This year, Iron Maiden celebrate their 50th anniversary with the “Run For Your Lives” tour, in which they will perform classic material from 1980 to 1992.
Ahead of this, Classic Rock met up with the band in New York City in late 2024 during the last weeks of their Future Past tour. The six members of the band – Steve Harris, singer Bruce Dickinson, guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers, and drummer Nicko McBrain – were interviewed separately over four days, before and after a show in Brooklyn. All spoke at length about the highs and lows of Iron Maiden’s career and their own lives within it: the classic songs and landmark albums; the personal challenges each of them has faced. They discussed the band’s longevity; how they have made it this far, and what the future might look like – for Iron Maiden and for themselves as individuals.
The following is an excerpt from the feature:
In December 1979 the band’s self-titled debut album was recorded in London with the line-up of Harris, Murray, Di’Anno, drummer Clive Burr (poached from rival band Samson) and second guitarist Dennis Stratton. It remains one of the greatest heavy metal albums ever made, full of electrifying songs, raw energy and streetwise attitude. Arguably the most influential album that came out of the NWOBHM, it was an inspiration for Metallica and many others that followed. And on the album’s cover, illustrated by Derek Riggs, was the monstrous figure of Eddie – an image that would become, in the words of KISS star Gene Simmons, “the perfect trademark”.
Maiden’s second album, Killers, followed in 1981. It included “Innocent Exile”, the ground-zero Maiden song. It was the band’s first album with guitarist Adrian Smith, who had replaced Dennis Stratton. It was also their last with Paul Di’Anno.
After his exit from Maiden, Di’Anno had an erratic career and a chaotic lifestyle. In the months leading up to his death from heart failure on October 21, 2024, he had performed gigs while in a wheelchair, and had reconnected with Steve Harris. “I was in touch with him until a couple of weeks before he passed,” Harris says.
After a moment’s pause, he smiles as he remembers the good times they shared. “Paul was a lovable rogue. He liked to annoy me by dressing up like Adam Ant. Anything to wind me up. He liked to ruffle a few feathers, let’s put it that way. And ruffle he did! He used to call me Hitler. I’ve been called the Ayatollah and Sergeant Major, but Hitler takes the biscuit, really.”
After Di’Anno was dismissed from Maiden, he conceded that he only had himself to blame. Too many times he had blown his voice out on the road – too many late nights, too much booze and cocaine.
“Paul’s voice had a certain quality to it,” Harris says. “A rawness. But he didn’t look after himself. He had this self-destruct button. And I got the impression that he never really believed he had it in him to go to the next level. I think there was an insecurity there.”
Read the extensive feature at Classic Rock.
Iron Maiden are gearing up for a milestone in their storied career with the “Run For Your Lives” world tour. Kicking off in May in Hungary, the trek will traverse Europe, with announced dates running through August. This tour will be the band’s first with new drummer, Simon Dawson, in place of recently retired Nicko McBrain.
Most dates for Iron Maiden’s “Run For Your Lives” tour are sold out. Remaining tickets are available here. Dates are listed below:
Tour dates:
May
27 – Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Aréna
28 – Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Aréna
31 – Prague, Czech Republic – Letnany Airport
June
1 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Tipos Arena
5 – Trondheim, Norway – Trondheim Rocks (Festival)
7 – Stavanger, Norway – Sr-bank Arena
9 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
12 – Stockholm, Sweden – 3Arena
13 – Stockholm, Sweden – 3Arena
16 – Helsinki, Finland – Olympic Stadium
19 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting
21 – Birmingham, England – Utilita Arena
22 – Manchester, England – Co-Op Live
25 – Dublin, Ireland – Malahide Castle
28 – London, England – London Stadium
30 – Glasgow, Scotland – OVO Hydro
July
3 – Belfort, France – Eurockéennes Festival
5 – Madrid, Spain – Riyadh Air Metropolitano
6 – Lisbon, Portugal – Meo Arena
9 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
11 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Veltins-Arena
13 – Padova, Italy – Stadio Euganeo
15 – Bremen, Germany – Bürgerweide
17 – Vienna, Austria – Ernst Happel Stadium
19 – Paris, France – Paris La Défense Arena
20 – Paris, France – Paris La Défense Arena
23 – Arnhem, Netherlands – Gelredome
25 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsche Bank Park
26 – Stuttgart, Germany – Cannstatter Wasen
29 – Berlin, Germany – Waldbühne
30 – Berlin, Germany – Waldbühne
August
2 – Warsaw, Poland – PGE Narodowy
(Paul Di’Anno photo – Mick Burgess)
The post STEVE HARRIS Remembers Former IRON MAIDEN Frontman PAUL DI’ANNO – “He Liked To Annoy Me By Dressing Up Like ADAM ANT… Anything To Wind Me Up” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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Ahead of this, Classic Rock met up with the band in New York City in late 2024 during the last weeks of their Future Past tour. The six members of the band – Steve Harris, singer Bruce Dickinson, guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers, and drummer Nicko McBrain – were interviewed separately over four days, before and after a show in Brooklyn. All spoke at length about the highs and lows of Iron Maiden’s career and their own lives within it: the classic songs and landmark albums; the personal challenges each of them has faced. They discussed the band’s longevity; how they have made it this far, and what the future might look like – for Iron Maiden and for themselves as individuals.
