Blaze Bayley, the British heavy metal singer best known for his time fronting IRON MAIDEN more than 25 years ago, has revealed that he will no longer take part in meet-and-greet events or autograph signings at his solo shows.
The 62-year-old artist, who had quadruple bypass surgery after suffering a heart attack in March 2023, shared the reasons behind his decision in a message posted on social media yesterday (Tuesday, February 3).
He wrote: “I have decided to stop doing free & included meet & greets & signing at my headline shows.
“This is a massive decision for me to take, mainly to protect my health following my open-heart surgery after a near fatal heart attack. But also, I feel I must protect my health as much as possible, prioritising my energy, focus & voice for the performances at shows where the highest standards are my aim.
“A further reason is the disappointment of seeing signed items appearing the very next day for sale on ebay & other auction sites after the meet & greets. This is in no-one’s best interests. So, there will be no signings in the foreseeable future.
“If you see me out & about & would like a selfie, that’s fine. Just say hello & get your phone or camera ready. That isn’t changing.
After 25 years this is a massive decision for me to take. You are my inspiration and my comfort, my warriors & my friends & together we have moved the sun. I thank you so much for all your help & support over the years, & thank you in advance for understanding this very difficult decision.”
Last spring, Blaze hit the road across Europe to mark the 25th anniversary of his first album after leaving MAIDEN, “Silicon Messiah”. During the tour, he performed tracks from that record, included songs from his latest release “Circle Of Stone” that hadn’t been played live before, and revisited classic IRON MAIDEN material from his time in the band. He also offered free meet-and-greet sessions at the merch stand before each show, open to all ticket holders.
