Former BLAZE BAYLEY Musicians Reveal 'True Reasons' For Band's Split

Former members of Blaze Bayley's (IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) solo band — David Bermudez (bass),Nico Bermudez (guitar) and Jay Walsh (guitar) — have released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding the group's split:

"It is with regret that we confirm that the Blaze Bayley band is now finished. It was not our decision or of our desire for the band to end. The statement released yesterday was not one that we were asked for comment or viewing on.

"The concerts scheduled for May/June said to be rescheduled to December. The promoters and venues have not been informed of this as was highlighted yesterday by the influx of concerned promoters and venues contacting the band members directly yesterday after Blaze's new manager released that statement.

"The claims that health and financial reasons have forced Blaze to take the decision of continuing without the rest of the band are only partially true, to say the very least. Proof of this is that he will continue touring on his own with session musicians fulfilling prior commitments that were contracted as a band and also contracted by the band and also will probably be fulfilled using music written by the band.

"It is because of the great appreciation to the people that have supported this line up unconditionally throughout the last few years and past three CD releases that we feel that is only fair to let them know the true reasons for the band to end.

"It is obvious that it is cheaper and easier for a promoter to fly a solo singer and have him play with a random local musicians or MAIDEN tribute acts that might play for free, or the 'prestige' saving money for the promoter and leaving more financial gain for the contracted artist.

"Our standpoint is that the bands two studio albums, written by the band (quite obviously not Blaze alone) should be promoted by the band itself rather than the musicians being dumped without fair option or choice for the better gain of one band member and one self-appointed girlfriend manager.

"We have not been told the entire truth at any point of these plans since January, and there has been a total disregard and lack of respect paid to the four years we have worked on the music, the planning, and the extensive, very hard ground level touring that has been done across Europe, Russia and South America since early 2008.

"We all will continue writing and making music in the future."

Bayley yesterday released a statement announcing that he was putting his self-titled solo band to rest, citing "financial and medical reasons." He also promised to "give full details in the next few days about [his] future plans."

The Blaze Bayley band was forced to cancel some shows on its March tour of Europe after a series of technical hitches. The singer explained, "We had all the bad luck someone can imagine: broken tow hook, broken lamps, battery problems, problems finding a replacement van, broken wheel on the trailer."

The reunited WOLFSBANE will release an EP featuring new track "Did It For The Money" alongside four new recordings of old songs. It's due out on April 9, the same day the band is scheduled to kick off a 12-date U.K. tour, with all shows except the first night featuring SAXON in the headlining slot.

The 47-year-old Bayley, who was born in Birmingham, was the original frontman in WOLFSBANE, but left in 1994 to replace Bruce Dickinson as the lead singer of IRON MAIDEN.