Iron Maiden was formed on Christmas day, 1975 by Steve Harris, who recruited guitarists Dave Sullivan and Terry Rance, drummer Ron Matthews, and vocalist Paul Day. Day, who lacked stage presence, was quickly replaced by Dennis Wilcock. Rance and Sullivan were dropped when Dave Murray was found, as neither of the former could play lead and the latter clearly could. Bob Angelo came in to complement him, but ended up trying to upstage him continuously, so was fired in late 1976. He joined Praying Mantis.

Dave Murray left in the spring of 1977 after getting in an argument with Dennis Wilcock, and was replaced by Terry Wapram on guitars. Ron Matthews also left, and in came Thunderstick, aka Barry Graham. Finally, keyboardist Tony Moore was brought in. This lineup lasted one gig, before everyone concerned realised that keyboards were a no go. Tony was fired, and Terry left out of solidarity. Dave Murray returned, and Dennis Wilcock again decided he had enough, and this time he left, taking Thunderstick with him. Dennis formed V1 with Terry and Tony, while Thunderstick popped up in Samson a bit later.

Deciding to continue, Steve and Dave found drummer Doug Sampson, and vocalist Paul Di'Anno, in mid \'77. This lineup, a four-piece, recorded the first demo, The Soundhouse Tapes, on December 31th, 1978. Then, Paul Cairns was brought in on guitars, and he lasted for about three months before leaving of his own volition. Paul Todd played two gigs, before his girlfriend told him to either choose a tour with Maiden, or her.

He was in Maiden for precisely two days in September, 1979.

Tony Parsons came in in early September (the live recording from September 10th, 1979 has him on guitars), and lasted until just about the end of the year, before leaving due to his unhappiness at being surrounded by far more talented musicians. He was replaced by Dennis Stratton. In January, 1980, Doug Sampson fell ill and quit after a tour. Clive Burr arrived, and the first album was recorded.

Dennis Stratton went to Lionheart in October of 1980, citing a love of classic rock as opposed to metal, and was replaced by Adrian Smith (Urchin) in September, 1980. Paul Di'anno had constant drinking problems and was once arrested before a show, forcing Steve Harris to take over on vocals (February 8th, 1980), and thus he was replaced by Bruce Bruce of Samson, who reverted to his non-repetitive almost birth name of Bruce Dickinson. (His full name is Paul Bruce Dickinson, but the band had had enough of singers named Paul!) Bruce's first gig was October 25th, 1981, in Italy.

Burr left the band at the end of 1982, on good terms, since he wanted a break from the music business and all the touring. He would crop up in various projects over the years. In came Nicko McBrain, formerly of Trust. This lineup lasted until January, 1990, when Adrian Smith left and was replaced by Janick Gers.

Bruce Dickinson left the band in 1993, wishing to concentrate on his solo career. Blaze Bayley (real name: Bayley Cook, Blaze was a school nickname) from Wolfsbane took over on vocals for two albums. Then, both Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith returned in 1999, and toured for a video game, Ed Hunter. The tour was monstrously successful and the band put out a new album, Brave New World, and a new live album as well, Rock in Rio. Blaze was out of the picture, so he went to form his solo project.

Former drummer Clive Burr was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2002, so the band held a benefit for him, and released a single, Run to the Hills, featuring live tracks from 1982 with Clive on drums.

CURRENT LINE-UP:

Bruce Dickinson - Vocals (1981-1993, 1999-date) (Samson, Speed, Xero) Steve Harris - Bass/Keyboards (1975-date) (Smiler) Dave Murray - Guitars (1976-1977, 1977-date) (Urchin, Psycho Motel) Adrian Smith - Guitars (1980-1990, 1999-date) (A.S.A.P., Psycho Motel, Bruce Dickinson, Urchin) Janick Gers - Guitars (1990-date) (Bruce Dickinson, Gogmagog, White Spirit, Ian Gillan Band) Nicko McBrain - Drums (Trust, Blazer Blazer) (1983-date) Note: The live Keyboardist, not officially a band member, is named Michael `` Count `` Kenney. FORMER/PAST MEMBERS: Vocals: Paul Day (1975-1976) ( More,Wildfire, Sweet) Dennis Wilcock (1976-1977) (V1) Paul Di'Anno (1977-1981) (Di'Anno, Gogmagog, Battlezone, Killers) Blaze Bayley (1994-1999) (Wolfsbane, Blaze) Guitars: Dave Sullivan (1975-1976) Terry Rance (1975-1976) Bob "Angelo" Sawyer (1976) (Praying Mantis, Weapon) Terry Wapram (1977) (V1) Paul Cairns (1979) Paul Todd (1979) Tony Parsons (1979) Dennis Stratton (1980) (Lionheart, Praying Mantis) Drums: Ron Matthews (1975-1977) Thunderstick (1977) [real name Barry Graham] (Samson) Doug Sampson (1977-1980) Clive Burr (1980-1982) ( Elixir, Gogmagog, Trust, Desperado) Keyboards: Tony Moore (1977) (V1)

