Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden Artistfacts

  • 1975-
    Steve HarrisBass1975-
    Dave MurrayGuitar1976-
    Doug SamsonDrums1976-1978
    Paul Di'AnnoVocals1976-1981
    Clive BurrDrums1976-1982
    Dennis StrattonGuitar1978-1980
    Adrian SmithGuitar1980-1990, 1999-
    Bruce DickinsonVocals1981-1993, 1999-
    Nicko McBrainDrums1982-
    Janick GersGuitar1990-
    Blaze BayleyVocals1993-1999
  • Steve Harris got the band name from a film of The Man in the Iron Mask. The "Iron Maiden" was a metal coffin with spikes inside. The occupant was than impaled and presumably killed.
  • In New Year's Eve of 1978, the band was recording "Iron Maiden," "Prowler," "Invasion" and "Strange World" in Spaceworld Studio near Cambridge. It cost them £200, which exhausted their resources and preventing them for actually purchasing the master tape. Two weeks later, when they obtained the tape, they found the music was raw and unmixed, because the master copy had been wiped. They gave this rough copy to DJ Neal Kay, who played it at the Soundhouse to a great reaction. They began playing gigs there and the demo tape found its way into the hands of Rod Smallwood, who became the band's manager.
  • Doug Samson left the band for health reasons, and was replaced by Dennis Stratton as guitarist. Dennis left because his musical preferences differed with the rest of the band's (although no one took it personally; he remained friends with the band members) and became the manager of The Carts and Horses. Adrian "H" Smith, friend of Dave Murray and former leader of the band Urchin (which had since broken up) took his place. After his solo project, ASAP (Adrian Smith and Project), Adrian decided he wasn't prepared to go back to the band's lifestyle, and was replaced by Janick Gers.
  • Iron Maiden is so popular in the UK that many of their songs crossed over to the Singles chart, hardly the domain of heavy metal. They logged 17 Top 10 hits, including the #1 "Bring Your Daughter To the Slaughter." In America they're beloved by metal fans but have never placed a song on the Hot 100.
  • Paul Bruce Dickinson (who went by the name Bruce Bruce before joining the band) released a single with Rowan Atkinson in the UK. It was a cover of Alice Cooper's "(I Want to Be) Elected," and the artist was credited as "Mr. Bean and the Smear Campaign," which was the band of musicians Dickinson had assembled. Between Bruce's vocals, Rowan, in character as Mr. Bean (who was running for Prime Minister) would describe his ideas for Britain ("There will be no tax cuts. But a lot of people will be forced to have haircuts- yet, Mr. Brownson, that means you!") and eventually delivered his manifesto. At the end of the song, it is revealed that he won every single vote. It was also included on the soundtrack for the film Bean.
  • Dickinson aspired to be a drummer, even going on record as saying, "I want to be Ian Pace's left foot." He once stole congas from his school to practice. As soon as he learned of his singing abilities (about 1976), he joined the band Styx (not the famous American band).
  • The band claims Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, Van Der Graf Generator, Arthur Brown, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and the Beatles as inspiration - Bruce reportedly was listening to the Beatles at age five.
  • McBrain was drumming at age 10, playing on his mother's cooker with anything that could serve as drumsticks, including knitting needles.
  • The ever-changing "Eddie" is their mascot. He appears on all the album covers and most single covers. Originally, he was a theatrical mask called Eddie The Head (or Eddie T.H.). However, when Derek Riggs designed the cover art for the single of "Running Free," they were fascinated by the one-armed junkie-like zombie who was chasing Bruce, and made him Eddie instead. For the next few albums, Eddie appeared in prison, Hell, etc. In 1992, Melvyn Grant designed the cover for Fear of the Dark, which depicted a skinny, skull-headed, purple-blue monster playing a guitar. He appeared in the next few album covers like this. The 1996 cover of Best of the Beast, designed by Derek Riggs, featured variations of all the previous Eddies attacking the viewer.
  • Dickinson is a licensed pilot and has a record label called Air Raid Records, which is his nickname.
  • Dickinson earned the nickname "The air-raid siren" for his distinctive vocals. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brett - Edmonton, Canada, for all above
  • In 1995, Dickinson released the solo album Accident of Birth and followed them up with two more, Tattooed Millionaire and Chemical Wedding. They were full of Biblical references - "Jerusalem," "Book of Thel" etc.
