This is NOT your normal Iron Maiden History; this is Maiden, Metal Nerdery Style.
JOIN US as we talk about “the gift” of Iron Maiden, including the various lineup changes over the years, the other bands that belong to the Iron Maiden family tree and of course some deep, Metal Nerdery “nerding” that take us down the glorious rabbit hole of Iron Maiden’s history.
Introduction
Iron Maiden was birthed on Christmas Day 1975 by bassist Steve Harris. He and guitarist Dave Murray are the only two members of the band that have performed on every single album. The following is a round up of the other musicians who have brought Maiden to where they are today, one of the most influential and successful Metal bands of all time.
STEVE HARRIS < 1975 - present >
Performed on all Maiden releases.
His first band was called Influence in 1973 but it didn’t last long and broke up soon after changing their name to Gypsy’s Kiss. He then joined Smiler in 1974 and played with future Maiden members Doug Sampson (drums) and Dennis Wilcock (singer). He formed Maiden when they refused to play his original material claiming it was too complicated. He’s also put out two albums with his solo project British Lion and played bass on his daughter Lauren Harris solo album Calm Before the Storm.
DAVE MURRAY <1976 - 1977 / 1978 - present >
Performed on all Maiden releases.
Formed his first band at 16, a trio called Stone Free which also included Adrian Smith on vocals. He later did short stints in Electric Gas, an American type soft rock band and The Secret, a punk band. He joined Maiden in 1976 only to be fired shortly after an argument with Dennis Wilcock. He then joined Adrian Smith’s band Urchin for a while. He was asked to rejoin Maiden after Wilcock’s departure. He’s also performed on Hear ‘n Aid and Psycho Motel (an Adrian Smith project.)
ADRIAN SMITH <1980 - 1990 / 1999 - present >
Performed on all Maiden releases from Killers to Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, and all releases from Brave New World to The Book of Souls.
He formed his first band Evil Ways with Dave Murray on guitar which later became Urchin at 16 after being influenced to play guitar by his friend Dave Murray. When they broke up in 1980 he joined Maiden replacing Dennis Stratton. He has also performed with his other projects A.S.A.P. and Psycho Motel which he formed after hearing King’s X for the first time and was inspired to write music in that vein, and also Primal Rock Rebellion which is a project with SikTh vocalist Mikee Goodman. He was also a member of Bruce Dickinson’s solo band. He’s had guest appearances on albums from Japan’s Earthshaker, Michael Kiske of Helloween solo album and a tribute album to Alice Cooper among others.
BRUCE DICKSINSON <1981 - 1993 / 1999 - present >
Performed on all Maiden releases from The Number of the Beast to Fear of the Dark, and Brave New World to The Book of Souls.
He began fronting small pub bands in the 70’s and joined Samson in 1979 with whom he released two studio albums under the name Bruce Bruce. He joined Maiden in 1981 replacing Paul Di’Anno. He has also released six solo albums. Outside of music he was an airline pilot, founded his own aircraft maintenance and pilot training company, hosted his own radio show and television documentaries, written novels and film scripts, brewed beer with Robinsons brewery making their best selling beer and competing at fencing at an international level.
NICKO MCBRAIN <1982 - present >
Performed on all Maiden releases from Piece of Mind to The Book of Souls.
His first “proper” band was called The 18th Fairfield Walk, later known as Peyton Bond, they performed covers by Otis Redding, The Beatles and The Who. He then joined The Wells Street Blues Band, later renamed The Axe in 1969. He then joined up with Billy Day who drunkenly introduced him the head of CBS records as Nicko and decided to keep it. He also played and recorded with Gordon Giltrap, Streetwalkers, Pat Travers and Trust. He met Maiden when Trust toured with them in 1981. He was asked to replace Clive Burr in 1982 and has been there ever since. His first appearance with the band was on German TV, he played drums with an Eddie mask on because Clive Burr’s departure had not yet been announced. He converted to Christianity in 1999 and has been sober since 2015. He opened the Rock ‘n Roll Ribs restaurant in Florida where he lives in 2009. Jaguar has made him his own custom Jag with Jaguar written in the Maiden logo style. In 2018 he opened a musical instrument store named Drum One in Manchester UK specializing in drum kits and related merchandise.
JANICK GERS < 1990 - present>
Performed on all Maiden releases from No Prayer for the Dying to The Book of Souls.
He has also performed and recorded with White Spirit, Gillan, Gogmagog (w/ Paul Di’Anno and Clive Burr formerly of Maiden, former Def Leppard guitarist Pete Willis and former Whitesnake bassist Neil Murray), and Fish (former vocalist of Marillion). He was then asked to record Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter with Bruce Dickinson for the Nightmare on Elm Street soundtrack. This turned into recording Bruce’s first solo album Tattooed Millionaire and then to replace Adrian Smith when he left Maiden. He’s left handed but plays guitar right-handed like me but evidently doesn’t use a B string on his guitars, unlike me.
DOUG SAMPSON <1977 - 1979>
Performed on The Soundhouse Tapes, Axe Attack, Metal for Muthas and the original Running Free single release.
Prior to Maiden he was in Smiler with Steve Harris and Dennis Wilcock. He left Maiden in 1979 after developing health issues from the bands extensive touring schedule. He then formed Airforce, playing heavily on the London club circuit and releasing a few albums.
PAUL DI’ANNO <1978 - 1981>
Performed on The Soundhouse Tapes, Iron Maiden, Live!! +one, Killers, Live at the Rainbow and on other compilations.
