BLAZE BAYLEY Is In The Process Of 'Catching Ideas' For His Next Solo Album: 'It Has To Feel Right'

In a new interview with Greece's Altars Of Metal, British heavy metal vocalist Blaze Bayley, who fronted IRON MAIDEN more than 25 years ago, spoke about a possible follow-up to his latest solo album, "Circle Of Stone", which came out in February 2024. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We decided to hold on a bit longer, because we've done a lot with albums and new songs in the last few years. I wanted to hold on a bit longer. We have a lot of offers for gigs and festivals and everything. I said, 'I'd like to hold on a bit more, take a bit more time, and let the ideas come naturally, and catch the ideas, and then start to get everything together.' So that's what I'm in the process of doing now, is catching those ideas and then talking to the guys. And we've got some important sessions coming up, talking about the shape. A big thing for us is that we make a record vinyl. And since we've been able to have the vinyl out, then we do it right — A side, B side. Now, I love the CD format, but I much prefer the vinyl format. Five songs, turn over, five songs. So what's incredibly important to us is song three. It's the third one. You're used to the sounds. This is the one you're really ready to listen to. And song five — it's the opening of side two, and it's a statement of intent. So we're always careful about that as we're putting it together."

Blaze added: "We haven't got much, but the little bits we have got make us feel quite confident that we'll be able to do at the least a good album. What we want is a life-changing beast, but we're aiming for good."

Asked about a musical direction for his next solo album and how it will be different from "Circle Of Stone", Blaze said: "It's too early to say, because I don't wanna look at the mountain and go, 'Right, that's the mountain I'm climbing,' but really behind me is the real mountain. I wanna make sure I'm doing exactly the right thing. That's where I'm going, and I feel in my heart that this is the right thing. It has to feel right. And I know many of my fans have, some of my fans in Greece have become friends, and I want them to feel good about the next Blaze Bayley album. It's important to me."

Blaze is on the list of IRON MAIDEN members who will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's Class Of 2026. Blaze, who sang for IRON MAIDEN for five years and appeared on two of the group's studio albums — 1995's "The X Factor" and 1998's "Virtual XI" — will be inducted into the Hall Of Fame alongside the band's current lineup of singer Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris and guitarists Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers, as well as ex-singer Paul Di'Anno, ex-guitarist Dennis Stratton and former drummers Nicko McBrain and Clive Burr.

"The X Factor" and "Virtual XI" sold considerably less than MAIDEN's's prior releases and were their lowest-charting titles in the group's home country since 1981's "Killers".

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".

Bayley underwent a quadruple bypass surgery following a heart attack in March 2023.

The 2026 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony will take place on November 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It will air on ABC and Disney+ the following month.

While MAIDEN has been eligible to join the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame since 2004, the band had only been nominated twice before — in 2021 and 2023.

On July 10, Blaze headlined the Friday night Maidenville stage at IRON MAIDEN's Eddfest weekend. The all-encompassing celebration of IRON MAIDEN's 50th anniversary took place on the iconic Knebworth site.