BFMV Padge puts Temper Temper in the past

Bullet For My Valentine guitarist Michael ‘Padge’ Paget has got over the hurt he felt when he was frozen out of writing and recording sessions for fourth album Temper Temper.

And the disagreements that led to the division are behind them as they gear up for the launch of follow-up Venom.

Frontman Matt Tuck and drummer Michael ‘Moose’ Thomas flew to Thailand to create the 2013 album, leaving Padge and then-bassist Jason ‘Jay’ James behind.

Padge tells Metal Hammer’s Merlin Alderslade: “It really pissed me off, to be honest. Being told over email that you’re not going to record an album with your band. I’m sure it would piss anyone off.

“I was fucking confused, hurt – and I just didn’t understand it.”

Temper Temper received a lukewarm reception when it was released. Padge says: “Do I think it was for the best in the long run? No, I don’t, because our momentum kind of levelled off.”

Moose reveals he had his own misgivings. “I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be writing and recording an album,” says the drummer. “Me and Matt were getting on, but I felt bad for Padge and Jay.”

Tuck won’t go into details behind the tensions, but insists: “When things need to be done I’m not afraid of decisions that aren’t going to be popular. There were certain things going on that people needed to sort out. At the same time we needed to get work done.”

He says of the entire Temper Temper era: “Everyone, me included, lost perspective on what’s important. In a way it was tainted before it had even begun.”

But it’s all in the past – including James’ tenure with the band. Padge says: “I don’t want to dwell on the bad times because it’s all so good now.”

Venom is released on August 14. The full interview appears in the current edition of Metal Hammer, on sale now in print, digital and via TeamRock+.

Bullet For My Valentine: "We almost came to blows..."

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.