Vrouw Blaze Bayley overleden
Zaterdagochtend is Debbie, manager van de band en de vrouw van Blaze Bayley
overleden.
Debbie lag vanaf 6 juli 2008 in het ziekenhuis nadat zij werd getroffen door
een herseninfarct. Ze heeft maar liefst drie hersenoperaties gehad maar bleef in
een coma. Haar conditie was zorgelijk maar stabiel. Blaze bleef positief en
hoopte dat zijn vrouw weer wakker zou worden. Zijn hoop werd vergroot toen
Debbie wat leek aan te sterken. Helaas kreeg ze 23 september opnieuw een aanval
waardoor ze weer aan alle toeters en bellen moest. Zaterdagochtend 27 september
2008 is ze helaas overleden.
Voor Bayley natuurlijk een enorme klap. Hij was op de weg terug, zo was hij
net van de drank af en lachte het leven hem weer toe met een goede nieuwe plaat
doorspekt van goede solo’s en een prettig zingende Bayley. Hij noemde zelf zijn
laatste plaat een comeback album en werd hierin gesteund door de onvermoeibare
toewijding van manager en vrouw.
Hieronder een statement overgenomen van de planetblaze website. Geschreven
door de drummer Lawrence Paterson.
Sadly I have to let you all know that Blaze’s wife Debbie has passed away in
hospital this morning. I know that Blaze has always appreciated the massive
amount of supportive emails and letters for Debbie and he, and many were passed
on to Debbie in hospital. Blaze is understandably not here to write anything so
if you don’t mind, I would like to write something here about Debbie. I didn’t
meet Debbie until I auditioned for the band in September 2007. She was always a
very genuine person who laughed easily and enjoyed life and she and Blaze were
obviously a very strong couple that loved each other totally. I know she was
also extremely proud of Blaze, and should have been very proud of herself for
helping Blaze ‘come back’ from what was a dark period for him.When I learned that Debbie – the singer’s wife- was the band manager, with no
previous experience, I had to admit that I was sceptical. I have seen Spinal
Tap…and been in enough bands to know that often a situation like that doesn’t
work! But, I was so very impressed with her. She grabbed the job and ran with
it…surpassing everybody’s expectations (apart from Blaze’s who knew what she
was capable of) with her abilities, proving to be both tough and strong in all
aspects of the job and life. She shared the same ups and downs, slept on the
same airport floors, spent hours and hours in negotiations and ALWAYS cared
about the welfare of ‘her boys’ before everything else. She was bloody brilliant
and I am just glad that we all told her that on several occassions. Debbie was
also a very supportive friend whatever personal circumstances were happening,
and she was always there when you needed her.On 5 July we all went to the Iron Maiden show at Twickenham and were
fortunate enough to be at the aftershow party. Debbie was like a proud Mum as
Nico, Dave and I were buzzing to be in the company of some of our heroes. The
album was two days away from release and everything going so well. She had been
instrumental in turning around the band’s fortunes since 2007. The next day she
fell ill. Blaze has lost his wife, her family have lost a daughter and sister,
the band has lost its manager and we have all lost a very good friend. The world
is a poorer place for it.
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