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Iron Maiden biography
Formed in London, England, in 1976, Iron Maiden was from the start the brainchild of Steve Harris (b. 12 March 1957, Leytonstone, London, England; bass), formerly a member of pub rockers Smiler. Named after a medieval torture device, the music was suitably heavy and hard on the senses.The heavy metal scene of the late 70s was widely regarded as stagnant, with only a handful of bands proving their ability to survive and produce music of quality. It was at this time that a new breed of young British bands began to emerge. This movement, which began to break cover in 1979 and 1980, was known as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, or N.W.O.B.*.M.. Iron Maiden were one of the foremost bands in the genre, and many would say its definitive example. Younger and meaner, the N.W.O.B.*.M. bands dealt in faster, more energetic heavy metal than any of their forefathers (punk being an obvious influence). There were several line-up changes in the Iron Maiden ranks in the very early days, and come the release of their debut EP, the band featured Harris, Dave Murray (b. 23 December 1958, London, England; guitar), Paul Di'Anno (b. 17 May 1959, Chingford, London, England; vocals) and Doug Sampson (drums). The band made its live debut at the Cart & Horses Pub in Stratford, east London, in 1977, before honing its sound on the local pub circuit over the ensuing two years. Unable to solicit a response from record companies, the band sent a three-track tape, featuring Iron Maiden, Prowler and Strange World, to Neal Kay, DJ at north London's hard rock disco, the Kingsbury Bandwagon Soundhouse. Kay's patronage of Iron Maiden won them an instant welcome, which prompted the release of The Soundhouse Tapes on the band's own label. In November 1979 the band added second guitarist Tony Parsons to the line-up for two tracks on the Metal For Muthas compilation, but by the time the band embarked on sessions for their debut album, he had been replaced by Dennis Stratton (b. 9 November 1954, London, England), and Sampson by Clive Burr (b. 8 March 1957; drums, ex- Samson ). A promotional single, Running Free, reached number 34 on the UK charts and brought an appearance on BBC Television's Top Of The Pops. Refusing to mime, they became the first band since the Who in 1973 to play live on the show. Iron Maiden was a roughly produced album, but reached number 4 in the UK album listings on the back of touring stints with Judas Priest and enduringly popular material such as Phantom Of The Opera . Killers boasted production superior to that of the first album, and saw Dennis Stratton replaced by guitarist Adrian Smith ( b. 27 February 1957). In its wake, Iron Maiden became immensely popular among heavy metal fans, inspiring fanatical devotion, aided by blustering manager Rod Smallwood and apocalyptic mascot Eddie (the latter had been depicted on the cover of Sanctuary standing over Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's decapitated body). The release of Number Of The Beast was crucial to the development of the band. Without it, Iron Maiden might never have gone on to be such a force in the heavy metal arena. The album was a spectacular success, the sound of a band on the crest of a wave. It was also the debut of former infantryman and new vocalist Bruce Dickinson (b. Paul Bruce Dickinson, 7 August 1958, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England), replacing Paul Di'Anno (who went on to front Dianno , Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone and Killers ). Formerly of Samson , history graduate Bruce Dickinson made his live debut with Maiden on 15 November 1981. Singles such as Run To The Hills and The Number Of The Beast were big UK chart hits, Iron Maiden leaving behind their N.W.O.B.