| 1970 |
| Steve |
Steve, having caught the attention of football scout Wally
St. Pier while playing for his school squad and Beaumont Youth, is asked
to train at West Ham - a dream come true for young Arry, who subsequently
ends up on his favourite team's books. However, the demands put on him
by his three teams becomes too much for him, and he is forced to give it
up. Around this time, he also buys his first album - a compilation of reggae
hits by Judge Dread, Dave and Ansel Collins and others. Then, he meets
a guy called Pete Dayle, and spends hours at Pete's house, where Pete introduces
Steve to progressive rock - Yes, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull et al. Arry slowly
takes an interest... |
Rod &
Andy |
Rod is once more involved in the May Ball at Trinity - this
time booking the acts for the event. Assisting him this time is his friend
from the Graduate party, Andy Taylor. It is a partnership that will continue
through future May Balls, and beyond. The pair also find themselves organising
many Student Union events. |
| 1971 |
| Steve |
After rethinking the idea of doing drumming, Arry decides
to learn guitar, and buys an acoustic, which is soon replaced by a Fender
copy bass guitar. |
Rod &
Andy |
For the May Ball of '71, Rod somehow manages to pull of
a high coup when he books legendary Detroit band the MC5 to appear at the
event. The fee: £200, 6 bottles of champagne and two ounces of grass.
Not long after the Ball, Rod drops out of the University on, as he
describes it, "a whim." Following a 3-month stay in Paris, he gains employment
at the Gemini booking agency for £12 a week, plus a small commission.
He soon changes company, though, when he is offered a job at MAM, for £35
a week plus full commission. |
| 1972 |
| Steve |
After playing bass for ten months, Steve finally gets into
a band, when he and Dave Smith team up. The band is known as Influence,
and comprises:
| Bob Verschoyle |
vocals |
| Dave Smith |
guitar |
| Tim Wotsit |
guitar |
| STEVE HARRIS |
bass |
| Paul Sears |
drums |
A song called "Endless Pit", written by the band, will eventually contribute
it's riff to Maiden's "Innocent Exile" from the Killers album. |
Dave &
Adrian |
Dave Murray's outlook on music changes forever when he is
blown away by Voodoo Chile (Part 2) by Jimi Hendrix. He proceeds to spend
hours in record shops, buying albums - his first is a Hendrix record -
and then thinking about playing music. He grows his hair long and dresses
the part, and goes to gigs regularly. He also makes a new group of friends,
including a schoolmate by the name of Adrian Smith. Dave even sells Adrian
his acoustic, while Dave upgrades to a Gibson copy.
The two form their first band, Stone Free, with another mate, Dave
McCloughlin, on bongos. They last for one gig. Dave and Adrian will perform
in several bands together as time progresses, including a band called Evil
Ways, with Adrian doing vocal duty, while Barry Tyler does drums and John
Hoye plays bass. |
| Rod |
Rod leaves MAM to work with Trevor Beeton at Trigram, the
management company of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel. Working with Harley
in particular is to prove a bitter experience, and one which almost puts
Rod off managing ever again. The one good thing to come out of the Cockney
Rebel job is the relationship with Howard Jones, who works for Rebel's
layers, Bernard Sheridan. |
| 1973 |
| Steve |
Influence's one gig is in a local talent contest in Poplar.
They came second. The gig did, however, produce a result for Arry - they
became acquainted with the organiser of the contest, David Beazley - he
would later be known more commonly as the notorious Dave Lights.
Influence change their name to something more colourful - Gypsy's Kiss.
GK perform a handful of gigs - including a few gigs at the Cart And Horses
pub in Stratford, and the Bridgehouse in Canning Town - before splitting
up, due to the oft-quoted "musical differences". |
| Dave |
Dave auditions for a band called Electric Gas, and leaves
Evil Ways to play for them for almost a year. The band have very few gigs.
