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This is the thread to talk about Iron Maiden. Here is a quick bio:

Iron Maiden was founded by bass player Steve Harris in the late seventies. Iron Maiden released their first album soon after in 1980, with front-man Paul Di'anno. Before this they played pubs around England. They were influenced by bands like Judas Priest and Diamond Head, and were and still are icons in the late 70's-early 80's New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Paul Di'anno left the band after the release of their second album, due to alcohol problems, and the fact that he wasn't the nicest of people. Maiden recruited operatic vocalist Bruce Dickinson from British pub band Samson, who immediately recorded the landmark album "The Number of the Beast". This album yielded many classics such as the outcry against the atrocities against the Native Americans by the British settlers, "Run to the Hills", the epic closer "Hallowed be Thy Name", and the title-track, actually a story of dreams founder and bassist Steve Harris was having. Nicko McBrain, a Christian, says that he has no problem performing this song, despite the fact that many falsely label them as satanists due to misinterpreted and out-of-context lyrics. "Number" ushered in an era of classics by singer Bruce Dickinson, but was also the last album for drummer Clive Burr.

In 1983 Iron Maiden released another instant classic with "Piece of Mind". This album also had many hits with "The Flight of Icarus", "Die With your Boots On", and the amazing track "The Trooper". This album was also the first with drummer Nicko McBrain. Following this were 5 more albums with singer Bruce Dickinson, known as the golden years of the spotlight metal band. In 1992, Dickinson left the band in pursuit of other projects. He wrote 2 novels in his leave, and recorded 6 solo albums. During his absence singer Blaze Baily took over and recorded 2 albums with the band.

The 1984 album following Piece of Mind was probably Maiden's best work, Powerslave. The Egyptian themed cover showed icon Eddie as a statue on a golden throne in front of a pyramid. The epic title track told a tale of an Egyptian Pharaoh soon to die, and featured an adaptation of the poem "Rime of the Ancient Mariner". Other enduring hits off of this album were "Aces High", a song about WWII fighters, and "2 Minutes to Midnight". The "World Slavery Tour" that supported this album brought a double disc live album, "Live after Death", and a place in the record book for the biggest light set, at a cost of over $1,000,000. The stage recreated the album cover on stage with a golden pyramid, with Eddie atop his throne, and various Egyptian statues, and had the wall break away to allow Eddie to break out and wave his mummy-wrapped arms over the crowd. This large puppet was about 20ft. high, though I could be wrong. The stage set was amazing and over the top, but what can you expect from Iron Maiden?

Iron Maiden had a heavy touring regimen to promote albums and to give the fans what they wanted, a great live show. They had a convoy of trucks carrying their huge stage sets across countries all throughout the world. They broke barriers by playing where metal was banned previously, or in very dangerous areas. They paved the way for other bands to come through, and were really diplomats of metal.

In 2000, Bruce Dickinson reunited with the band, along with guitarist Adrian Smith, bringing the band to 6 members. Dave Murray describes the reunion with "the stacks had been set up facing each other, wall-to-wall, so it was like a stand-off in a Western like ‘The Good, The Bad And The Ugly’, except I think we both wanted to be Clint Eastwood! We did ‘The Trooper’, we just went straight into it, there was no 'Let’s work it out together quietly.' It was just like one, two, three, four… bang! And straight away, sparks were flying round the room! It was apparent right away that this was going to work." (ironmaiden.com) After this they recorded Brave New World, Dance of Death, and most recently A Matter of Life and Death. Brave New World was described as being a continuation of where they left off with Bruce.

Iron Maiden is no stranger to concept albums. In 1988 they released 7th Son of a 7th Son, a concept album telling of a prophet warning a village of impending Armageddon. This album, like Somewhere in Time before it, experimented with the use of synthesizer guitars. Many condemn them for that, but it was a move made to add to their sound. It created a uniqueness without plunging into the synth ridden world of Pop-Metal. They really blended it into the sound without relying on it, not too much to make them attractive to the hair metal posers.

Iron Maiden brought more to Heavy Metal than an amazing sound. Sure, they are an influence to virtually every band since 1980, and many have tried to copy their sound unsuccessfully, but they also brought a face, Eddie. Eddie has graced every one of their album covers, and is now a permanent fixture in the Heavy Metal society. Eddie is a mascot that appears at every one of their shows, and can be seen on T-shirts, and other merchandise, and is symbolic of the darkness surrounding metal, that makes up metal.

Discography:
1980- Iron Maiden
1981- Killers
1982- The Number of the Beast
1983- Piece of Mind
1984- Powerslave
1986- Somewhere in Time
1988- Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
1990- No Prayer for the Dying
1992- Fear of the Dark
1996- Future XI
1998- The X-Factor
2000- Brave New World
2005- Dance of Death
2006- A Matter of Life and Death

Band Members:
Present line-up:
Bruce Dickinson- Vocals
Adrian Smith- Guitar
Janick Gers- Guitar
Dave Murray- Gutiar
Nicko McBrain- Drums
Steve Harris- Bass

Past Members:
Paul Di'anno- Vocals
Blaze Bailey- Vocals
Clive Burr- Drums

OK, not so brief, but informative. All of that was out of my head, I went to Maiden's site only for the quote. I know too much about the band, I need to get a life...

Totally. When I know that much, you can tell their my favorite. Did you read the bio? I just revised/added to it. With a paragraph about their touring, and about the almighty Ed. Once again, all off the top of my head. I really need to get a life...

What? I'm currently wearing an Iron Maiden tour shirt, the Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg one. I love all of Derick Riggs' artwork. Eddie is just awesome.

Yeah, he's kinda gruesome, but you gotta love the big Ed'!!!

Me too... Let's start the official "I'm too big I need XL Thread". OK, Maybe not... I have so much Maiden merch, but it's worth it.

I love that track. "Scream for me Netherlands! Scream for me!!!"
That whole album was great. But I love their whole catalog, and as you can tell, I am the biggest Maiden fan you'll ever meet.

I meant "Me", oops. I just changed it.

I heard both of those live. What other songs did they do?

Of course! Did you see "Him"? mrgreen

Haha, which Ed was it?