Interview: Gabriela Marqueti
Text: Vitor Melo
Bullet For My Valentine returns to Brazil on December 20th as part of the LOSERVILLE TOUR , headlined by Limp Bizkit . The event will be held at Allianz Parque in São Paulo and will also feature performances by 311 , Ecca Vandal , Riff Raff , and Slay Squad – tickets are on sale now.
The band is replacing singer YUNGBLUD, who canceled all his remaining 2025 dates due to health issues. The quartet's performance will feature a complete rendition of their acclaimed debut album, The Poison (2005), and an encore with other classics.
We spoke with guitarist and founding member Michael “Padge” Paget about the show, The Poison in the metalcore scene, and iconic moments in Brazil. Padge also commented on the recent cancellation of the joint tour with Trivium . Check out the full interview.
Wikimetal: Bullet For My Valentine is coming to Brazil this month with the LOSERVILLE TOUR, and your participation was recently announced. How did you feel when the opportunity arose, and how did you prepare for this tour with so little notice?
Michael Paget: Well, there's no way you can really prepare. It's just deciding whether we're going or not, you know? We didn't have a choice, because if the opportunity comes up, we have to do it for the fans, it's the most important thing. It doesn't matter the sacrifice. I think we'll be home on December 22nd. It's been a long tour. But there was the opportunity to come to South America, see everyone again and open for Limp Bizkit on an incredible tour. It's obvious, really. So, no matter what you think, you just have to do it. But the reward at the end is priceless, you know?
WM: Earlier this year, Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium announced that the Latin American leg of the tour would not happen, but now their fans have a new chance to see them. What circumstances prevented that tour from happening, and what circumstances allowed this new tour to happen?
MP: Well, to be honest, there was never an offer for that Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium tour to happen in South America. No promoter contacted us, there were no proposals. Unfortunately, all the shows on the [ The Poison Ascendancy ] tour kind of stopped after we went to the United States. There were no offers for the rest of the world. That's kind of a bummer, you know? We and Trivium had planned to do a world tour, but unfortunately nothing came through. We can't play in a certain place without a promoter offering a tour for that country. So I guess that was it. And unfortunately it came to an end because we couldn't go to more places (laughs). It's a shame, because it was a really cool vibe.
We ended up leaving the tour to focus more on songwriting. We came to consider it more important because, as I said, we no longer had offers to continue touring the world, which is sad. So, we committed to writing more, going back home, and writing for our new album. And fortunately, some producers came along and offered a series of shows for The Poison in Australia, Japan, and Singapore. That was great, one of our best performances. We did that, and the tour with Limp Bizkit came up, and we had the chance to come to South America. We're going to continue playing The Poison here on the continent. It was great because I think we managed to resolve it in our own way.
WM: You've already done a few shows on this tour. How has it been performing alongside Limp Bizkit, and what do you think of the other artists who are touring with you?
MP: We're huge fans. Limp Bizkit has always been one of my favorite bands, and I grew up listening to them. And obviously, having the opportunity to support them and play with them is a dream come true. It's a little strange, it seems unreal. But it's incredible and really cool. We had to do it. You don't turn down an offer like that. They're really cool, and their crew is too. The shows have been great, and obviously the South American audience is incredible and one of the most passionate in the world. So coming back here, even after we thought we were going to stop after the Australian leg, is fantastic. A dream come true. The bands on the tour are quite eclectic. They're different, and each one has its own style. A new and contemporary sound, like it's all crazy. But everyone's cool, the songs too. It's an honor. It's really cool to be a part of it.
WM: Bullet For My Valentine has a legion of fans in Brazil. Do you have a favorite memory from one of your visits to our country?
MP: Rock in Rio, when was it? 2019? 2018? [The band performed at the festival in 2022]. It was really cool to be there. We had the opportunity to play at the festival. I think Iron Maiden was the headliner on the main stage [World Stage] and we closed the secondary stage [Sunset Stage]. It's a very famous festival, obviously. And another one for our list. The fans here are insane. Mexico is always like that. Playing in Colombia again was spectacular. We had never visited Costa Rica, and we loved being there. Chile was also crazy. The next shows will be on a large scale. I can only see the first five rows of the audience. Everything else is blurry.
And then end up in São Paulo, and in Argentina too. I love being in Argentina. I'm a big fan of barbecue and red wine. But, you know, being so far from home and being able to play your music, in a band you worked your whole life for growing up and where you sacrificed everything, and taking that to Argentina, and Brazil. Those are places so far from home. It's absolutely incredible. We're really lucky guys and we owe it all to the fans.
WM: The Poison is considered the "bible" of Metalcore for many fans and bands. What kind of legacy do you believe it left on the genre?
MP: I'm a humble guy. But I believe that revisiting this album after 20 years, on an anniversary tour, and all the shows we did around the world, considering their size and the album's reception to this day… That, including ticket sales and how people connected with it during that period, is something very special. It's revealing, emotional, and even insane. We didn't really know what we were doing back then. We were just kids, with no idea what was happening. We made an album, signed a contract, and went on tour, and we never stopped. The record just took off. An impressive debut release. Today it's very difficult for bands to release a debut album with the same impact that The Poison had. This is due to things like social media and streaming. We were in the right place, at the right time, and we had the right energy. That created a connection with the audience.
WM: In 2021, Metal Hammer cited you as the “biggest British band since Iron Maiden.” Did you hear anything about that at the time?
MP: There are so many British bands. You can't list them all... I don't know.
WM: I didn't say that, Metal Hammer did (laughs)
MP: I know. Thanks Metal Hammer. This is crazy, because we've won so many awards from them before. They're on the walls of my house. To be awarded for our music is insane.
WM: How do you feel about that?
MP: I feel strange. I'm going to need a bigger house, with bigger walls, to hang my paintings and awards. It's crazy. But I feel very honored and very grateful. Life is what you make of it. Just go ahead, never give up, and give it your all. Make your dreams come true.
WM: Finally, what message would you like to leave for the Brazilian fans who are eagerly awaiting this Bullet For My Valentine show in the country?
MP: Hi, Brazil! This is Padge from Bullet For My Valentine. I hope you're all doing well. Thank you so much for your support all these years. Listening to our music and putting us where we are. We're thrilled to see you all back in São Paulo very soon with Limp Bizkit on the LOSERVILLE TOUR . Please come to the show to enjoy yourselves, have fun, and go a little crazy. We can't wait to see you again.