  • Nicko McBrain's birth name was Michael Henry McBrain. As a child, he carried around his favorite teddy, Nicholas the Bear, around everywhere, so his family jokingly nicknamed him "Nicky." When he got older, he changed it to "Nicko" to sound cooler.
  • Before Maiden, Nicko McBrain performed with singer and keyboardist Billy Day, as well as being a member of bands like the Blossom Toes, the Pat Travers band, Trust (a French politically-oriented metal band that actually supported Maiden's UK tour in 1981), and the Streetwalkers, which McBrain later called a "great little band." He was surprised they had no sucess, although they released many albums.
  • Dave Murray was fired from the band in late 1976 after he and Steve Harris had a fight at the Bridgehouse. Dave became a member of future Maiden guitarist Arian Smith's band Urchin, and he was replaced by Terry Wapram. At about the same time, Tony Moore joined the band playing keyboards. They played one gig at the Bridgehouse and keyboards were clearly not what they were looking for. Moore left, and Wapram was close behind, claiming he couldn't play without keyboards. Steve wanted Dave back, so he attended an Urchin gig, and after the show convinced Dave to play guitar for Maiden again.
  • Paul Day was the vocalist from late 1975, when the band was formed, to spring of 1976, when he was replaced by Dennis Wilcock, a former songsmith for the Smilers. It was he who recommended Dave Murray was a guitarist to Steve Harris.
  • Steve Harris was originally bassist for the band Gypsy's Kiss (originally called both Influence and Temptation) and was one of the Smilers (ie, member of the band Smiler). He played ads in Melody Maker for band members and came up with vocalist Paul Day, drummer Ron Matthews (who went by Ron Rebel), and guitarists Terry Rance and Dave Sullivan. Steve was the only one who lasted past 1976, and, indeed, is the only band member to have been in Maiden ever since its formation.
  • After Dave Murray was recruited as backup guitarist, original guitarists Terry Rance and Paul Sullivan took offense and left. Bob Sawyer was hired as second guitarist (although he used the name Bob D'Angelo). For the first time, Maiden had a proper lineup (with Steve Harris on bass, Ron Rebel on drums, and Dennis Wilcock on vocals). Nevertheless, it changed six months later.
  • In August of 1980, KISS invited the band to support them on their European tour, as well as to perform at Reading as special guests to the band UFO. Pete Way was one of Steve's biggest heroes, so he agreed without the slightest hesitation. This skyrocketed their popularity in Europe. Reportedly, KISS and Iron Maiden got along very well together, both as musicians and as friends.
  • Blaze Bayley (real name: Bayley Cook, nickname: The Dark Lord) originally started a band called Childsplay, until becoming a vocalist for Wolfsbane and eventually being selected as the replacement for Bruce Dickinson (Wolfsbane supported Maiden on tour in 1990 and Steve Harris said he was "truly impressed" after hearing Blaze warming up). In 1999, Bruce returned to the band and Blaze left. Despite rumours to the contrary, everything was done on good terms. Blaze formed his own band (called simply Blaze) and has released three solo albums to date: Silicon Messiah, Tenth Dimension and As Live as it Gets.
  • Bruce Dickinson and Ozzy Osbourne share much common ground; they are both lead singers of a British heavy metal band with a distinctive singing style. They were also both inspired by the Beatles at very young ages. For the 1994 album "Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath", Dickinson covered "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath", with the band Godspeed providing the music. He sang it in his typical air-raid siren manner, and Godspeed made the song sound a little more metallic than it originally had; many found this a very unusual track as a result.
  • In 1999, a computer game was released titled "Ed Hunter." In it, the player assumes the role of Eddie T. Head and travels throughout London and eventually into Hell. Throughout the game, Maiden's music plays ("The Phantom of the Opera," "Wrathchild," "Hallowed Be Thy Name," "Fear of the Dark," "Powerslave," "Futureal," and "The Evil That Men Do" all appear) and many subtle references to the band appear; for instance, in the first level, Eddie visits Acacia Avenue and Charlotte the Harlot can be seen in a window. To promote the game, Maiden went on the "Ed Hunter" tour, with an Ed Hunter stage prop built. It re-appeared for their Brave New World tour. Finally, in one level Eddie battles the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, a reference to Bruce Dickinson's running feud with Metallica.
