How do you replace an air-raid siren? In 1995, Iron Maiden faced that impossible question after the departure of the legendary Bruce Dickinson. Their answer was to bring in Wolfsbane frontman Blaze Bayley and create The X Factor—the darkest, most progressive, and most controversial album of their career.

Join host Duff and his friend Andy for this installment of our "A Tough Act to Follow" series. We're diving deep into the story of a band in turmoil, a singer in an impossible situation, and a misunderstood masterpiece. From the 11-minute epic "Sign of the Cross" to the gritty "Man on the Edge," this is a deep dive into the album that divided the Iron Maiden fanbase forever.

In this Duff Dive, we explore:

• The departure of Bruce Dickinson and the monumental task of finding a new singer.
• The arrival of Blaze Bayley and his different, darker vocal style.
• The album's controversial shift to a brooding, progressive, and less commercial sound.
• The personal turmoil of Steve Harris, who was going through a divorce during the album's creation.
• A breakdown of key tracks like "Sign of the Cross," "Lord of the Flies," and "Man on the Edge."

Episode Resources & Affiliate Links:

(Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links... etc.)

💿 The Album:

• Purchase on Amazon (Vinyl or CD): https://amzn.to/4gTFGwk

📚 Further Reading:

• DIron Maiden: Infinite Dreams: The Official Visual History https://amzn.to/4gTFGwk

🎤 Duff's Gear:

• 🎤 Duff's Mic: My Microphone (Electro-Voice RE20): https://amzn.to/4n334cK
• 🎧 Duff's Headphones: Sennheiser HD 280 Pro: https://amzn.to/45TpFl6
• 🎛️ Duff's Audio Interface: Focusrite 2i2 4th generation: https://amzn.to/4fV1jf2
• 📱 Duff's Video: Iphone https://amzn.to/4lQKALq

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