douglas – Bass (from September 2004)
- Dave Knight – Drums (until September 2004)
- Daniel Löble – Drums (from September 2004)
This was my experience in a tiny club in Minnesota at probably Blaze's lowest point in 2011 with no band, hiring local guys to do a few shows. Maybe 20-25 people max, but he performed like he was in front of a stadium. It was after work and I was soooo back and forth about going or not. Even though I'm cutting way back on shows these days, I'll never make that mistake again if he ever comes to town again (which looks unlikely, with his fairly conservative booking style that keeps him and Absolva close to home).I remember the Brussels gig at Ten Weyngaert very well.
There were only 30 people in the crowd!
Blaze grabbed me during Identity and I talked to him after the gig at the merch stand. Also been to the Biebob gig where he signed my X Factor booklet. Great evenings!
''Sin By Sin'' is one of his coolest solo songs imo. Still unreleased. Classic Blaze approach and song (verses and chorus). Cool heavy and melodic riffs. Maiden-esque melody too. No solos though. But isn't his 2012 song ''Difficult'' more or less a rewrite with added parts? I find the original more effective.Also, the 2005 show featured Sin by Sin. It’s a shame that this lineup didn’t go anywhere. They were all incredible musicians and seemed to have great chemistry.
- December 10, 2004 – Dublin, The Village, Ireland
- December 11, 2004 – Belfast, Rosetta, Northern Ireland