The Soundhouse Tapes (EP 1979)

1.Iron Maiden

2.Invasion

3.Prowler

4.Strangeworld

Iron Maiden (1980)

1.Prowler

2.Sanctuary

3.Remember Tomorrow

4.Running Free

5.Phantom Of The Opera

6.Transylvania

7.Strangeworld

8.Charlotte The Harlot

9.Iron Maiden

NOTE: On the original Vinyl and CD releases of this album, Sanctuary appears as track 7, the above track listing is for the Remaster version.

Live + One (EP 1980)

JAPENESE VERSION:

1.Sanctuary

2.Phantom Of The Opera

3.Drifter

4.Women In Uniform (Studio Track)

GREEK VERSION:

1. Drifter
2. Phantom Of The Opera
3. Women In Uniform
4. Innocent Exile
5. Sanctuary
6. Prowler
7. Running Free
8.Remember Tomorrow
9. I've Got The Fire

Killers (1981)

1.The Ides Of March

2.Wrathchild

3.Murders In The Rue Morgue

4.Another Life

5.Genghis Khan

6.Innocent Exile

7.Killers

8.Prodigal Son

9.Purgatory

10.Twilight Zone

11.Drifter

Review: Killers, Iron Maiden's second offering rips into you and doesn't let up until the end. It seems to start off a little slow with the intro "The Ides Of March" which gives the album a nice atmosphere to start off with, despite it being a very short instrumental. From there, without a pause, it rolls directly into "Wrathchild" which is a great rocker with some great riffs and hooks. Next up is "Murders In The Rue Morgue" which starts off slow, but soon picks up to breakneck speed which has the ferocity to rip your fucking face off. "Another Life" comes up next which has some great guitar parts and instrumentally sounds excellent, the only complaint at all about this song and about the album for that matter is that the lyrics here aren't very inventive, just the same few lines repeated over and over again. "Genghis Khan" is an excellent instrumental played at top speed in the vein of "Transylvania" from their first release which gives way to the bass driven classic "Innocent Exile" which is one of the best songs I've ever heard from Maiden and then the excellent title track which features one of the best vocal performances Paul Di'Anno's ever given along with some great harmonic lines from both Adrian and Dave, Steve ripping up his bass like a madman and Clive giving an all out assault on his drums. The remaining four songs rock along nicely with that classic sound and intensity only Iron Maiden could muster. with the exception of "Prodigal Son" which is just as good, but more along the lines of a slower ballad like song. The album closes ferociously just as it opened with the classic "Drifter" which has some excellent hooks, riffs, and a great shout along chorus.

Maiden Japan (Live) (EP 1981)

ORIGINAL EP VERSION:

1.Running Free

2.Remember Tomorrow

3.Wrathchild

4.Killers

5.Innocent Exile

REMASTERED CD DIGIPAK VERSION (Full Show):

1.Wrathchild

2.Purgatory

3.Sanctuary

4.Remember Tomorrow

5.Another Life (With Clive Burr Drum Solo)

6.Genghis Khan

7.Killers

8.Innocent Exile

9.Twilight Zone

10.Strangeworld

11.Murders In The Rue Morgue

12.Phantom Of The Opera

13.Iron Maiden

14.Running Free

15.Transylvania (With Guitar solo)

16.Drifter

17.I've Got The Fire

Notes: Was re-released to members of the Iron Maiden fan club in 1999 as a digipack containing the full show. The original EP pressings in America, Canada, and New Zeland are the only ones that contain "Wrathchild", as well as the 1985 Aregentinian and Brazillian pressings. In 1990 it was also released on CD and LP alongside the "Purgatory" single as part of the "First Ten Years" box set.

Here's a review of the full show version: Iron Maiden is not only one of the best metal bands ever spawned, but one of the best live bands by far as well. Unfortunately, one of their best performances caught on tape contained here in Maiden Japan was really only widely available in EP form with only 5 tracks from the show seeing the light of day for years. However, if you were lucky enough to be a member of the fan club and take advantage of the offer, you get the whole show remastered in it's original form.