  • Steve Harris: "I've got audio tapes that go right back from '76, not right from the first gigs, but from the days when we used to play places like the Bridge House. They're a bit dodgy. There's a version of 'Purgatory', which was then called 'Floating' and it had an arrangement that was a bit different. I've also got a tape of my very first band, Gypsy's Kiss, of us at the Cart and Horses. It might have been the first gig we did. There's a song called 'Endless Pit' which later became 'Innocent Exile'. The tapes exist, but I never play 'em to anyone!"
  • Original vocalist Paul Di'Anno was, between various rock projects, a chef, butcher, and other kitchen-related jobs. He was fired after the release of Maiden's second album, Killers, for behavioral issues (he had been partying heavily and often showed up for recordings, and even at concerts, drunk and/or stoned). He had a few subsequent bands, one of which was named Killers, but never reached the success Maiden did with Bruce Dickinson (who, ironically, also had the first name Paul). However, after Bruce left the band in 1993, there were rumors that Di'Anno would return to his post, although ultimately Blaze Bayley was chosen.
  • Derek Riggs, who drew most of the cover art, created a little trademark symbol of his: Two circles a distance apart from eachother, which a larger circle above that space. The larger circle has a line through the middle, which continues on down through that space and ends as an arrow. From the right half of the circle, a stick is protruding, and is attached to the smaller circle on the right. This forms his initials, D.R. It subsequently became a symbol of hardcore Satanism, distinguishing committed Satanists from the "poseurs." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brett - Edmonton, Canada, for all above
  • As well as having his own video game, Eddy appeared in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Tom - Trowbridge, England
  • Based on a 1984 concert at Long Beach Arena in California, Iron Maiden's Live After Death was finally released on DVD in 2008. The first disc is the original concert, with lots of chatter from Bruce Dickinson between songs. The second disc contains extras like a documentary about the making of the Powerslave album and some live performances. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr played on the band's first three albums (Iron Maiden, Killers and The Number Of The Beast). He left the band in 1982 due to Iron Maiden's tour schedule and personal problems. Burr performed with many other bands of the same sound before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1994, the treatment of which left him deeply in debt. Iron Maiden staged a series of charity concerts to help their old bandmate and was involved in the founding of the Clive Burr MS Trust Fund. Burr passed away on March 12, 2013 in his sleep at his home at the age of 56.
  • Monty Python's "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" is played over the PA system at the end of every Iron Maiden concert.
  • Bruce Dickinson attended the Northamptonshire public school Oundle where he was rejected from the choir for not being good enough. His choirmaster passed him a certificate that read: "Dickinson: non-singer."
  • Dave Murray helped Adrian start the band Urchin, which was originally called Evil Ways.

Comments: 39

  • Anti-pattern from UsaBruce Dickinson "Non-Singer"! He probably also thought Ferrari and Lamborghini were "ugly and useless"! Leave it to our great educators to try and break a kids spirit and tell them everything they'll never accomplish in life!
  • Richard Harris from Bc CanadaIn 1981 for the Killers Tour, Iron maiden opened up for Judas Priest, in 1982 (less than a year later) Priest opened up for them for The Number of the beast tour!
  • Andrew from New York, NyMid-1970s Heavy Metal Rock Band MONTROSE was a big influence on this group. Some of MAIDEN's songs are even re-makes of earlier Montrose "I Got the Fire" "Space Station"...etc. Its neat to hear these songs somewhat different and re-done though.
  • Danny from Dover, OhBlaze wasent as good as Dickenson, we all know that, but stop ripping on Blaze. While Dickenson was gone the band would have faded into the dark and never had the chance to redeme its self. Remember that no one man (Excludeing Steve) was "the band" it was sevral individuals that worked together to perfecting what we hear today. When you hear Maiden you hear the dedication of sevral men and the perfection that is godly. Up The Irons, long live Iron Maiden and long live Eddie.
  • Austin from Bristow, VaIron Maiden has never and I repeat never disappointed me. Every album (excluding the Blaze Bayley albums and I guess Fear of the Dark and No Prayer for the Dying) has rocked my world. Bruce, Steve, Dave, Adrian, Janick and Nicko. God put them on this planet for a reason. To rock your world and ours. Maiden 4ever.
  • Diverdriver from Petaluma, CaTatooed Millionaire was Bruce's first solo album. It was released in 1991.
  • Diverdriver from Petaluma, CaThe Iron Maiden torture device was never acually put to use. The spikes were mounted to the inside and would impale the victim as it was closed.
