Bruce Dickinson has revealed that during his hiatus from Iron Maiden in the 1990s, he didn’t closely follow the band’s activities — including the albums released with his replacement, Blaze Bayley.
Speaking on the Talk Is Jericho podcast with host Chris Jericho, Dickinson shared that his focus was entirely on his solo career, which produced four albums during that time. Meanwhile, Iron Maiden entered a new phase with Bayley at the helm from 1994 to 1999, releasing The X Factor and Virtual XI — both of which saw a dip in commercial success compared to earlier Maiden records.
Bruce offered (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “No. [It’s not that] I didn’t have any interest in listening [to Maiden‘s Blaze-era albums]. I was just too busy doing my own stuff. So, it was kind of peripheral awareness, but in a way I was just, like, ‘This is none of my business. I’m not in the band anymore.’
“And I wished Blaze well, ’cause when he joined the band, I thought, ‘Wow.’ ‘Cause his voice is very different to mine. I loved what he was doing in Wolfsbane. And I thought, ‘Well, this is… I hope it works out the right way.’ And sadly it didn’t. But I love Blaze. I think he’s a great character. There’s not a malicious bone in his body. He’s a great guy.”
When asked about performing Blaze-era tracks like “The Clansman” and “Sign Of The Cross” after rejoining Maiden, Dickinson couldn’t recall who suggested it — but he embraced the challenge: “You know what? I actually can’t remember. But when I heard it, I was just, like, ‘Well, I think I could put some blood on the walls with that.’ To be honest with you, not all of the songs that they did with Blaze, I think, would necessarily suit my voice. Because some of the songs they wrote for Blaze are not really in my range — they’re a little bit low. Whilst Blaze would sing a particular tune with a lot of power, ’cause it was in his range, I would frankly struggle to make that tune sound as effective as Blaze, ’cause it’s a little bit below where all the horsepower kicks in with my voice.”
Blaze Bayley‘s tenure with Iron Maiden marked a bold and challenging chapter in the band’s history. Joining in 1994 after Bruce Dickinson‘s departure, Bayley brought a grittier, more baritone vocal style that contrasted sharply with Dickinson‘s soaring delivery. His time with the band saw the release of The X Factor (1995) and Virtual XI (1998), both of which explored darker, more introspective themes but struggled commercially and critically compared to Maiden‘s earlier triumphs. Despite the mixed reception, Bayley earned respect for stepping into one of metal’s most iconic roles and for his unwavering dedication during a turbulent period. His performances on tracks like “Sign of the Cross” and “The Clansman” have since gained renewed appreciation, especially as Dickinson continues to include them in live shows.