Iron Maiden, as usual, sound awesome here just thundering along with a great audience response. Di'Anno is in top form, showing off his voice quite nicely (what a great range, so much rawer than Bruce), with Adrian, Dave, and Steve tearing up their fret-boards while Clive rips apart his kit. What is also great here is the production is very crisp and clear, along with being remastered makes it sound like your right there watching them. They play the majority of their first two albums here, only excluding "Prodigal Son" and "The Ides Of March" intro from "Killers", as well as "Prowler" and "Charlotte The Harlot" from "Iron Maiden". As some nicely added bonuses here which compensate for the loss of those however, the listener is treated to a cover of the Ronnie Montrose song "I've Got The Fire", a drum solo at the end of "Another Life", and an extended guitar solo in "Transylvania".

Really every song is a highlight here, it's an excellent track selection for a show all of them are classic songs, and as all the studio versions have been described countless times, I won't waste time by talking about all of them, just certain parts of the show. Maiden gets off to a ripping start with "Wrathchild" which is always a highlight of their show, and they play it great here. Another really nice arrangement here is when they play "Genghis Khan", "Killers", and "Innocent Exile" all in a row, their such great songs and sound excellent on this release. Another highlight of song arrangement is "Murders In The Rue Mourgue", "Phantom Of The Opera", and "Iron Maiden" being played one after another. The encore they do is arranged very well with "Running Free", "Transylvania", "Drifter", and then their ass ripping version of "I've Got The Fire".

In conclusion, this is one of the best live recordings I've ever heard, and I strongly suggest getting it if you can find it. This is only one of a handful that actually deserves a 100 rating. It will not dissapoint!

The Number Of The Beast (1982)

1.Invaders

2.Children Of The Damned

3.The Prisoner

4.22 Acacia Avenue

5.The Number Of The Beast

6.Run To The Hills

7.Gangland

8.Total Eclipse

9.Hallowed Be Thy Name

NOTE: First album with vocalist Bruce Dickinson

Piece Of Mind (1983)

1.Where Eagles Dare

2.Revelations

3.Flight Of Icarus

4.Die With Your Boots On

5.The Trooper

6.Still Life

7.Quest For Fire

8.Sun And Steel

9.To Tame A Land

Powerslave (1984)

1.Aces High

2.2 Minutes To Midnight

3.Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)

4.Flash Of The Blade

5.The Duellists

6.Back In The Village

7.Powerslave

8.Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

Live After Death (Live) (1985)

Disc 1:

1.Intro: Churchhill's Speech

2.Aces High

3.2 Minutes To Midnight

4.The Trooper

5.Revelations

6.Flight Of Icarus

7.Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

8.Powerslave

9.The Number Of The Beast

10.Hallowed Be Thy Name

11.Iron Maiden

12.Run To The Hills

13.Running Free

Disc 2:

1.Wrathchild

2.22 Acacia Avenue

3.Children Of The Damned

4.Die With Your Boots on

5.Phantom Of The Opera

Somewhere In Time (1986)

1.Caught Somewhere In Time

2.Wasted Years

3.Sea Of Madness

4.Heaven Can Wait

5.The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner

6.Stranger In A Strange Land

7.De Ja Vu

8.Alexander The Great (356-323 B.C.)

Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (1988)

1.Moonchild

2.Infinite Dreams

3.Can I Play With Madness

4.The Evil That Men Do

5.Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son

6.The Prophecy

7.The Clairvoyant

8.Only The Good Die Young

No Prayer For The Dying (1990)

1.Tailgunner

2.Holy Smoke

3.No Prayer For The Dying

4.Public Enema Number One

5.Fates Warning

6.The Assassin

7.Run Silent Run Deep

8.Hooks In You

9.Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter

10.Mother Russia

Fear Of The Dark (1992)

1.Be Quick Or Be Dead

2.From Here To Eternity

3.Afraid To Shoot Strangers

4.Fear Is The Key

5.Childhood's End

6.Wasting Love

7.The Fugitive

8.Chains Of Misery

9.The Apparition

10.Judas Be My Guide

11.Weekend Warrior

12.Fear Of The Dark

A Real Live One (Live) (1993)

