Iron Maiden star Blaze Bayley has dedicated the rest of his career to his manager/wife Debbie Hartland, who died from a brain haemorrhage last month.In his first statement to fans following the loss of his business and life partner, the singer admits he and Hartland had discussed what would happen if one of them died prematurely just weeks before she fell ill.He says, "I don't really know why this came up, but perhaps it was something to do with the loss of her nephew, who a few weeks before was involved in a fatal road accident."'What am I supposed to do if anything happens to you?' she said. I had forgotten to take some medication for my blood pressure, prescribed by the doctor, and she was annoyed with me. In an argumentative way I said, 'And what am I supposed to do if anything happens to you?' "I can see her in my mind so clearly now, as she stopped what she was doing and looked at me and said, 'What would you do if anything happened to me?'

"'Nothing,' I said, 'I would give up. There is no reason to live if you are not with me.' She looked at me, and smiled, the way she did when she knew that when I said I loved her I meant it. 'No,' she said, 'I'd want you to carry on with your music.'"Hartman fell into a coma just weeks later, and now Bayley has pledged to continue on behalf of his late wife. He adds, "I was faced with the decision of going away to do the concerts that Debbie had booked for me and the band. I could only think that she had really meant it when she said, 'I'd want you to carry on.'"I have lost the love of my life. I have lost my reason to live. But, because she asked me to continue to live, and to stay true to the path she worked so hard to make clear for me, I will continue. For her and for you, all of you that believed she was right to have faith in me, I will continue. For her memory and to honour her, I will continue."

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