Iron Maiden

🤘 Iron Maiden: The Biography of a Metal Institution Iron Maiden was founded on Christmas Day 1975 in Leyton, East London, by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris (b. 1956). Harris, the band's sole constant member, originally aspired to be a professional footballer, even training with West Ham United's youth squad before dedicating himself to music. Unable to fit a drum kit in his house, he chose the bass and became entirely self-taught, developing his signature "galloping" style that would define the band's sound. The band's early years were marked by a revolving door of musicians. After Harris left his previous band, Smiler, because they deemed his songs "too complicated," he named his new group after the medieval torture device, inspired by the film The Man in the Iron Mask. Key early members included guitarist Dave Murray (b. 1956), who joined in 1976 and remains the second-longest-serving member, and original vocalist Paul Di'Anno, who joined in 1978 and sang on their first two albums. The classic, most recognizable lineup began to solidify with the 1981 addition of vocalist Bruce Dickinson (b. 1958), known for his powerful, operatic tenor, and the 1982 arrival of drummer Nicko McBrain (b. 1952). The return of guitarist Adrian Smith (b. 1957) in 1999 alongside Janick Gers (b. 1957) established the long-running, influential six-piece configuration. Dickinson is also notable for his personal achievements, including being a commercial airline pilot, which led to him flying the band on their world tours in the customized Boeing 747, "Ed Force One." Harris and Murray remain the core creative foundation of Iron Maiden, a band built on Harris's vision and progressive rock influences.

Iron Maiden is a legendary British heavy metal band, formed by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Considered pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), they established a distinct sound characterized by high-speed riffing, complex arrangements, and Harris's trademark galloping bass lines, largely eschewing the blues roots of earlier rock. The band's rise to prominence began in the early 1980s. The crucial turning point was the addition of operatic vocalist Bruce Dickinson in 1982, whose voice powered their first UK No. 1 album, The Number of the Beast. Along with subsequent platinum albums like Piece of Mind (1983) and Powerslave (1984), they created an influential catalog of metal anthems such as "The Trooper" and "Run to the Hills." Concert tours are a cornerstone of their career, evolving from small pub gigs to massive global spectacles. The legendary World Slavery Tour (1984–85)—supporting Powerslave—was a grueling, 331-day, 189-show trek that set the standard for heavy metal stage production with elaborate Egyptian themes, massive props, and their iconic mascot, Eddie. They have consistently maintained this commitment to massive, theatrical productions, often using the band-owned Boeing 747, "Ed Force One," flown by Dickinson, to conquer over 59 countries and perform over 2,000 concerts throughout their five-decade history. Their dedication to relentless, large-scale touring has made them one of the most successful and enduring acts in rock history.