I have been playing drums and percussion for approximately 30 years. I started playing drums when I was in high school when I was 14 years old. I started playing in the school band playing percussion. I did all the school shows, musicals etc. Also having lessons with a tutor in, before, and after school.

Current Group(s) or Affiliations.

• Blaze Bayley (2014 – Present).
• Absolva (2012 – Present).
• Fury UK (2007 – Present).
• I am a touring and recording member of all of the above groups.

Discography

• Fury UK.
• VR 2009.
• A Way of Life 2010.

Absolva.

• Flames of Justice 2012.
• Beyond Live 2013 (CD & DVD)
• Anthems to the Dead 2014.
• Never a Good Day to Die 2015.
• Defiance 2017.
• Live in Europe 2020.
• Side by Side 2020.
• Fire in the Sky 2022.

Blaze Bayley.

• Soundtracks of My Life 2014 (DVD).
• Infinite Entanglement 2016.
• Endure and Survive (Infinite Entanglement part 2) 2017.
• The Redemption of William Black (Infinite Entanglement part 3) 2018.
• Live in France 2019.
• Live in Czech 2020.
• War Within Me 2021.
• Strange Different and Live 2023.
• Circle of Stone 2024.

I have toured with the following groups and played these various festivals listed below.

Blaze Bayley.
Michael Schenker.
Y & T.
Saxon.
Wolfsbane.
Iced Earth.
Absolva.
Dave Evans.
U.D.O.
Ronnie Romero.
Bloodstock Festival.
Hammerfest.
PPM Festival.
Hellfire Festival.
Sweden Rock.
Hard Rock Hell.
Rock Imperium.
Rock the Coast.
Ding Open Air.
Chania Rock Fest.
Metal on the Hill.
Stonedead.
Planet Rockstock.
Winter Storm.

ABSOLVA is a British heavy metal band, an inspired and modern take on the proud traditions of this genre.

The band includes brothers Chris Appleton (Blaze Bayley / Fury UK) on lead vocals and lead guitar, and Luke Appleton (Iced Earth / Fury UK) on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, together with the concrete backbone of drummer Martin McNee (Blaze Bayley / Fury UK) and bassist Karl Schramm (Blaze Bayley).
The members of Absolva have toured alongside some of the biggest names in the rock/metal genre including Saxon, Iced Earth, Michael Schenker, Y&T, & of course Blaze Bayley (Iron Maiden singer 1994-1999) who has recruited Chris, Martin, Luke and Karl as his touring and recording band.
Absolva rose from the ashes of Fury UK in 2012 when Luke Appleton first joined Iced Earth as bassist and Absolva’s latest album, ‘Fire in the Sky’ (2022) is their eighth release, following studio records ‘Side by Side’ (2020), ‘Defiance’ (2017), ‘Flames of Justice’ (2012), ‘Anthems to the Dead’ (2014), ‘Never A Good Day to Die’ (2015), live albums/DVD ‘Beyond Live’ (2013) and ‘Live in Europe’ (2020).

Recent press quotes….

‘the four piece British band define the classic and traditional sound of heavy metal from the UK’ Metal Gods TV

‘a dominant force to be reckoned with within the British heavy metal scene’ Uber Rock

‘If the Oxford English dictionary had a single word to describe contemporary classic metal it would be listed as Absolva’
Mayfair Mall Zine

‘Huge performances, a mix that nails it to your cerebellum, and Absolva’s trademark craft of irresistible construction’ Powerplay

With a heavy touring schedule, the members of Absolva have become recognised as some of the hardest working musicians around, playing extensive tours as the backing band with Blaze Bayley and also of course for the high energy and professionalism of their own headline shows. An Absolva show is both captivating and outstanding, as should be expected from a band with this experience, pedigree and background.

For more info visit
www.absolva.com
https://www.facebook.com/absolva
https://www.instagram.com/absolva?igsh=MTlldTA1emJiYnMzaQ==

BLAZE BAYLEY is a singer/songwriter born 29th May 1963 in Birmingham, England. Having started his professional music career in WOLFSBANE in 1984, his career elevated to global heights when he joined IRON MAIDEN with whom he released two albums and toured worldwide between 1994 and 1999.

After leaving Iron Maiden, Blaze embarked on a solo career, and by 2017 was rewarded with a high accolade when voted number 67 in Sweden Rock magazine’s readers’ poll of all-time greatest singers.

During 2000-2024 he has released 11 studio albums and has enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of the hardest working artists
touring worldwide.

In 2015 Blaze celebrated the 15th anniversary of his first solo release ‘Silicon Messiah’ and in 2016 saw a significant worldwide resurgence of interest in his career, not least with the release of ‘Infinite Entanglement’, the first in a trilogy of releases following a sci-fi story and concept. The second part of the trilogy, ‘Endure and Survive’ followed in March 2017, and The Redemption of William Black in March 2018.

Blaze joined DISTURBED onstage at the 2016 Download Festival for a rendition of ‘Baba O’Riley’ by THE WHO, and was also recently accompanied onstage in Poland by Swedish metalheads SABATON for a version of Maiden classic ‘Man on The Edge’.
Whilst Classic Rock magazine, Powerplay and more, have provided special features and interviews, the reviews have also been unanimous in hailing ‘Infinite Entanglement’ as a triumph. For example….

‘wonderful moments, great beating brilliance, Maiden
riffs, solos that blast off into space, pushy pieces, singalong choruses’ Powerplay

During the period 2014 to present date, Blaze has benefitted from a settled line-up for his backing band, picked from British melodic metal band ABSOLVA – Christopher Appleton (lead guitar), Luke Appleton (power guitar), Martin Mcnee (drums) and Karl Schramm (bass).
Blaze and his band have received critical acclaim for outstanding performances, including Sweden Rock Festival, Rock the Coast (Spain), and Headbangers Open Air (Germany).

In 2024 Blaze will release his latest studio album “Circle Of Stone” and going on tour to promote that release.

https://www.instagram.com/blazebayley?igsh=d2ltYThhcjhsdmNu

https://www.facebook.com/officialblazebayley