  • Anthony from Parsippany, NjBest band on the planet...hence that they've been kicking since at least 1980. Thought provoking lyrics, unbelievable melodies and style. Thank the heavens for Steve Harris...one of the true pioneers of great, great, great music.
  • Ray from Lodi, NjNot Styx "lady,blue collered man, come sail away" Styx. It was another band called Styx
  • Markus from Stockholm, Swedenand to u Bobbtu, Graceland, MN
    Black sabbath where before both judas priest and iron maiden and DONT say that Sabbath isnt a metal band
    and if you say sabbath arent metal you have probobly only heard paranoid and that one might not be metal but war pigs, iron man and selftiteld black sabbath defenetly are and those songs are from 1970. priests debut came 1974 and maiden 1980 =P
  • Randy from Colerain Twp., OhHmmm... I highly doubt that Bruce Dickinson had ever joined Styx- at least during the mid- 1970's. Tommy Shaw had replaced John Curulewski in 1975 and remained with the band until 1983- and then rejoined them in 1995. Styx never had a 'lead vocalist'. Vocals have always been shared by various members of the band. I have been following Styx for the past 30 years, and I don't recall anyone from Iron Maiden being a member of the band.
  • Cameron from Bentonville, Ar""They're one of the few metal bands with guitarists that play strats, instead of the usual Gibsons or fenders." Adrian used to play a Gibson Gold Top."

    btw... they didnt always use fender strats.. but jackson ones...

    great band... dont like bruce though

    oh and the thing says that eddie is chaseing bruce on "Running Free" (great song), but Running Free was made when they had di'anno so that doesnt make sense
  • Vince from Long Island, NyBy the way, Steven an Iron Maiden was a spiked coffin.It even says at th top of the page as the first fact.
  • Vince from Long Island, NyIron Maiden freak'in rocks!!!!!!! Dave and Adrian are sick guitarists.
  • Lordkelvin from San Antonio, TxPerhaps the greatest band ever. everything about this band is completely awesome!! I really like Dianno and I love Bruce but I hate Blaze. He just sucked so hard it ain't even funny. He completely ruined 2 or 3 maiden albums. I know a guy who loves maiden but hated blaze so he removed blazes voice with a karoke machine and just listened to the music. Try it and the X-factor and other crap albums will sound great as ever. Everyone's feet are made of clay people!! Even Iron Maiden. One more thing... now that adrian's back.. do you need the other guy (??can't even remember his name).. keep davey and adrian.. what more do you need??
  • Steven from Pearl River, NyI thogught it was the tourture divice in scottland or sumin called the iron maiden. W.e BEST BAND EVER! WHOOOA!
  • Feanor from West Palm Beach, Fl"They're one of the few metal bands with guitarists that play strats, instead of the usual Gibsons or fenders." Adrian used to play a Gibson Gold Top.
  • Pedro from Guatemala, OtherWhat is this about the Metallica-Dickinson feud? Anyone care to explain?
  • Bobbtu from Graceland, MnMy cousin claims that Iron Maiden started metal music. I said Judas Priest, but he thinks that Judas Priest came after Iron Maiden.
  • Anthony from Howell, NjIron Maiden is my overall favorite band, I wish Bruce Dickinson hadn't left because now there not as good as they used to be but they still kick @$$.
  • Loum from «gdgds, ArMAIDEN ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!
  • Phillip J. Crom from Allentown, Pasince my teenage years, I have listened to Iron Maiden avidly, watched the line-up change, watched it change back, then watched it pretty much change back. during this time Iron Maiden never lost a bit of strength or cohesion, unlike those those who sell-out (*coughcoughMETALLICAcoughcough*); but instead they only seemed to become better. so much so, I own 15 of the albums, 4 t-shirts, a bobble head and all the Iron Maiden stuff to turn my cell phone into a Maidenfest on my pocket. "Ghost of the Navigator" is the 21st century Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Bruces' voice is still sharp as can be and only Maiden can put on a live show like they do. to all the guys of Maiden ( all five, at my last count) I say this: the rolling Stones are STILL rocking after all these years.. and you are too. keep up the fantastic work. WE LOVE YA! signed, your prime fan.
  • Syph from That One, Australiai find it offensive that iron maiden is used in the same sentence as marmite WITH references to each other... because marmite is the cheap imitation to australian vegemite.... (and no, i dont have a pet kangaroo...)
  • Francisco from South Gate, CaOne of the greatest bands ever right next to Judas Priest.
