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Iron Maiden Rule, here's a biog i wrote not copied.
Iron Maiden
Iron maiden was born on the 12th march 1956 in the form of Steve Harris. Even he didn't no this for the first 15 years of his life. As a young man Steve was obsessed with sport, he had his eyes on a professional career playing for his favourite team (west ham.)Eventually he got picked by west ham youth squad. Was this Steve's calling in life, no thank god in his early teens he lost interest in football completely.
Steve had grown up in a household where music was always in the background. However one of his friends introduced him into metal music, at first he thought it was just weird but soon after taking a few of his m8s records home he became addicted and started seriously collecting records.
The year was 1971 when Steve purchase his first bas guitar, a fender copy for £40, but he said that he didn't start to play in seriously until he was 17.From then on he invented a totally new style of playing bass which to this day is still being mimicked .Just 10 months l8er Steve formed his first band gypsy kiss. His first gig was at a church nearby to him. Gypsy kiss only went on to play 5 more gigs until they split.
So Steve still eager to get into the music scene formed a band with some more experienced musicians. Smiler was the name and they had regular gigs. Steve played in 25 but then decided he wanted more.
Cue IRON MAIDEN. The first line up was. Paul day, Terry Rance ,Dave Sullivan, Ron rebel and of course Steve Harris. Steve decided this line up was not working so Paul day was fired. And in was Dennis wilcock .Dennis was a huge kiss fan. The next to leave were Terry Rance and Dave Sullivan. So in came Dave Murray. Steve could not let Dave Murray go he had the right look as well as being a brill and well experienced guitarist. Bob Sawer was then recruited to back Dave Murray but this did not work so he went after a few gigs. Dave Murray was then fired by Dennis after a argument. Ron rebel then went so Barry Perkins was recruited on the drums for one show ,he was crap he went. Doug Simpson the came in to drum. Steve thought that there was still not enough power in the guitars so back came Dave Murray this tame to stay. Dennis was next to go .Paul Di Anio was next to come in with the vocals. This line up was the iron maiden who made the first album. Then came the short lived punk era. Maiden survived the punk era. After punk maiden were begging to regularly play at local pubs and events. Maiden now decided to make a demo tape. They recorded prowler, iron maiden and invasion on new years eve 1979.And maiden went away with the original recording. The line-up now was Steve, Dave, Doug and Paul Carnis. There was a heavy metal nigh at a club regularly near where maiden was so they decided to hand the demo tape to Neal Kay the organiser. When he listened to it he said it was the most impressive demo tape he had ever heard. Prowler became the most requested song on heavy metal night .But then it came to maiden performing live at the venue. They played to an amazing crown which was very overcrowded. After this maiden went on a mini tour and was a great success. But what now for maiden the have an established line-up and a following ? The needed someone familiar with the industry and who could get there material on the market. Rod Smallwood took care of maiden in summer 1978 he did it all gigs bookings and agencies. Maiden was booked in for 2 live gigs to see how they cut it on stage. They all obviously enjoyed it and was a gr8 success. Rod now started pushing maiden all over Britain booking gigs all da time. So maiden now had there 3rd step. they had a manager and had deals all over the country and were well established in da east end. Rod had now contacted EMI records and a representative came down and decided to sign them. On 28th November 1979 iron maidens first album was released. But maiden needed a new second guitarist so Dennis Stratton was called in which forced Tony parsons out. Now the drums were not keeping up to the beat so Doug Samson was lost calling in clive burr. The first single from iron maidens second album killers was to released. Single called running free. on the 28th Feb. 1981.Then on 9th Feb. 1981 the released the album killers. Soon after Dennis Stratton was lost calling in the amazing Adrian smith. No one in the band doubted this as Adrian was amazing. Maiden recorded there first live video on October 12 1981.Di anio was now not keeping up with maiden so in was called Bruce Dickinson a new vocalist. Maidens first single with Bruce was the mighty run to the hills released February 1982.The the album followed called number of the beast. live burr was now lost for Nicko mcbain a class drummer. Next album was piece of mind released on 16th may 1983.Then powerslave in august 1984.Then a tour called live after death. The next album would be released on 6th September 1986, and would be very different. The next album 7th son of a 7th son was to be a concept album and be released on the 20th march 1988.The next album no prayer for the dying was to be released on the 10th October 1990.The next album was fear of the dark and was released on the13th march 1992.Donnington live 1992 a live video of iron maiden was to be released. But bruce was being approached by another record label and decided to leave maiden for a solo career. Next album called a real live one 22nd march 1993 the on the 12th October a real dead one. Maiden received 11,000-12,000 entries of people to replace bruce’s vocal spot. They decided to go with a guy only to be known as blaze.Next album X factor released on 12 September 1995.November 1996 best of beast a compilation album came out. March 15th 1998 virtual XI was released. Blaze now had decided to go solo. Now maiden had no vocalist. Just as the news of blaze leaving came to air Bruce Dickinson came back to maiden completing the line-up. Maiden were a six piece band which they never had before.
Maiden have been greatly successful and I am sure that they will be for a long time. The current line-up is
Bruce Dickinson
Steve Harris
Adrian smith
Janik Gers
Dave murray
Nicko Mcbain.
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