The following is an excerpt from the feature:
In December 1979 the band’s self-titled debut album was recorded in London with the line-up of Harris, Murray, Di’Anno, drummer Clive Burr (poached from rival band Samson) and second guitarist Dennis Stratton. It remains one of the greatest heavy metal albums ever made, full of electrifying songs, raw energy and streetwise attitude. Arguably the most influential album that came out of the NWOBHM, it was an inspiration for Metallica and many others that followed. And on the album’s cover, illustrated by Derek Riggs, was the monstrous figure of Eddie – an image that would become, in the words of KISS star Gene Simmons, “the perfect trademark”.
Maiden’s second album, Killers, followed in 1981. It included “Innocent Exile”, the ground-zero Maiden song. It was the band’s first album with guitarist Adrian Smith, who had replaced Dennis Stratton. It was also their last with Paul Di’Anno.
After his exit from Maiden, Di’Anno had an erratic career and a chaotic lifestyle. In the months leading up to his death from heart failure on October 21, 2024, he had performed gigs while in a wheelchair, and had reconnected with Steve Harris. “I was in touch with him until a couple of weeks before he passed,” Harris says.
After a moment’s pause, he smiles as he remembers the good times they shared. “Paul was a lovable rogue. He liked to annoy me by dressing up like Adam Ant. Anything to wind me up. He liked to ruffle a few feathers, let’s put it that way. And ruffle he did! He used to call me Hitler. I’ve been called the Ayatollah and Sergeant Major, but Hitler takes the biscuit, really.”
After Di’Anno was dismissed from Maiden, he conceded that he only had himself to blame. Too many times he had blown his voice out on the road – too many late nights, too much booze and cocaine.
“Paul’s voice had a certain quality to it,” Harris says. “A rawness. But he didn’t look after himself. He had this self-destruct button. And I got the impression that he never really believed he had it in him to go to the next level. I think there was an insecurity there.”
Read the extensive feature at Classic Rock.
Iron Maiden are gearing up for a milestone in their storied career with the “Run For Your Lives” world tour. Kicking off in May in Hungary, the trek will traverse Europe, with announced dates running through August. This tour will be the band’s first with new drummer, Simon Dawson, in place of recently retired Nicko McBrain.
Most dates for Iron Maiden’s “Run For Your Lives” tour are sold out. Remaining tickets are available here. Dates are listed below:
Tour dates:
May
27 – Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Aréna
28 – Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Aréna
31 – Prague, Czech Republic – Letnany Airport
June
1 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Tipos Arena
5 – Trondheim, Norway – Trondheim Rocks (Festival)
7 – Stavanger, Norway – Sr-bank Arena
9 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
12 – Stockholm, Sweden – 3Arena
13 – Stockholm, Sweden – 3Arena
16 – Helsinki, Finland – Olympic Stadium
19 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting
21 – Birmingham, England – Utilita Arena
22 – Manchester, England – Co-Op Live
25 – Dublin, Ireland – Malahide Castle
28 – London, England – London Stadium
30 – Glasgow, Scotland – OVO Hydro
July
3 – Belfort, France – Eurockéennes Festival
5 – Madrid, Spain – Riyadh Air Metropolitano
6 – Lisbon, Portugal – Meo Arena
9 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
11 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Veltins-Arena
13 – Padova, Italy – Stadio Euganeo
15 – Bremen, Germany – Bürgerweide
17 – Vienna, Austria – Ernst Happel Stadium
19 – Paris, France – Paris La Défense Arena
20 – Paris, France – Paris La Défense Arena
23 – Arnhem, Netherlands – Gelredome
25 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsche Bank Park
26 – Stuttgart, Germany – Cannstatter Wasen
29 – Berlin, Germany – Waldbühne
30 – Berlin, Germany – Waldbühne
August
2 – Warsaw, Poland – PGE Narodowy
(Paul Di’Anno photo – Mick Burgess)
The post STEVE HARRIS Remembers Former IRON MAIDEN Frontman PAUL DI’ANNO – “He Liked To Annoy Me By Dressing Up Like ADAM ANT… Anything To Wind Me Up” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
