Iron Maiden Vinyl Records

Beginnings Of The Beast

Upon leaving his band Smiler late 1975, bassist Steve Harris started Iron Maiden on the 25th of December 1975, although the band did not have its iconic line up, in fact it didn?t even have what some would consider to be the original line up of their debut album. Yes Iron Maidens beginnings involving band personnel was a rollercoaster, with the short lived stints of vocalists Paul Day and Dennis Wilcock the latter bringing second longest serving band member guitarist Dave Murray into the band, they had guitarist Dave Sullivan and Terry Rance come and go making way to introduce guitarist Dennis Stratton and in 1980 with drummer Clive Burr and new vocalist Paul Di?Anno being the final pieces the band needed, Iron maiden Released their debut self-titled album in 1980.

Dickinson Days

After the success of their debut album and its follow up Killers singer Paul Di?Anno was finding himself struggling with heavy drug usage he could keep up with the ever-growing success of the band and the commitments that came along with it so in mid-1981 Di?Anno was dismissed however this did not slow the band for a second as they had his replacement ready to go. Bruce Dickinson was formerly a member of the band Samson and in September 1981 auditioned for Iron Maiden and was hired virtually on the spot. After the hiring of Dickinson they played a few shows and on the last of these shows they played the tracks ?22 Acacia Avenue? and ?Children Of The Damned? for the first time a little teaser for the ?Beast? the band was about to release upon the world.

Release Of The Number Of The Beast

In March 1982 Iron Maiden released the heavy metal masterpiece ?The Number Of The Beast? the album which really shot the band into the limelight, receiving mass commercial and critical success the new Iron Maiden line-up had proven to be immensely popular with Bruce Dickinson?s wide vocal range and theatrical/operatic vocal delivery, Murray and Smith?s locked in guitar harmonies, Clive Burrs driving drums and the signature ever-present galloping bass playing of Steve Harris. With tracks ?Run To The Hills? and ?The Number Of The Beast? as singles for the album and also including heavy metal epic ?Hallowed Be Thy Name? which is held by many as one of if not the best heavy metal songs of all time it is no surprise the album reached number one in the UK Album Charts and sold a unfathomable 2.5 million copies within the first year of its release.

The Classic Line-Up Is Complete And The Golden Age Of Maiden

In late 1982 the band part decided to fire then drummer Clive Burr with disputing claims from Steve Harris and Clive Burr how this came to pass but neve the less the band had a man in their sights and his name was Nicko McBrain. After McBrain joined the band they went straight on to recording their 4th studio album, ?Piece Of Mind? started recording in the January of 1983 and concluded recording in the March of the same year and on the 16th of May 1983 Maidens 4th album was released onto the world, fronted by singles ?Flight OF Icarus? and one of their most commercially popular songs to date ?The Trooper? although ?Number Of The Beast? is an iconic piece of metal history, ?Piece Of Mind? is truly where Iron Maiden found their sound that would solidify their status as heavy metal greats.

Following the success of ?Piece Of Mind? getting to number 3 in the UK Charts and all round favourable reviews the band powered on to make their 5th studio album ?Powerslave? completing a five year hot streak for the band of an album a year and not ones to not push the boat of heavy metal, the album is home to the near 14 minute epic ?Rhyme Of The Ancient Mariner? and with singles ?Aces High? and ?Two Minutes To Midnight? it?s no surprise had another chart success with ?Powerslave? reaching number 2 in the UK album charts.

The 1980?s raged on for the band with the releases of ?Somewhere In Time? and their second number 1 record ?Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son? Both having great album chart success and singles success respectfully with hits such as ?Wasted Years? and ?Can I Play With Madness?.

Continuing At The Speed Of Light

Maiden could never be stopped over the years with a few more line up changes in the late 1990?s and returning back to the classic line up again with addition of guitarist Janick Gers and even more number 1 album success with ?Fear Of The Dark?, Iron Maiden are the poster band for standing the test of time while still being able to release albums with more recent releases such as ?The Book OF Souls? in 2015 and ?Senjutsu? in 2021, the legacy of the beast will truly last forever.

Ed Of The Table

While Iron Maiden is known for its iconic line up of Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris, Nicko McBrian, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers, there is truly no other name more synonymous with Iron Maiden than Eddie, the creature that has taken on many forms on every single album cover released by the band artist Derek Rigg?s creation is as linked to the band?s success as the music. Eddie always joins the band on stage weather it?s his head spitting blood or locked in a sword fight with singer Bruce Dickinson during ?The Trooper? to name but a few antics, he even has his hand print on the Hollywood RockWalk. While he may not play or sing like the rest of the band its fair to say Iron Maiden would not be Iron Maiden without Eddie.

5 Iron Maiden Albums You Should Own

Is this an easy list to make given their huge 17 studio album discography? Absolutely not but these are a recommendations of must haves for a long time Iron Maiden fan or someone who is just getting started listening.

Number Of The Beast (1982)

The album that introduced Bruce Dickinson ?Number Of The Beast? is a piece of heavy metal history and truly put iron maiden on the map with their signature galloping bass lines, guitar harmonies and to become signature vocal style with tracks such as ?Run To The Hills?, ?The Number Of The Beast? and ?Hallowed Be Thy Name? you simply cannot miss out on this album.

Powerslave (1984)

?Powerslave? showed a progression in sound for the band still sticking true to the sound they are known for with tracks ?Aces High? and ?Two Minutes To Midnight?, they also experimented with longer tracks with more progressive sounds with ?Rime Of The Ancient Mariner? showing huge musical maturity in sound, another heavy metal classic.

Fear Of The Dark (1992)

?Fear Of The Dark? defines Iron Maidens sound in the 1990?s the last album released before Bruce Dickinson?s hiatus from the band, the band got more experimental with faster more thrash inspired tracks such as ?Be Quick Or Be Dead? and even having a power ballad of sorts with ?Wasting Love? this album provides something a bit different to their 1980?s sound but is still Iron Maiden all the way.

Brave New World (2000)

A return of Bruce Dickinson and Adrian smith and a return to form for the band ?Brave New World? is the first time Iron Maiden performed as an official 6-piece band now adding three part guitar harmonies to their arsenal. Tracks ?The Wicker Man?, ?Out Of The Silent Planet? and ?The Thin Line Between Love And Hate? Are true stand out tracks on this record proof that Iron Maiden havn?t ?still got it? they just never lost it to begin with.

Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (1988)

?Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son? is regarded by a lot of Iron Maidens True magnum opus taking everything they?d built on musically over the years, the progressive rock influences for long winding songs with a lot of complexity with the use of keyboards which was a first for the band and the lyrical work, with this record being a concept album based on the book ?Seventh Son? by Orson Scott Card, was truly sublime, the best way to listen to this album is from beginning to end uninterrupted, but ?Can I Play With Madness?, ?Only The Good Die Young? and ?The Evil That Men Do? are stand outs.

Legends Of Metal

Iron Maiden are truly one of the most legendary metal bands in history a storied career with countless records and hit songs, their influence on the genre is still being felt and will be for years to come.