  • Kunal from Bangalore, IndiaIron Maiden is undoubtedly THE BEST Rock band on this planet.
  • Carlos from Porto Alegre, BrazilI drove 770 miles to Indianapolis,to Ozzfest, to see Sabbath and especially MAIDEN. Though Black Sabbath did not play (Ozzy got sick or something...)IRON MAIDEN kicked seriuos asses, as usual. The festival should be renamed "MAIDENFEST", or "IRONFEST".
    It eas a great show. Thanks to the best band ever.
  • Jonnee from Ottawa, Canadaeddie is not chasing bruce on the running free single cover. Paul Di'Anno was the singer on running free which was on the album Iron Maiden
  • IngÃ?lfur from ReykjavÃ?k, IcelandBruce said himself that after some concert a fan sent him a letter which said that he was very disappointed with the concert, it was like hearing all of his favorite songs sung by an air raid siren or something. ( I thibk it's told on 12 Wasted Years)
  • Emmanuel from Damascus, MdI believe the Accident at Birth album Bruce released, also includes Adrian in the line up. This is right before they re-joined Maiden.
  • Zac from Nottingham, United StatesBruce rejoined in 2000,as maiden finally saw that blaze was crap,theyve released 2 more studio albums, brave new world & dance of death & are currently touring south america & europe
  • Zac from Nottingham, United StatesThe first statement is false, steve did not get the name from the film, no lie, his granny suddenly said it while watching tv, check yourself, buy the iron maiden biography :D
  • Matt from River Vale, NjIron Maiden also released the album "Dance Of Death" in 2003 and "Rock In Rio", the CD of their live concert in Rio De Janiero, Brazil, in 2000. Also, in late 2004 Maiden released a DVD of their early years, the first in a string of related releases.
  • Jason from Edmonton, CanadaSince each episode featured a 'New Number Two', I'm wondering which episode of the TV series the intro for the songwas taken from. I recently saw 'the Schizoid Man' and it sure sounded close to what I remember. I have not been able to find any information on the web, thus I've turned to you.TY
  • Paul from Anacortes, WaIron Maiden is the greatest heavy rock band there ever was. The End
  • Tom from Trowbridge, EnglandThere are several reasons why Maiden are great.
    1.They're one of the best rock ensembles in the world; how many other bands can effectively have 3 lead guitarists?
    2.Bruce Dickinson is the metal equivalent of Freddie Mercury; just listen to his vocal range.
    3.They are as popular now as they were 20 years ago; they're still churning out top quality rock songs and are still experiencing chart success despite competition from much younger bands. 'Wicker Man', from the 2000 album 'Brave New Worls' is easily one of their best songs.
    4.Despite the line-up changing, they have never fallen apart at the seems like a lot of bands. Plus, the fact that Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith both returned a few years ago only made them ore popular.
  • Tom from Trowbridge, EnglandIron Maiden have often been referred to as the 'Marmite of Rock' (Marmite is a British sandwich spread with a strong taste; people either love it or hate it). I don't think it's fair the way critics and the media ignore them constantly. They have had lots of Top 10 singles and albums in the UK ergo they are incredibly popular. The media hasn't realised this for some reason.
  • Tom from Trowbridge, EnglandIron Maiden are a truly great British institution, like Big Ben or the Royal family.
  • James from Great Leighs, England"Doug Samson left the band for health reasons, and was replaced by Dennis Stratton as guitarist."
    This isn't right - Why would the drummer be REPLACED by a guitarist?


    "In 1999, a computer game was released titled "Ed Hunter." In it, the player assumed the role of Eddie T. Head"
    Incorrect - You weren't playing as Eddie, the idea of the game was to HUNT Eddie, thus the name. 'Ed Hunter' is actually the name of the character you play in the game, according to the booklet.
  • Dan from Brick, Nj"In 1995, Dickinson released the solo album Accident of Birth and followed them up with 2 more, Tattooed Millionaire and Chemical Wedding. They were full of Biblical references - "Jerusalem," "Book of Thel" etc."

    This is incorrect. Tattooed Millionaire was Bruce's first solo album, released when he was still with Maiden. Balls to Picasso was released in 1994, followed by Alive in Studio A in 1995 and Skunkworks in 1996. The incredible Accident of Birth was released in 1997, followed by the alchemy-based concept album The Chemical Wedding in 1998. Scream for Me Brazil was released in 1999.
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