Drummer JEFF SINGER Discusses Departure From BLAZE: 'I Didn't Want To Be In A Cabaret Band'

Former BLAZE and current PARADISE LOST drummer Jeff Singer recently spoke to the BLAZE fan site BlazeFans.com about his departure from BLAZE and his recent activities. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

BlazeFans.com: What have you been up to since you left BLAZE?

Jeff Singer: "Lots of stuff, really. Did a load of work with a friend on his project called COOTHA. I recorded five songs with him but had to stop when another couple of projects came in. I have recorded albums this year with KILL II THIS and PARADISE LOST. I also did a couple of days rehearsing with SAXON which blew my mind a bit, hero worship and all that. Away from the band stuff I have moved house and am awaiting the arrival of my first child in November."

BlazeFans.com: We heard about your involvement with PARADISE LOST recently. How did that come about?

Jeff Singer: "I was up for joining them 10 years ago when [previous drummer] Lee Morris got the job. I have stayed in touch with the management since for several reasons such as they are a reference on my website. I heard on the grapevine that Lee had gone and one thing led to another."

BlazeFans.com: Have you done any work with them yet and if so how is that going?

Jeff Singer: "I did quite a bit of rehearsing with them over a couple of months and then completed my album parts in June. I really enjoyed working with the band. They are really great people and made me feel very much a part of the band. The new material is right up my street, melodic and very heavy. Also I felt very honoured to work with [producers] Rhys Fulber and Greg Reely."

BlazeFans.com: Shortly after that gig it was officially revealed you would be leaving the band. What were the reasons for that?

Jeff Singer: "I told [manager] Neil and Blaze I was leaving after the festivals in 2002 but agreed to stay and do the live album after they told me they were doing it. Alot of political shit flies around in bands and unfortunately I am not someone who likes to take shit. The whole experience stopped being enjoyable so the choice was stay or go so I went. It was an incredibly tough choice to leave as John, Steve, Rob and I were all very close but in my mind it was a sacrifice I had to make."

BlazeFans.com: Have you ever regretted leaving the band?

Jeff Singer: "No. I don't miss the shit involved. Also the band I left wasn't the same one I joined. Too many external factors dictated internal factors.

"When I joined BLAZE it was a bit like us against the world. Back then things were more of a unit whereas over time it felt like John, Rob, Steve and me on one side with Blaze and Neil on the other.

"We had an understanding that we would look to the future and not rely on the past. We were a good new band with a lot to offer and going back to do loads of MAIDEN stuff would be like reverting to cabaret, not unlike Paul Di'Anno did after he left MAIDEN. Over time it felt that that was the way the pendulum was swinging and I didn't want to be in a cabaret band..."

Read Jeff Singer's entire interview with BlazeFans.com at this location.