Where to start? He has written, recorded and toured with so many projects it’s crazy. These include Di’Anno, Gogmagog, Battlezone, Praying Mantis, Killers, The Original Iron Men (w/Clive Burr and Dennis Stratton), Paul Di’Anno, The Almighty Inbredz, Paul Di’Anno’s Killers, Paul Di’Anno and Maiden England, Paul Di’Anno and Children of the Damned, Paul Di’Anno and The Phantoms of the Opera and Architects of Chaoz. This doesn’t even touch the surface, he’s also been on too many compilations, tribute albums and guest appearances to shake a stick at. He’s also had a very interesting personal life that you can look into in your spare time.
DENNIS STRATTON <1979 - 1980>
Performed on Iron Maiden and Live!! +one.
He joined his first band Harvest, later known as Wedgewood at 16. He joined Remus Down Boulevard in 1975, toured in support of Rory Gallagher and Status Quo and recorded a live album. Steve Harris invited him to join Maiden after seeing him perform and also recruited Clive Burr on Strattons recommendation. He left in 1980, wasn’t getting along with Harris or Rod Smallwood and was replaced by Adrian Smith. He later played with Lionheart, Praying Mantis, and The Original Iron Men (w/Paul Di’Anno and Clive Burr). He is still performing in the East London area and occasionally tours Europe with various cover bands.
CLIVE BURR <1979 - 1982>
Performed on all Maiden releases from Iron Maiden to The Number of the Beast.
After Maiden he played and recorded with several outfits including Trust (who he basically traded places with Nicko), Gogmagog, Clive Burr’s Escape (later known as Stratus), Dee Snider's post Twisted Sister group Desperado, Elixir and Praying Mantis. He died in 2013 from complications from MS. He’s been praised as a big influence on many drummers including Dave Lombardo, Charlie Benante, Dave McClain, and Paul Bostaph.
BLAZE BAYLEY <1994 - 1999>
Performed on The X Factor and Virtual XI.
Before he was asked to join Maiden he fronted Wolfsbane, releasing several albums. When he heard Bruce was coming back to Maiden he left and pursued a solo career under several different monikers. Blaze, Blaze Bayley Band and Blaze Bayley.
(00:00): Intro (to Nerd Pleasure)/Iron Maiden 101: Metal Nerdery style
(03:51): A Very Merry Christmas (1975)/Steve and Dave’s tenure/The commitment of Iron Maiden fans
(06:03): Steve Harris IS Iron Maiden/Influence- Gypsy’s Kiss - Smiler (NOT Exciter!)/What’s in a name? (#antiporn)/British Lion/The Raven Age (a Maiden family connection)
(10:10): Dave Murray: the 2 nd longest member (wait, WHAT!?)/ Stone Free- (incl. Adrian Smith) - Electric Gas - The Secret (#electricgash #imjusttellinya)
(12:22): Dennis Wilcock/Urchin (Adrian Smith)/Steve Harris’ high praise and kudos and commendments to Dave Murray/the hilarity of Nicko McBrain/#werestars/Psycho Motel
(16:40): Yo Adrian (Smith) - Evil Ways (incl. Dave Murray) - Urchin - (Jimi - Dave - Adrian) Iron Maiden (Remember A.S.A.P.? Another Adrian project…)/Primal Rock Rebellion (Sikth…like Djent, #coolscandinavianbabynames)/Bruce…wait, Bruce…BRUCE!?!?/#noevidenceofthe90s
(21:22): Bruce Dickinson - Samson (#airraidsiren)/One of the busiest front men in Metal (piloting, fencing, metaling)/tangentionally off topic (#whaddyamean?)…NOW with mustaches!
(27:40): Nicko McBrain (the most interesting character in Iron Maiden)/ Piece of Mind forward…production quality Quality/The Holy Trinity of Maiden Albums: Beast, Piece and Powerslave/ Nicko’s early bands: The 18 th Fairfield Walk - Peyton Bond - Wells Street Blues Band - The Axe - Billy Day - Pat Travers - Trust / (sigh) it’s called “backshadowing” / Fear of the Dark: Gordon Giltrap (look at the logo, and just keep saying his name)/David Bowie: The Man Who Fell to Earth (#hookersandblow)/Clive and Nicko exchange: From Maiden to Trust and Trust to Maiden/eating RockandRollRibs in your brand new jag-u-wah whilst driving to the Jag War #rockandrollribs #jagwar/Drum One/The recording and subsequent release of “The argument”
(38:53): Janick Gers 1990 forward/ White Spirit - Gillan (Ian Gillan from Deep Purple) – GOGMAGOG (also fun to say)/ #fuckthatstring
(43:00): Doug Samson (where’s the brutal brutality?)/also in SMILER / Paul Di’Anno and every possible iteration of Paul Di’Anno to ensure that people remember Paul Di’Anno as the first singer for Iron Maiden (and NOT Exciter!!)/ #lifer/Dennis Stratton: Harvest - Wedgewood - Remus do what!? Paul’s severance package
(50:03): Clive Burr - Stratus - Praying Mantis - (R.I.P.) / Clive’s drumming influence is GIRNOMOUS in Metal!!!/ Blaze Bayley and the multiple iterations of his time with different bands (sadly, NOT including Exciter!)/CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE GLOBAL WORDERY ABOUT METAL NERDERY!!!!
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