*.M. counterparts in terms of success, just as the movement itself was beginning to peter out. Piece Of Mind continued their success and was a major hit in the UK (number 3) and USA (number 14). Clive Burr was replaced by Nicko McBrain on the sessions, formerly drummer with French metal band Trust , who had supported Maiden on their 1981 UK tour (he had also played in Streetwalkers ). Piece Of Mind was not dissimilar to the previous album, showcasing the strong twin-guitar bite of Murray and Smith, coupled with memorable vocal lines and a sound that perfectly suited their air-punching dynamic. Single offerings, Flight Of Icarus and The Trooper , were instant hits, as the band undertook two massive tours, the four-month World Piece jaunt in 1983, and a World Slavery retinue, which included four sell-out dates at London's Hammersmith Odeon a year later. With the arrival of Powerslave in November, some critics accused Iron Maiden of conforming to a self-imposed writing formula, and playing safe with tried and tested ideas. Certainly, there was no significant departure from the two previous albums, but it was nonetheless happily consumed by the band's core supporters, who also purchased in sufficient quantities to ensure UK chart hits for Aces High and Two Minutes To Midnight . Live After Death was a double-album package of all their best-loved material, recorded live on their gargantuan 11-month world tour. By this time, Iron Maiden had secured themselves an unassailable position within the metal hierarchy, their vast popularity spanning all continents. Somewhere In Time was a slight departure: it featured more melody than previously, and heralded the use of guitar synthesizers. Their songwriting still shone through and the now obligatory hit singles were easily attained in the shape of Wasted Years and Stranger In A Strange Land . Reaching number 11 in the USA, this was another million-plus seller. Since the mid-80s Maiden had been staging increasingly spectacular live shows, with elaborate lighting effects and stage sets. The Somewhere In Time tour (seven months) was no exception, ensuring their continued fame as a live band, which had been the basis for much of their success. A period of comparative inactivity preceded the release of Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son , which was very much in the same vein as its predecessor. A concept album, it retained its commercial edge (giving the band their second UK number 1 album) and yielded hit singles in Can I Play With Madness , the surprisingly sensitive The Evil That Men Do and The Clairvoyant . After another exhausting mammoth world trek, the band announced their intention to take a well-earned break of at least a year. Speculation abounded that this signalled the dissolution of the band, exacerbated by Bruce Dickinson 's solo project, Tattooed Millionaire , his book, The Adventures Of Lord Iffy Boatrace , and EMI Records ' policy of re-releasing Iron Maiden 's single catalogue in its entirety (on 12-inch). After a considerable hiatus, news of the band surfaced again. Steve Harris felt that the direction pursued on the last two albums had been taken as far as possible, and a return to the style of old was planned. Unhappy with this game plan, Adrian Smith left to be replaced by Janick Gers ( b. Hartlepool, Lancashire, England), previously guitarist with White Spirit and Ian Gillan (he had also contributed to Bruce Dickinson 's solo release). The live show was also scaled down in a return to much smaller venues. No Prayer For The Dying was indeed much more like mid-period Iron Maiden , and was predictably well-received, bringing enormous UK hit singles with Holy Smoke and Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter . The latter, previously released in 1989 on the soundtrack to A Nightmare On Elm Street 5 , had already been awarded the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Song that year. Nevertheless, it gave Iron Maiden their first ever UK number 1. The obligatory world tour followed. Despite being denounced as Satanists in Chile, 1992 also saw the band debut at number 1 in the UK charts with Fear Of The Dark , which housed another major single success in Be Quick Or Be Dead (number 2). However, it was Bruce Dickinson 's swan-song with the band, who invited demo tapes from new vocalists following the lead singer's announcement that he would depart following current touring engagements. His eventual replacement was Blaze Bayley (b. 1963, Birmingham, West Midlands, England) from Wolfsbane . His debut album was The X-Factor , and on this and at live gigs (which they only resumed in November 1995), he easily proved his worth. This was a daunting task, having had to learn Maiden 's whole catalogue and win over patriotic Dickinson followers. Adrian Smith resurfaced in a new band, Psycho Motel , in 1996. In February 1999 it was announced that Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith had rejoined the band, restoring the classic 80s line-up. To the great delight of their loyal followers an excellent new album was not long in followin. |