1.The Number Of The Beast

2.The Trooper

3.Prowler

4.Transylvania

5.Remember Tomorrow

6.Where Eagles Dare

7.Sanctuary

8.Running Free

9.Run To The Hills

10.2 Minutes To Midnight

11.Iron Maiden

12.Hallowed Be Thy Name

A Real Dead One (Live) (1993)

1.Be Quick Or Be Dead

2.From Here To Eternity

3.Can I Play With Madness

4.Wasting Love

5.Tail Gunner

6.The Evil That Men Do

7.Afraid To Shoot Strangers

8.Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter

9.Heaven Can Wait

10.The Clairvoyant

11.Fear Of The Dark

Live At Donington (Live 1993)

1.Be Quick Or Be Dead

2.The Number Of The Beast

3.Wrathchild

4.From Here To Eternity

5.Can I Play With Madness

6.Wasting Love

7.Tailgunner

8.The Evil That Men Do

9.Afraid To Shoot Strangers

10.Fear Of The Dark

11.Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter

12.The Clairvoyant

13.Heaven Can Wait

14.Run To The Hills

15.2 Minutes To Midnight

16.Iron Maiden

17.Hallowed Be Thy Name

18.The Trooper

19.Sanctuary

20.Running Free

The X Factor (1995)

1.Sign Of The Cross

2.Lord Of The Flies

3.Man On The Edge

4.Fortunes Of War

5.Look For The Truth

6.The Aftermath

7.Judgement Of Heaven

8.Blood On The World's Hands

9.The Edge Of Darkness

10.2 A.M.

11.The Unbeliever

NOTE: First album with vocalist Blaze Bayley

Virtual XI (1998)

1.Futureal

2.The Angel And The Gamblet

3.Lightning Stirkes Twice

4.The Clansman

5.When Two Worlds Collide

6.The Educated Fool

7.Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger

8.Como Estais Amigo

Brave New World (2000)

1.The Wickerman

2.Ghost Of The Navigator

3.Brave New World

4.Blood Brothers

5.The Mercenary

6.Dream Of Mirrors

7.Fallen Angel

8.The Nomad

9.Out Of The Silent Planet

10.The Thin Line Between Love & Hate

NOTE: Both Bruce Dickinson (Vocals) and Adrian Smith (Guitar) return on this album, re-uniting the semi-classic line-up.

Rock In Rio (Live 2002)

Disc 1:

1.Intro

2.The Wickerman

3.Ghost Of The Navigator

4.Brave New World

5.Wrathchild

6.2 Minutes To Midnight

7.Blood Brothers

8.Sign Of The Cross

9.The Mercenary

10.The Trooper

11.Brave New World (Enhanced Video track)

Disc 2:

1.Dream Of Mirrors

2.The Clansman

3.The Evil That Men Do

4.Fear Of The Dark

5.Iron Maiden

6.The Number Of The Beast

7.Hallowed Be Thy Name

8.Sanctuary

9.Run To The Hills

10.A Day In The Life (Enhanced Video Track)

Dance Of Death (2003)

1.Wildest Dreams

2.Rainmaker

3.No More Lies

4.Montsegur

5.Dance Of Death

6.Gates Of Tomorrow

7.New Frontier

8.Paschendale

9.Face In The Sand

10.Age Of Innocene

11.Journeyman

Death On The Road (Live 2005)

Disc 1:

1.)Wildest Dreams

2.)Wrathchild

3.)Can I Play With Madness

4.)The Trooper

5.)Dance Of Death

6.)Rainmaker

7.)Brave New World

8.)Paschendale

9.)Lord Of The Flies

Disc 2:

1.)No More Lies

2.)Hallowed Be Thy Name

3.)Fear Of The Dark

4.)Iron Maiden

5.)Journeyman

6.)Number Of The Beast

7.)Run To The Hills

A Matter Of Life And Death (2006)

1.)Different World

2.)These Colours Don't Run

3.)Brighter Than A Thousand Suns

4.)The Pilgrim

5.)The Longest Day

6.)Out Of The Shadows

7.)The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg

8.)For The Greater Good Of God

9.)Lord Of Light

10.)The Legacy

Notes: Released with a limited edition DVD containing:

1.)The Making Of A Matter Of Life And Death

2.)The Reincatnation Of Benjamin Breeg (Music Video)

3.)Different World (Studio Footage)

4.)Photo Gallery

Running Free (1980)

1.Running Free

2.Burning Ambition

Sanctuary (1980)

1.Sanctuary

2.Drifter (Live)

3.I've Got The Fire (Live)

EP VERSION:

