Former IRON MAIDEN vocalist Blaze Bayley, has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack at home. Mark Appleton and Christopher Appleton, who handle the management and concert bookings, for Blaze’s solo band, released the following statement via social media:
“We sincerely regret to announce that Blaze had a heart attack at home yesterday evening and is now in hospital in a stable condition, awaiting news of further surgery/treatment. He is in good spirits in the circumstances but utterly disappointed to have to postpone our imminent shows due in March and April. Ticket refunds will be available at source but we truly hope you will keep your tickets & make it to the new dates which we will be announcing as soon as they are scheduled.
Regarding shows already booked for June-November this year, we understandably have to wait a short while to see how quick Blaze’s recovery will be, so please stay tuned and meanwhile most importantly we’re sure you will join us in wishing him a complete & speedy recovery.
Blaze misses you, cannot wait to regain full health & see you all again.
Every Storm Ends… ‘your heart will heal’.
Thank you so much everyone for your understanding and support.”
Bayley has just finished a UK tour – his most recent show was at Eleven in Stoke-on-Trent on March 19 – and was due to begin his European schedule at the LA venue in Cham, Germany, on March 29.
Bayley is also booked at the Steel Fest in Stalowa Wola, Poland, on August 26, and embarks on an eight-date run of shows in Belgium and Germany the following month. Another UK tour is scheduled for late October and early November.
The 59-year-old Bayley fronted IRON MAIDEN from 1994 until 1999 and he appeared on the “X Factor” and “Virtual XI” albums.
Since leaving IRON MAIDEN in 1999, Bayley has released a number of albums, including several under the moniker BLAZE and more than a handful under his own name. He also appeared on 2012’s “Wolfsbane Saves The World”, the first album of new material by WOLFSBANE since the group’s self-titled 1994 effort, and a follow-up LP, 2022’s “Genius”.
Blaze’s latest studio album, “War Within Me”, came out in April 2021. The LP was recorded during 2020 with work split between Blaze’s studio at home in the West Midlands and Christopher Appleton’s studio in Greater Manchester.
We wish Bayley all the best.
