Blaze (metal band)
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| Blaze | |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Genres | Heavy Metal |
| Labels | SPV |
| Members | Blaze Bayley Oliver Palotai Luca Princiotta Christian Ammann Daniel Shild |
Blaze is a British heavy metal band formed in 1999 by former Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden vocalist Blaze Bayley. Blaze have so far released 3 studio albums and one live album.
Contents |
[edit] History
Blaze were formed in 2000 following the departure of vocalist Blaze Bayley from Iron Maiden. Bayley was joined by four hungry young British musicians, Rob Naylor, Jeff Singer, Steve Wray and John Slater. Blaze released 3 albums with this lineup and toured extensively as headliners in small pubs and clubs and at larger venues in support of power metal bands, Helloween and Savatage. The albums released nod respectfully towards Bayley's past, but at the same time have a modern heavy edge. After recording As Live as it Gets, the bands first live album, Jeff Singer announced he was leaving the band. Three months later Rob Naylor followed. Session musicians Phil Greenhouse [drums] and Wayne Banks [bass] were drafted into the band for the rest of the tour until permanent replacements could be found. At the end of 2003 the band began writing for their third studio album, Blood & Belief. Phil Greenhouse was replaced on drums by Jason Bowld. The album proved popular with many fans proving that despite the loss of a stable rhythm section, the band could still put on a good show and record a good album. The band began to tour with the Blood & Belief album but were set back again by the news John Slater could not perform a large section of the tour. Despite rejoining the band later in the year John eventually left Blaze in September with Steve Wray going with him to form Rise to Addiction. Now lacking any original members except Blaze Bayley himself, and still yet to find a stable lineup of musicians, the band were forced to start again.
The band performed a number of shows in 2004 and 2005 with the lineup of Blaze, Oliver Palotai, Luca Princiotta, Nick Douglas and Dani Loeble. The two guitarists were eventually kept on as permanent members and songwriters. Things are starting to look positive again for the band despite the loss of Dani Loeble to Helloween early in 2005. Nick Douglas also returned to Doro at this point and the two were replaced by the unknown German duo Daniel Schild and Christian Ammann. This line-up has begun to work on a new studio album (which will feature the recording of their 2004 Christmas gig at JB's in Dudley, England on a bonus DVD), set for release in 2007.
[edit] Current lineup
- Blaze Bayley - Lead Vocals
- Oliver Palotai - Guitar
- Luca Princiotta - Guitar
- Christian Ammann - Bass
- Daniel Schild - Drums
[edit] Previous members
- Jeff Singer - Drums (left the band in January, 2003)
- Rob Naylor - Bass (left the band in April, 2003)
- John Slater - Guitar (left the band in September,2004)
- Steve Wray - Guitar (left the band in September, 2004)
[edit] Live/Session members
- Phil Greenhouse - Drums (on As Live As It Gets tour)
- Jason Bowld - Session Drums (on Blood and Belief)
- Dani Loeble - Live Drums
- Wayne Banks - Session/Live Bass (on Blood and Belief and subsequent tour)
- Nick Douglas - Live Bass
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
[edit] Live albums
- As Live As It Gets (2003)
From all four of the band's albums, no singles have been released yet.
