Iron Maiden’s bassist Steve Harris has spoken out in defense of the band’s Blaze Bayley era, asking fans not to dismiss those albums. In a conversation shared with Louder Sound, Harris reflected on that period, often criticized due to the change in vocalists, and stressed the value of the music created during that time.

“I said it at the time and I still believe it – those two are really strong, powerful albums and people will appreciate them later,” Harris said. “And people are going back and discovering them and realizing they’re good.”

One release he singled out was The X Factor, which, according to Harris, was shaped by deeply personal circumstances.

“The X Factor in particular is really good, but it’s a dark album,” he explained. “Probably ‘cos I was in a bit of a dark place with Bruce leaving and me going through a divorce at the time, all this stuff going on.”

Harris noted that those struggles translated directly into the creative output.

“But what came out of that was a powerful album,” he continued. “You take negative stuff and you turn it into a positive and those emotions come out, and that’s what you can do with music. Music’s such a powerful thing.”

His comments arrive as fans revisit this divisive chapter in the band’s history. Although overshadowed by Iron Maiden’s more commercially successful periods, the Bayley era is now gaining recognition for its distinct qualities.

Blaze Bayley officially joined Iron Maiden in 1994 after his previous band Wolfsbane disbanded, following extensive auditions to replace Bruce Dickinson. His arrival marked a significant stylistic shift, introducing a different vocal approach.

Commercially, the transition was difficult. Chart Masters recorded that both The X Factor and Virtual XI charted lower than any Maiden releases since 1981. Over time, however, the records have developed a loyal following, appreciated for their intensity and emotional resonance. Despite the initial setbacks, Iron Maiden has sold more than 130 million albums worldwide, and songs from the Bayley era, including “Man on the Edge” and “Futureal,” still find their way into the band’s live performances. The latter track, co-written by Bayley, has secured its place in Maiden’s legacy.

The recording of The X Factor was especially challenging, with Bayley still recovering from a serious motorcycle accident while laying down vocals. These obstacles only added to the rawness of the record—a quality Harris now highlights as one of its greatest strengths.

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