# NICKO MCBRAIN Believes IRON MAIDEN Should Have Tuned Down At Least Half A Step To Accommodate BLAZE BAYLEY’s Singing Voice

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/nicko-mcbrain-believes-iron-maiden-should-have-tuned-down-at-least-half-a-step-to-accommodate-blaze-bayleys-singing-voice/
- Published: 2026-10-25T12:27:03+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-25T13:11:36+00:00
- Original publisher: Blabbermouth
- Original article: https://blabbermouth.net/news/nicko-mcbrain-believes-iron-maiden-should-have-tuned-down-at-least-half-a-step-to-accommodate-blaze-bayleys-singing-voice
- Topics: Business, Entertainment, Markets, Music, UK, World

## Key points

- McBrain thinks Maiden should have tuned down for Bayley.
- Bayley sang with the band from 1994 to 1999.
- McBrain says he and Dickinson made peace after his return.

## Summary

Nicko McBrain says Iron Maiden should have lowered the tuning by at least half a step to better suit Blaze Bayley’s voice during Bayley’s time as the band’s singer. His comments revisit a difficult period after Bruce Dickinson left in 1993, and raise how the band’s musical choices may have affected Bayley’s fit.

McBrain said he had resented the way Dickinson’s departure was handled, but the two later reconciled when Dickinson returned. Bayley fronted Iron Maiden from 1994 to 1999 and recorded *The X Factor* and *Virtual XI*, which sold less and charted lower in the UK than earlier releases. Dickinson returned for *Brave New World* in 2000, which McBrain described as a strong comeback.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.