Author:Iron Maiden (Foreword by Steve Harris, Backword by Bruce Dickinson)
Produced to mark the 50th Anniversary of the band that have basically become the embodiment of Heavy Metal. If a non-HM fan was asked to name one band of the genre, the answer would more than likely be Iron Maiden.
In a 45 year recording career, they have sold somewhere between “huge amounts” and “sh*tloads” of albums, toured almost every year and every continent, played to audiences ranging from 3 men and a dog to 250,000 punters, suffered line-up changes but not as many as contemporaries (as a recoding unit: 3 singers, 4 guitarists, 2 drummers, and 1 bass player), and just kept going in their own way.
And it is that one bass player (step forward Mr Steve Harris) who has driven the band from the pubs in East End London to stadiums of the world, wrote many of the songs, and generally protected and coveted the Iron Maiden template and name.
And to think, without the burning ambition – that’s the last time I lever an IM song title into this review, honest – Steve Harris could’ve gone down the professional football route (it was an option) or contented himself in the architects design office.
Yet bitten by the music of Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Wishbone Ash, Jethro Tull, Golden Earring, and a cheap copy Fender Precision bass, it became clear where he wanted his future to be.
The first Iron Maiden line-up came together in 1975, were christened on Christmas Day, rehearsed incessantly, went through various line-up changes, and after a couple years of solid gigging, residencies, and a growing local following, recorded their first demos on New Years Eve 1978.
12 months later, the band signed to EMI, spent 2 weeks recording their debut album, and set off on tour.
Underneath it all, Steve Harris makes it clear there was no masterplan – just a desire to get an album recorded, go on tour, and see what happens next.
And that has been pretty much the Iron Maiden way since then – OK, they may now spend slightly longer in the studio, but the write, record, tour, rest, and repeat cycle has been a virtual constant.
This book tracks the history in the bands own words, all the pivotal moments, the highs and lows (mostly highs to be honest).
The text tells the story, and is enhanced by a collection of archive photos, press photos, single and album covers, tour bills, T-Shirts, and (slightly nerdy, but no less important) double pages on each members gear and setup
(my only criticism here is that Bruce Dickinson didn’t get a page talking about his preferred mike stand and monitors)
The artwork has always been a key feature, and you can watch the evolution of Eddie and Iron Maiden’s graphic style through time.
The rise from East End Pubs to Stadium gigs may have taken around 5 years, they then consolidated their position for a further 7 years or so before the wheels started to come off.
One guitarist and one vocalist down, replacements were found and the Maiden ship sailed again – but something had got lost somewhere in time (apologies, I couldn’t stop myself dropping another reference in there)
The Blaze Bayley era came to a close, and the text is ambiguous here with the phrase “It’s time” suggesting not just the end of the road for Blaze, but maybe Maiden too.
However, lurking in the shadows was a vocalist whose sols career had stalled … the meeting between Bruce Dickinson and Steve Harris is summarised thus:
Steve: why do you want to re-join
Bruce: because I want to play big gigs again, and I think we’d be great
Steve: alright then
And then they went down the Pub
So begins their brave new world (oops, did it again), and whilst not achieving perhaps the same popular recognition, their songs and albums remain a vital mix of histrionics, galloping, and epic elongation, they just keep on Maidening.
And despite 50 years on the clock, each member the other side of normal retirement age, and the loss of a drummer for touring purposes, you wouldn’t bet on them stopping any time soon.
The length of the read may be Medium for the text, but you’ll find yourself pouring over the sheer amount of pictures.
(and, as I did, staring at the T-Shirt pages remembering where I was when I bought a specific shirt – all gone now, no idea where – Lost in a lost world (last one, promise)
A coffee table book you can read, re-read, enjoy, learn stuff, and scare the kids with some the Eddie images
Length of Read:Medium
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
Wondering what happened in the 38 years since the first definitive history – 12 Wasted Years
One thing you’ve learned
Dave Murray’s black 1963 Fender Strat (with a 1957 maple neck) once belonged to Paul Kossoff
Iron Maiden could be seen as a benign dictatorship, but once you’re in you’re in – none of the past members offer a bad word, and tributes and due thanks are paid to Paul D’Anno, Clive Burr, and Blaze Bayley for their contributions.
