Download Free Iron Maiden * Songs

Iron Maiden music biography continued...

Harris and guitarist Dave Murray, Iron Maiden has had a revolving-door lineup of musicians throughout their illustrious history. They played local clubs at first, which led to London radio airplay and a deal which saw their self-titled debut album released in 1980. The band's big breakthrough came with the 1982 album, Number of the Beast, which yielded such hits as the title track and "Hallowed Be Thy Name," which became known as one of the best rock recordings of all time. They continued to build an international presence with Piece of Mind, Powerslave (1983) and Live After Death (1985), a double live album that featured all of their biggest hit singles. By this time, Iron Maiden had established themselves as one of the more unique metal bands in the genre. They experimented a little with 1986's Somewhere in Time and in 1988 tried a concept album called Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, which featured the singles "The Evil That Men Do" and "The Clairvoyant," and soon became Iron Maiden's most critically acclaimed album since Number of the Beast. By the end of the decade, Iron Maiden, along with Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, virtually defined the British heavy metal scene.



1990's recording No Prayer for the Dying gave Iron Maiden their first #1 UK hit in the tune, "Bring Your Daughter...to the Slaughter." The follow-up album Fear of the Dark, debuted at number one on the U.K. charts and became one of Iron Maiden's biggest-selling albums to date. After their supporting tour, two live albums were released in 1993: A Real Live One, which contained live versions of their newer hit singles, and A Real Dead One, which featured the more "classic" Maiden songs live. In the late 90s, interest in the group began to wane, but they continued to record and tour through the '00s. Sanctuary put out the two-disc The Essential Iron Maiden in 2005 to coincide with the group's co-headlining Ozzfest tour with Black Sabbath. A collection of new material followed. Now having sold more than 70 million albums, Iron Maiden remains relevant, no easy feat for a band that traces their roots back to the 70s.