Michael ‘Padge’ Paget – Bullet For My Valentine – Interview Exclusive
Written by David Whistance
Wednesday, 27 April 2011 05:00
Michael Paget or Padge to his friends really doesn’t really need the usual introduction from us at URHQ does he? I mean he’s guitarist in one of the biggest Heavy Metal bands on the planet right now, so everyone knows all about his history right? Having said that his band have released three hugely sucessful albums that have sold by the truckload worldwide, and the band are just about to play yet more US dates in support of their most recent album ‘Fever’. So we at Uber Rock Towers thought it was about time David Whistance caught up with his old mate to find out exactly what is happening in the band’s camp in the lead up to the Summer Festival season, which also sees the band playing some of their biggest shows yet. Naturally Padge was more than obliging and what initially was meant as a chat turned out to be a full blown interview.
Firstly, thanks for taking time out of your hectic schedule to do the interview with Uber Rock. With your third album ‘Fever’ going global top 5, headlining the Ronnie James Dio stage at the Download festival and closing the year with a Christmas headlining arena tour. Was 2010 the year of Bullet For My Valentine?
For me personally, yes it was!!! As you said its been one hell of a year for Bullet. We knew that we had a great album when we finished ‘Fever’. And to finish up 2010 in Wembley arena was spectacular!
Having witnessed your gig at the Cardiff International Arena, you truly belonged up on the stage, looking as though you had been treading the boards of the arenas for many years. How did it feel to be playing your own headlining arena shows?
To be honest, I was bricking it for the entire week of shows. I think it was all down to the scale and amount of production we brought with us. We had rehearsal the day before the first show in Birmingham and we had all sorts of problems and malfunctions going on! However, we got through it and looking back on it now, I think it was a very successful tour indeed.
With Judas Priest gearing up for their final tour, speculation from the Metal press that Iron Maiden’s ‘Final Frontier’ album could be their last. How does it feel when Bullet For My Valentine is being mentioned as the only UK metal band that can fill their mighty shoes?
Well, that is true to some extent. But we still dream about being the UK’s number 1 band, and it’s still a long way away yet. I think that is the prize that every band wants is to be the biggest band in the world!
While I’m on the subject of Iron Maiden, isn’t it true that you have flown on the legendary Flight 666?
Unfortunately, no we haven’t. We have toured with Maiden before, and we recently were scheduled to play 2 huge shows in Japan with them. But ‘Eddie’ didn’t diet enough after Christmas so there wasn’t enough room for us on the plane. Maybe next time? (laughs)
Having also witnessed you playing a blinding set at last years Graspop festival, along with a prestigious slot at Wacken festival in 2009, how does it feel winning over the European metal audiences, knowing how seriously they take their Metal?
Luckily for us we do really well in Europe. We have done from the start. It’s a great territory for Bullet. And we always love going to Europe.
The band have toured the World extensively since your formation, is there any place that you love visiting and is there any country that you would like to visit that you haven’t visited yet?
I love Australia. The food is great the beer is great and the people are really nice. I would love to go to South America, as we haven’t been there yet. I hear its pretty crazy, but we like that (laughing loudly)
During the touring cycles for ‘Poison’ and ‘Scream, Aim and Fire’, there were moments when the band struggled with the hectic touring schedule. With ‘Fever’ the band appear to have been given more breaks between dates. Does the more relaxed schedule make the touring process more enjoyable?
Indeed it does. It’s really nice to spend time at home with friends and family, especially when you’ve only been home two years out of eight. However, bands need to tour and we should always be out there building the bullet army!!!
Many bands when they reach your level of success decide to move to London or further a field, have you ever been tempted to move to the city or does your heart belong in Wales?
My heart will stay in Wales forever. I will always live here, and one day I’ll grow old and want to die here!
The band have always supported up and coming bands, any bands out there at the moment that get you excited and have you any listening tastes that may shock your fans?