Nicko’s retirement from touring is also recognised as “ it will be a lot quieter round here now”
One thing I was pondering when reading this book …
OK, 50 years in the biz and this book is a great document of the band.
It seems everyone gets a film doc these days … why not Maiden.
And then I read this:
https://www.ironmaiden.com/maiden-feature-documentary-announced-for-2025/
they did the history of documentaries i think from birth upto Adrian leaving, of course the next era being Bruce leaving, Blaze etc, the 90s were not a good time for them. So unless they were to make that next feature run from 1990 to date, as there is too much dark to feature on just the 90s. so why not as its 50 years wrap it all up in one, Not expecting to have the 90s feature for too long in that feature.
love band, i live 4 miles from Knebworth, so by rights i should go see them next summer but the support is dire (the darkness are main support) so having seen them plenty of times already will sit in garden with a beer and listen. not a fan of big gigs.
This book will be on my Christmas list and my family “always sticks to the list” :o)
If you’re a Maiden fan put this on your Christmas wish list as it’s essential reading!
There’s a very entertaining film on BBC iPlayer called Flight 666, which records an Iron Maiden tour from some years back. It’s a repeat but I thought it was great -and was dead impressed that the jet the band used to fly them around Asia was piloted by the singer.
They did it again in 2016.
Bruce needs flying hours to keep his pilot licence, so mat as well combine the 2 jobs.
I’m a big fan of the Irons, so I’m biased, but I thought the film was a great insight into a band that can still comfortably sell out major venues worldwide while being largely ignored by the mainstream media.
They and their crew/entourage come across as a lively and close bunch of mates, and the passion of their fans, particularly in Latin America and India, was actually rather moving.
I don’t know much if their music but I instinctively think they are a Good Thing. I doubt I’ll buy the book but I know I’d love it if someone loaned it to me.
They are a very well run band, and benign dictatorship is fair. However, I’m not sure I agree with the “once you’re in, you’re in” point. Paul Di’Anno and Clive Burr didn’t choose to leave, not to mention Blaze Bayley. At the same time, they stuck by Janick Gers when Adrian Smith came back.
I have this idea/theory that Iron Maiden can turn up in just about any city in the world and fill the local sports stadium. Global band.
I think you’re absolutely right. One of those bands like Metallica who can seemingly tour endlessly on the strength of their extensive back catalogue, which is where the money is nowadays, of course , while only occasionally needing to produce a new album.
There’s a passage in the book where Paul Di’Anno admits his behaviour was not helping the band and he knew it was time to leave (rather than waiting to be pushed).
Blaze tried, but ultimately knew he couldn’t match expectation of Bruce’s range and energy.
Maybe it’s because one of the authors/editras is Steve Harris himself, but it does come over like “accepted, all for the greater good”)
There is very much the fell hand of Rod Smallwood over everything Maidenesque, up to and including the set lists. Dennis Stratton is another one who wasn’t invited back for example.
I think it’s the documentary mentioned above that brings out the best in the road crew, from the giveaway “And this is where the hidden keyboard player lives” to “You can tell these are Adrian’s monitors because of the footmarks – he wears in-ears on stage, mind” and “You can fiddle about all you like with Dave’s amp settings, he’s got them soldered in fast. Those gear run down videos don’t half make me laugh”,* they sound like a grand bunch of lads.
*Some of this may be paraphrased.
You’re probably right, to the extent that I’ve read Steve a Harris complaining that Maiden don’t work enough, hence his side outfit Steve Harris’ British Lion. I saw them play in a small arts centre, possibly because the guitarist (a friend of a friend of mine) is local.
It took me a couple of songs to work out what the white flakes I could see falling through the air were. Then I worked out they were flakes of paint being shaken from the roof by the volume. We lasted a bout 20 minutes and I concluded that having seen Maiden a couple of times in the 80s that’s where is should leave them.
They really deserve gongs from His Maj. Done loads of good works. Sir Bruce?