MEMORIES:
Kapatsos remembers...Iron Maiden ruled the Hard rock scene for a while..when I was in Guitar Class my Senior year of High ... More »
Posted on 04/22/08
PHOTOS:
As one of the most imitated, influential bands in heavy metal, Iron Maiden has pumped out some of the wildest rock ever heard. Though they are considered to be a relatively underground band, they’ve become known throughout the world, and have remained consistently popular for more than a quarter of a century. The band, along with Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, set the scene for rock throughout the 80s.
Iron Maiden came together in 1976 through the efforts of bassist Steve Harris. Before getting a record deal, they played in the London area for the decade, getting a decent amount of airplay. In 1980, they released their self-titled debut. It was recorded in a flash, and became a huge hit in the U.K. on the strength of the single, “Running Free.” Their 1981 follow-up, Killers, featured an even harsher sound. The band faced some line-up shake-ups, but came through in time for their 1982 groundbreaker Number of the Beast. Songs like “Hallowed be Thy Name” helped the record go on to become one of the greatest rock recordings in history. The unexpected success of Number of the Beast made them international superstars, and they continued in the same musical vein with 1983’s Piece of Mind. Two tours went by, and in 1984, they released Powerslave which went on to become another cult hit, supported by an 11-month tour, which was the basis for Live After Death, a double-live album featuring their biggest hits up to that point.
Their dark, unique sound, and the release of their live album established Iron Maiden as a powerful heavy metal force. In 1986, they released Somewhere In Time, which was a departure from their past recordings, bringing in synthesizer-guitars and songs following a cohesive theme. Their 1988 concept album, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, featuring “The Evil That Men Do” and “The Clairvoyant,” came out to much critical praise and was backed by yet another exhaustive tour. Iron Maiden brought it back to the classics with their 1990 recording, No Prayer for the Dying. Ironically, the band’s first #1 hit in the U.K. also got the Golden Raspberry Award for ‘Worst Song of the Year.’ The following album, Fear of the Dark debuted at #1 in the U.L. and became one of the biggest selling albums in the Iron Maiden’s history.
Many albums from the studio and live-performances later, the band is together and touring for their fans, playing such shows as Rock In Rio, the Ozzfest, and Monsters of Rock, remaining as popular as ever with their fans around the world.