1.Sanctuary

2.Prowler

3.Drifter (Live)

4.I've Got The Fire (Live)

Women In Uniform (1980)

1.Women In Uniform

2.Invasion

3.Phantom Of The Opera (Live)

GERMAN VERSION:

1.Women In Uniform

2.Drifter (Live)

3.Phantom Of The Opera (Live)

Wrathchild (1981) [Japan only single]

1.Wrathchild

2.Genghis Khan

Twilight Zone (1981)

1.Twilight Zone

2.Wrathchild

Purgatory (1981)

1.Purgatory

2.Genghis Khan

Run To The Hills (1982)

1.Run To The Hills

2.Total Eclipse

The Number Of The Beast (1982)

1.The Number Of The Beast

2.Remember Tomorrow (Live)

Flight Of Icarus (1983)

1.Flight Of Icarus

2.I've Got The Fire

The Trooper (1983)

1.The Trooper

2.Cross-Eyed Mary

2 Minutes To Midnight (1984)

1.2 Minutes To Midnight

2.Rainbow's Gold

3.Mission From 'Arry

Aces High (1984)

1.Aces High

2.King Of Twilight

3.Number Of The Beast (Live)

Running Free (live) (1985)

1.Running Free (Live)

2.Sanctuary (Live)

3.Murders In The Rue Morgue (Live)

Run To The Hills (live) (1985)

1.Run To The Hills (Live)

2.Phantom Of The Opera (Live)

3.Losfer Words (Big 'Orra) (Live)

Wasted Years (1986)

1.Wasted Years

2.Reach Out

3.Sheriff Of Huddersfield

Stranger In A Strange Land (1986)

1.Stranger In A Strange Land

2.That Girl

3.Juanita

Can I Play With Madness (1988)

1.Can I Play With Madness

2.Black Bart Blues

3.Massacre

The Evil That Men Do (1988)

1.The Evil That Men Do

2.Prowler '88

3.Charlotte The Harlot '88

The Clairvoyant (1988)

1.The Clairvoyant (Live)

2.The Prisoner (Live)

Infinite Dreams (1989)

1.Infinite Dreams (Live)

2.Killers (Live)

3.Still Life (Live)

Holy Smoke (1990)

1.Holy Smoke

2.All In Your Mind

3.Kill Me Ce Soir

Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter (1990)

1.Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter

2.I'm A Mover

3.Communication Breakdown

Be Quick Or Be Dead (1992)

1.Be Quick Or Be Dead

2.Nodding Donkey Blues

3.Space Station #5

From Here To Eternity (1992)

1.From Here To Eternity

2.I Can't See My Feelings

3.Roll Over Vic Vella

4.No Prayer For The Dying (Live)

5.Public Enema Number One (Live)

Wasting Love [US only single] (1992)

1.Wasting Love

2.Tailgunner (Live)

3.Holy Smoke (Live)

4.The Assassin (Live)

Fear Of The Dark Live (1993)

1.Fear Of The Dark (Live)

2.Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter (Live)

3.Hooks In You (Live)

Hallowed Be Thy Name (1993)

1.Hallowed Be Thy Name (Live)

2.The Trooper (Live)

3.Wasted Years (Live)

4.Wrathchild (Live)

Man On The Edge (1995)

1.Man On The Edge

2.The Edge Of Darkness

3.Judgement Day

4.Blaze Bayley Interview, Part 1

Lord Of The Flies (1996)

1.Lord Of The Flies

2.My Generation

3.Doctor, Doctor

Virus (1996)

1.Virus

2.My Generation

3.Doctor, Doctor

The Angel And The Gambler (1998)

1.The Angel And The Gambler

2.Blood On The World's Hands (Live)

3.The Aftermath (Live)

Futureal (1998)

1.Futureal

2.The Evil That Men Do (Live)

3.Man On The Edge (Live)

4.The Angel & The Gambler (Video)

The Wicker Man (2000)

1.The Wickerman

2.Man On The Edge (Live)

3.Powerslave (Live)

4.The Wickerman (Video)

Out Of The Silent Planet (2000)

1.Out Of The Silent Planet

2.Wasted Years (Live)

3.Aces High (Live)

4.Out Of The Silent Planet (Video)

Wildest Dreams (2003)

1.Wildest Dreams

2.Pass The Jam

3.Blood Brothers (Orchestral Mix)

Rainmaker (2003)

1.Rainmaker

2.Dance Of Death (Orchestral Version)

3.More Tea Vicar

 

 

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