The Cavern
Rock & Words
IRON MAIDEN
“I know what I want
And I say what I want
And no one can tale it away”
“C+”
Main Decade: 80’s
Main Eras:
Metal (1970 - ???)
Key Members:
Bruce Dickinson (vocals)
Steve Harris (bass)
Dave Murray (guitar)
Adrian Smith (guitar)
Janick Gers (guitar)
Nico McBrain (drums)
... and Eddie The Head
Key Songs:
The Trooper, The Number Of The Beast, Run To The Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Journeyman, 2 Minuttes To Midnight, Prowler, Aces High, Phantom Of The Opera, Fear Of The Dark, Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, Wasted Years, Iron Maiden, Running Free, Killers, Sanctuary,...
Before describing Iron Maiden's style, before summarizing their different stages and the evolution of their lineup, before even sharing a couple of anecdotes about them, Let me give you a little advice: if you're not yet a fan but are truly open to the possibility, I'd recommend not starting with their studio albums. Iron Maiden is a band designed for live performance, not in the sense of pure audiovisual spectacle like Kiss, but in the sense that, despite having albums that are genuine masterpieces of the genre—some of them absolutely essential—no studio recording has ever managed to capture the true essence of the band, the power and intensity of their live shows, or the connection between musicians and audience. It's similar to what happens, for example, with AC/DC or Springsteen: their albums are for their fans, but their concerts are for everyone. Believe me: in rock, there are few—very few—moments comparable to Bruce Dickinson, fist clenched, belting out "RUN TO THE HIIIIIIIILLS! RUN FOR YOUR LIIIIIIIIIIIIIFES!" in front of a massive crowd chanting along in a state of catharsis. Iron Maiden's show is a purely sonic spectacle, without artifice, a true celebration of rock.
The story begins in the UK in the early 70s with a young man named Steve Harris abandoning his career as a draftsman, forgetting his dreams of becoming a football star at West Ham, and buying himself a Fender Precision Bass. Steve first founded a band called Gypsy's Kiss and later another called Smiler (not to be confused with Brian May's Smile), eventually leading to the formation of Iron Maiden (in case anyone doesn't know, Iron Maiden takes its name from a medieval torture device shaped like a coffin with spikes inside). For Harris, Wishbone Ash was the mirror in which he saw himself reflected. It was from them that he copied the twin-guitar technique.
In its early days, Iron Maiden's lineup underwent continuous and drastic changes. Countless singers, guitarists, drummers... even keyboardists! passed through its ranks. However, it was around this time, amidst many comings and goings, arguments, brief returns, and snubs, that the virtuoso Dave Murray joined the band. Murray and Steve Harris would be the only ones to play on every Iron Maiden album.
But this instability didn't seem to affect the band's performance. Maiden's shows caused a sensation wherever they went. Thanks to word of mouth, the Iron Maiden, without ever having set foot in a recording studio, became a cult band in the English underground scene. Managers and record labels insisted that for a fledgling band, the only possible future lay in punk (ironic, isn't it?), but Maiden had their sights set on something special and remained true to their own style, eventually recording an EP called The Soundhome Tapes, which sold out its initial run of 6,000 copies in just a few days and was never reissued.
Their performances at London's Bandwagon garnered nationwide attention, and their legion of fans continued to grow exponentially. Before recording their first album, they were already leading the NWOBHM movement. That first album arrived in 1979. The self-titled album was packed with the hits they had been playing live for years. They were on solid ground. And yet, despite critical and commercial success, the band wasn't happy with the final result. They didn't identify with the sound they heard.
Then came Killers, much more direct and powerful, and far less elaborate than their debut. This album marked the studio debut of guitarist Adrian Smith, who would become another member of Maiden's golden era and who had already been part of the band years before. Killers also represented the first album produced by Martin Birch, who would undoubtedly prove key to their rise to stardom.
During the subsequent Killers tour, a crucial event occurred in Maiden's history: Paul Di'Anno, who had been the vocalist for these first two albums, was fired. His continuous drug and alcohol abuse had finally taken its toll on his stage performances. On several occasions, Steve Harris even had to take over as vocalist because Paul had been arrested and, at the time of the show, the singer was asleep in a cell. This could only end one way.
The man chosen as Iron Maiden's new vocalist turns out to be almost the antithesis of his predecessor. Paul Di'Anno was a visceral character, with a raw, direct style, and a rather limited vocal range and technique. He seemed more like a punk singer than a heavy metal one. In contrast, the newcomer is a true talent. Musically, his vocal range is astonishing, and his technique is impeccable. This guy, whose name is Bruce Dickinson and who comes from Samson (which will disband after his departure), studied Ancient History at the University of London and holds a commercial pilot's license. In the future, he will be selected to compete in the Olympics with the English fencing team, run his own aircraft maintenance company, write books, host radio programs... and much more. A true Renaissance man who shatters all the stereotypes and prejudices associated with heavy metal. That said, Di'Anno could easily rival Dickinson in terms of stage presence. In that respect, he had nothing to envy.