Evil Ways recruit Maurice Coyne as Dave's replacement. |
| 1974 |
| Steve |
Steve goes to an audition for the band Smiler, run by Mick
and Tony Clee, in the White Hart pub in Enfield, so that he could gain
experience from a bunch of guys who'd been around for a while. He gets
the gig. Shortly thereafter, the band's business starts to pick up, and
the drummer at the time feels the strain... |
| Dave |
Dave leaves Electric Gas to join The Secret. |
| 1975 |
| Mid '75 |
Smiler's drummer, unable to cope with the increasing number
of gigs, quits the band. He is eventually replaced by Doug Sampson - a
future Maiden recruit. As the band progresses, a full-time singer is also
recruited - Dennis Wilcock. Smiler's line-up consists of:
| DENNIS WILCOCK |
vocals |
| Mick Clee |
guitar |
| Tony Clee |
guitar |
| STEVE HARRIS |
bass |
| DOUG SAMPSON |
drums |
Dennis will also find work in Maiden in the near future.
Steve starts writing music for the first time, contributing a song
which will transform into "Innocent Exile" in the future, and his first
ever song, "Burning Ambition", which will become the b-side to Maiden's
first single. But Steve's musical direction does not agree with the band's,
and he decides to break out on his own. Doug Sampson leaves with him, but
doesn't follow him into the next band for some time. Doug eventually joins
a band called Janski.
Dennis Stratton joins pub band Remus Down Boulevard. |
| Dec 25 |
IRON MAIDEN
IS BORN!!!
Steve spends the last weeks of 1975 putting together his own band.
On Christmas Day, his band is finalised, and the first ever line-up of
Iron Maiden is:
| PAUL DAY |
vocals |
| DAVE SULLIVAN |
guitar |
| TERRY RANCE |
guitar |
| STEVE HARRIS |
bass |
| RON "REBEL" MATTHEWS |
drums |
Ron and Dave are recruited either through an ad in the Melody Maker or
by friends of friends. Terry is found through word of mouth. Paul is a
local guy who fancies his chances at singing.
Dave and Terry are old friends, who had been in a band called The Tinted
Aspects - a bedroom band, and nothing more, before spotting the ad in MM.
Ron was the first recruit, having been picked when Doug Sampson was unavailable.
Paul was always Steve's choice.
The name IRON MAIDEN was chosen by Steve while he and his family
were thinking of names, simply because, in Steve's words, "it just sounded
right for the music." He credits that choice of name to the film The
Man In The Iron Mask, even though there isn't an Iron Maiden - a coffin
lined with spikes that was a medieval torture device - featured in the
film. Other claims to the name Iron Maiden are quickly quashed. |
| 1976 |
| Early |
A problem arises when Steve realises they have nowhere to
rehearse. His mate from the Poplar talent contest, David Beazley, offers
his home as an option. His offer is accepted. When he points out that he
is handy with lighting, he is also recruited. And so is born Dave Lights. |
| May |
Maiden's first gig - and their first residency, albeit a
part time one - is at the Cart And Horses, where Gypsy's Kiss had performed
with Steve previously. Dave drives the band's van, while Steve uses his
contacts from his Smiler days. Also recruited to Maiden, from theSmiler
days, is stage-hand Vic Vella. He will work with the band from then onward.
The riff to the band's anthem, Iron Maiden, is created by, apparently,
Dave Sullivan, and will be tweaked by Steve for the song. Other songs born
around this time include Wrathchild, Prowler, Transylvania and Floating
- a song that will eventually become Purgatory. |
| Mid |
Problems arise when Paul Day becomes the first person to
leave Iron Maiden. Steve is not happy with his stage prescence, even though
his voice is great. His replacement is Steve's former Smiler cohort, Dennis
Wilcock, a man renowned for his stage theatrics. Den also informs Steve
of a blindingly good guitarist - namely Dave Murray, who had played with
him in Wilcock's previous outfit, Warlock. After hearing him, Steve decides
to add Dave to the band, almost giving Maiden their first 3-guitar line-up.
Almost.
Meanwhile, Dennis Stratton's duties in Remus Down Boulevard become
guitar and backing vocals. |
| Late |
Sullivan and Rance end up leaving the band. Both men were
concerned about losing their day jobs, and opt to leave the band to concentrate
on a normal lifestyle. By this time Dave is drafted into the band. Sullivan
goes on to become a self-employed contract designer for oil companies,
but he and Terry Rance will continue to write music together, albeit recreationally.