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DiscographyThe Soundhouse Tapes Demo, 1979 Running Free Single, 1980 Iron Maiden Full-length, 1980 Sanctuary Single, 1980 Women In Uniform Single, 1980 Live!! + One EP, 1980 Killers Full-length, 1981 Twilight Zone Single, 1981 Live at the Rainbow Video/VHS, 1981 Purgatory Single, 1981 Wrathchild Single, 1981 Maiden Japan EP, 1981 Run to the Hills Single, 1982 The Number of the Beast Full-length, 1982 The Number of the Beast Single, 1982 Flight of Icarus Single, 1983 Piece of Mind Full-length, 1983 The Trooper Single, 1983 Video Pieces Video/VHS, 1983 2 Minutes to Midnight Single, 1984 Powerslave Full-length, 1984 Aces High Single, 1984 Behind the Iron Curtain Video/VHS, 1984 Running Free (live) Single, 1985 Live After Death Live album, 1985 Live After Death Video/VHS, 1985 Run to the Hills (live) Single, 1985 Wasted Years Single, 1986 Somewhere in Time Full-length, 1986 Stranger in a Strange Land Single, 1988 12 Wasted Years Video/VHS, 1987 Can I Play With Madness Single, 1988 Sevents Son of a Seventh Son Full-length, The Evil That Men Do Single, 1988 The Clairvoyant Single, 1988 Infinite Dreams Single, 1989 Maiden England Video/VHS, 1989 Running Free - Sanctuary EP, 1990 Women in Uniform - Twilight Zone EP, 1990 Purgatory - Maiden Japan EP, 1990 Run to the Hills - The Number of the Beast EP, 1990 Flight of Icarus - The Trooper EP, 1990 2 Minutes to Midnight - Aces High EP, 1990 Running Free - Run to the Hills EP, 1990 Wasted Years - Stranger in a Strangeland EP, 1990 Can I Play With Madness - The Evil That Men Do The Clairvoyant - Infinite Dreams EP, 1990 Holy Smoke Single, 1990 No Prayer for the Dying Full-length, 1990 The First Ten Years Video/VHS, 1990 Bring Your Daughter ... To the Slaughter Single, 1990 Be Quick Or Be Dead Single, 1992 Fear of the Dark Full-length, 1992 From Here to Eternity Single, 1992 Wasting Love Single, 1992 From There to Eternity Video/VHS, 1992 Fear of the Dark (Live) Single, 1993 A Real Live One Live album, 1993 Hallowed Be Thy Name Single, 1993 A Real Dead One Live album, 1993 Live at Donington Live album, 1993 Donington Live 1992 Video/VHS, 1993 Raising Hell Video/VHS, 1994 Maiden England Live album, 1994 Man on the Edge Single, 1995 The X Factor Full-length, 1995 The Story So Far Part One Boxed set, 1995 The Story So Far Part Two Boxed set, 1995 Lord of the Flies Single, 1996 Virus Single, 1996 Best of the Beast Best of/Compilation, 1996 The Angel & The Gambler Single, 1998 Virtual XI Full-length, 1998 Futureal Single, 1998 Eddie Head Boxed set, 1998 Wrathchild' 99 (promo) Single, 1999 Ed Hunter Best of/Compilation, 1999 The Wicker Man Single, 2000 Brave New World Full-length, 2000 Out of the Silent Planet Single, 2000 Classic Albums: The Number of the Beast DVD, 2001 Rock in Rio Live album, 2002 17 Numbers by the Beast Best of/Compilation, 2002 Rock In Rio DVD, 2002 Edward the Great Best of/Compilation, 2002 Eddie's Archive Boxed set, 2002 Visions of the Beast DVD, 2003 Wildest Dreams Single, Dance of Death Full-length, 2003 Rainmaker Single, 2003 No More Lies EP, 2004 The Early Days DVD, 2004 The Essential Iron Maiden Best of/Compilation, 2005 Death on the Road Live album, 2005 Death on the Road DVD, 2006 The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg Single, 2006 A Matter of Life and Death Full-length, 2006 Different World Single, 2006 Live After Death DVD, 2008 Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989 Best of/Compilation, 2008 Flight 666 DVD, 2009 Flight 666: The Original Soundtrack Live album, 2009 |