Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden has sold over 100 million albums worldwide. They were formed in 1975 by ex Gypsy’s Kiss member, Steve Harris. The east London rockers released their first album, ‘Iron Maiden’ in 1980.

Their heavy metal music spawned a mass of sub genres such as power metal, speed metal, thrash metal and anything else that sounds scary. They aren’t just for lovers of long hair and leather, however. Pop-punk bands such as Sum 41 are of many alternative bands to draw influence from them.

The band have shifted and changed as often as Harris changes his bass strings. Numerous substitutions have taken place due to alleged drug abuse and band member hissy fits. Iron Maiden released their second album, ‘Killers’ and the door to the States was kicked open. Dazed and a bit confused, America was assaulted by what is known as ‘The New Wave of British Heavy Metal’,

With Bruce Dickinson as the new vocalist,  1982 brought a third album, ‘The Number of the Beast’. This album has been bookmarked as a heavy metal classic and is part of any discerning rocker’s LP collection. Iron Maiden did a world tour with this album.Rumours were sparked by oddball cults that Maiden’s lyrics were of a satanic persuasion. Since then, no Iron Maiden album carried an ‘explicit lyrics’ sticker. Nonetheless, their mascot, Ed still features in their grizzly album covers and on stage during tours.

Akin to a crusty Geology lesson, Iron Maiden are thought to have travelled through a series of marked periods and stages in success. Post 1982  Maiden glowed in their ‘golden years’ and released three platinum selling albums. Furtively they tinkered with synths and keyboards in their ‘concept’ stage, got booed in the ‘decline stage’ for Dickinson’s newfound raspy voice and enjoyed a ‘rejuvination stage’ when youngster Blaze Bailey jumped on wagon. Unfortunately, Bailey suffered from bizarre allergies and their tour at the time had to end prematurely.

The millenium saw Iron Maiden in their ‘progressive years’. With Dickinson and Smith on board once more, they dipped their toes into the style of progressive rock and gained a new dimension to their fanbase. Cue another platinum album in 2003 (yawn). 2004 saw a celebration of their 25th anniversary with the double DVD collection called ‘The Early Years’. It features videos, promos and live footage iincluding a rare film of Maiden at a packed out Ruskin Arms that was feared lost. They tour

For information on prices and Iron Maiden’s 2005 tours check out www.ironmaiden.com.

Iron Maiden (1980)

Killers (1981)

The Number of the Beast (1982)

Piece of Mind (1983)

Powerslave (1984)

Somewhere in Time (1986)

Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988)

No Prayer for the Dying (1990)

Fear of the Dark (1992)

The X Factor (1995)

Virtual XI (1998)

Brave New World (2000)

Dance of Death (2003)

Visions of the Beast DVD (2004)

The Early Years DVD (2004)