Nothing too crazy. I love the Blues. I had about to years before where that’s all I did was live and breathe the Blues. But it is weird how phases come and go in music. Not that I don’t love Blues anymore. As for new bands, check out Rise To Remain. They are new/upcoming band in the UK, fronted by Austin Dickinson, yes, the son of Bruce. They are doing really well at the moment and I know they would appreciate anyone checking them out!
Have the band written any new material whilst on tour?
Nothing new yet. There are always riffs flying around but nothing new so far. We do have a few tracks left over from ‘Fever’ though.
You personally enjoy the heavier end of the Metal spectrum such as Carcass and Testament along with a love of the Blues. Do you think we will see a solo project from Michael Padget when the band takes a break, and if so what form would it take?
Yes. I am working on my album right now. I have seven tracks demoed already, and still working on it at home. It is Heavy Metal, with chugging riffs, with screaming bluesy metal guitar solos everywhere. It’s gonna be great. I hope people like it!!!
I read a while back that yourself and Moose were following the path of Blink 182 and Olli Sykes by releasing your our t shirt range. How is the project progressing and when are we going to be wearing the t-shirts?
It’s going really well so far. We are still in phase 2 at the moment but we have our designs, we have a product, we now need to get it out there. We are working on a webstore at the moment, and working on retail in America. I’ll send Uber Rock some sizes when we get some.
You’re back at this years Download festival as special guests on the main stage, many BFMV fans believe that you should be headlining the event, what are your thoughts on this?
All in good time. I think there is a perfect time for everything in this business so I’m sure we can wait. It’s nice not to have the pressure too (laughs).
You were recently due to support Iron Maiden at their Japan dates during the recent earthquake, thankfully everybody in the Bullet For My Valentine camp were lucky to leave unscathed? What were the feelings of the band during the atrocities?
We got diverted when we were in the air over Taiwan; so we had to stay the night there, and then fly into Japan the next day. They were still having some crazy aftershocks, and driving from the damaged airport we seen huge cracks through the road and stuff. Our crew were in the hotel for the big quake, some of them ran, some accepted their death and waved to people in opposite hotels goodbye. But, everyone was safe. We all met up in the hotel lobby and when all your friends are with you things never seem that bad.
Here at Uber Rock we like to finish on a gig from Hell moment. Can you tell us about your gig from Hell as a performer or as a fan?
As a performer, my gig from hell was in New Jersey somewhere. We played a shit hole club years ago with our friends 36 Crazyfists. The stage was low so everybody could see you. The stage was horrible and full of holes…Yep you guessed it, halfway through ‘4 Words’ I found one of these holes with my foot, and the momentum made me fall flat on my face, destroying my guitar, and very badly damaging my ego.
And there we had to leave the conversation as Padge had to crack on with preparations for the aforementioned US Tour that sees the band playing the following shows.
Spring/Summer 2011 Tour Dates
5/3 Springfield, MA Mass Mutual Center
5/4 Water Street Music Hall Rochester, NY
5/6 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
5/7 Charlotte, NC Metrolina Tradeshow Expo
5/9 Orlando, FL UCF Arena
5/10 Pensacola, FL Pensacola Civic Center
5/11 Lafayette, LA Cajundome
5/13 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre
5/14 Wichita, KS Intrust Bank Arena
5/15 Indianola, IA Lazerfest @ National Balloon Classic Field
5/17 Lubbock, TX LoneStar Amphitheatre
5/18 San Antonio, TX Alamodome
5/19 Grand Prairie, TX Verizon Theatre @ Grand Prairie
5/21 Stage AE – Indoor Stage Pittsburgh, PA
5/22 Columbus, OH Rock On The Range @ Columbus Crew Stadium
5/24 9:30 Club Washington, DC
5/25 Lupo’s Providence, RI#
5/26 Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom Hampton Beach, NH
We’d just like to take the opportunity to thank Padge for taking the time to talk with us at Uber Rock, and I’m sure we will be catching up with him and BFMV again in some shape or form when they return to Europe this summer. In the meantime check out the video below and watch Michael ‘Padge’ Paget explain his unique guitar technique.