With Bruce Dickinson now a member, The Number of the Beast was released, marking the beginning of Maiden's golden age and establishing them as the most important band in heavy metal. The album's title led to them being labeled as satanic and caused the mainstream media to turn their backs on them... but nothing could stop the Iron Maiden's advance. The Number of the Beast was just the beginning.
Piece of Mind followed, bringing another change: the drummer. Clive Burr (who recently passed away) left, and Nicko McBrain joined—coming from Trust, where he was replaced by… Clive Burr!—thus finally establishing what is considered the core Iron Maiden lineup: Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Nicko McBrain. For the first time, Maiden achieved stability.
Powerslave arrived, considered one of the defining albums of the genre. It seemed clear that every Iron Maiden album would be a commercial and critical success. Album after album, everything seemed to be going smoothly. And so it would be for years.
But finally, something fell apart in the early 90s. The first to leave was Adrian Smith, who never hid the fact that his personal tastes were far removed from everything Maiden represented. His side projects outside of Iron Maiden revealed a very different Adrian from the one we all knew. He was replaced by the energetic Janick Gers, a true whirlwind on stage, although for a time—until Smith finally left—three guitarists played in the band. But the most traumatic event was yet to come: in 1993, Bruce Dickinson announced his departure, taking everyone (including his own bandmates) by surprise. The few and confusing explanations offered convinced no one. An Iron Maiden without Dickinson at this point seemed completely unfeasible, but they tried to carry on. The new vocalist was Blaze Bayley, and his debut album with the band was called The X-Factor (oh dear, what a name...). This album also brought the worrying news that Martin Birch, after more than a decade of collaboration, was no longer the producer. Too many questions arose about the quality and reception of the new album. The fact is, the X-Factor performance is quite respectable, and the album reaches a commendable 8th place on the charts. In the end, the expected debacle doesn't seem to have materialized. Even the critics applaud Blaze. But the main problem isn't with the new albums, but with the live shows. Bruce Dickinson's shadow looms large, and the comparison is as inevitable as it is devastating. Iron Maiden's most iconic songs were written for Bruce Dickinson's voice. Bayley can't reach Dickinson's range, and at times he falls so far short that he gives the awful impression of singing completely out of tune.
The next album, Virtual XI, reaches number 16 on the charts. Not bad... but it's the lowest position ever achieved by an Iron Maiden album in their entire career. Add to that the fact that, for the first time, people stop packing their concerts. It's clear this isn't working.
So the announcement of Bruce Dickinson's return to Iron Maiden—six years after his departure—caused a real stir. And Dickinson didn't return alone: Adrian Smith also came back. From then until now, Maiden has boasted not twin guitars, but three guitarists. Maiden's albums with Bruce Dickinson back have won over fans and critics alike. Some have even become iconic albums for the band. Without a doubt, Maiden is one of the most consistent bands in terms of their discography and one of those that has aged the best and most gracefully. Their concerts, where they never repeat a setlist and don't even announce which songs they're going to play, remain a successful and high-quality spectacle.
I've saved the most famous member of Iron Maiden for last. Eddie might even be the most famous character in the history of heavy metal. I think most people who aren't Iron Maiden fans know more pictures of Eddie than they know any of the band's songs. How many t-shirts have I seen in my life with the cover of The Trooper? Eddie is one of the most brilliant marketing exercises I know. The concept is incredibly simple, yet its reach has been astounding. It originated as a creation of a lighting technician named Dave Bealey, who one day built—as a prop for a concert—a disembodied head that squirted blood from its mouth thanks to an aquarium pump. The band liked the figure and ended up naming it Eddie the Head, a reference to a very famous bad joke from that time in which a boy named Eddie, born without a body and just a head, exclaims on his fifth birthday, "Oh, no! Don't tell me it's another bloody hat!" One day, Iron Maiden noticed an illustration called Electric Matthew Says Hello. Its artist, Derek Riggs, would be the one to give shape to the Eddie we all know. The thing is, little by little Eddie gains personality and relevance, appearing on every album or single cover, evolving under the brushes of different artists, dominating the stage, until he becomes more famous than anyone else. Every time Maiden releases a new album, the first thing people inevitably notice is Eddie's new look. Just as we Maiden fans have a favorite album or song, we also have our favorite Eddie; mine is the one from "Running Free." Without a doubt, Eddie is one of the elements that has most contributed to Iron Maiden becoming one of the most representative heavy metal bands, and he couldn't be missing from the Cavern. Up the Irons!
By marlaior.
Abr/22/2014