Meanwhile, Steve and the band search for a new guitarist to team up
with Dave. They find one for a while in Bob Sawyer, making Maiden's second
complete line-up:
| DENNIS WILCOCK |
vocals |
| DAVE MURRAY |
guitar |
| BOB SAWYER |
guitar |
| STEVE HARRIS |
bass |
| RON "REBEL" MATTHEWS |
drums |
Bob adopts the stage name Bob Angelo. His tenure in the band is short,
as his efforts to out-do Davey are not appreciated. He, however, is not
the next to go, though he causes the next dismissal. Bob takes somthing
Dave said out of context and tells Den. Days later, at Steve house, he
is fired by Steve. But it is apparent that Den pushed him into it. Bob
is also fired soon after. Dave briefly joins Adrian Smith's band Urchin,
joining Smith, Barry Tyler (drums) and bassist Alan Levett. |
| 1977 |
Early
- Mid |
The band come within inches of their first record deal,
when Suzanne Black of reggae label Klick Records shows an interest. The
deals falls flat on it's face, though, when Black suggests they play some
commercial covers, lose the pyro and props, and - sin of sins - CUT THEIR
BLOODY HAIR AND GO PUNK!!! The band "respectfully" decline her offer. They
are, however, almost railroaded into playing a gig at the Roxy - a noted
punk venue. It is the first of several hard times for the band, who now
have to fight their way through the punk era.
Meanwhile, Urchin record two singles for DJM - Black Leather Fantasy
and She's A Roller. |
| Nov |
By November, Maiden recruit their first and only full time
keyboard player - Tony Moore, and new guitarist Terry Wrapram. Another
last minute change is on the drumstool. Ron Matthews quits and is replaced
by Barry "Thunderstick" Purkis. The line-up:
| DENNIS WILCOCK |
vocals |
| TERRY WRAPRAM |
guitar |
| TONY MOORE |
keyboards |
| STEVE HARRIS |
bass |
| THUNDERSTICK |
drums |
lasts for one gig, at the Bridgehouse in November. Moore is dropped soon
after the gig, as is Thunderstick. Doug Sampson, then playing for Janski,
is invited to join the band on drums again, and this time accepts. But
a major problem arises: Dennis Wilcock is not happy that Moore and Thunderstick
were dropped, decides that Steve is too domineering. Therefore, he quits
the band acrimonously - mere hours before a gig. The band decide to go
on without him. Now all they need is a lead guitarist and a singer.
Dave Murray is once again asked to join the band, and immediately accepts,
despite being part of Urchin. Adrian is unhappy, but not resentful, at
Dave's decision. Urchin recruit Andy Barnett to replace him. |
| 1978 |
| Early |
Maiden begin the search for a new vocalist, but continue
rehearsing in the meantime, writing new material, including several songs
that will appear on the first two albums. |
|
Mid
|
Remus Down Boulevard, with Dennis Stratton, are "signed" to Jonathan
King's UK Records. But their first album, Live At The Marquee, is
never released, and the deal flounders. The band transfer to Quarry
Records. Stratton also does sessions for other bands. |
| Nov |
A despondent Steve talks with a mate of his, Trevor Searle,
who gives him the name of a vocalist called Paul Di'Anno. Steve tells Trevor
to send him to an audition for the band. At the said audition, Di'Anno
goes down a storm with the band. Days later, he is in. So the new line-up
is fixed:
| PAUL DI'ANNO |
vocals |
| DAVE MURRAY |
guitar |
| STEVE HARRIS |
bass |
| DOUG SAMPSON |
drums |
Paul debuts at the Ruskin Arms, in High Street North, Manor Park, London.
This gig marks the beginning of the turn in Maiden's fortunes - for the
better. Maiden's fan base starts growing in leaps and bounds. The band
start to pack places out, and more original material makes it's way into
the gigs. But one man at the Ruskin Arms gig will also play a part in Maiden's
future - Keith Wilfort, the man who would found the Iron Maiden fan club
and also create the first Maiden t-shirt - a top with the phrase "CHARLOTTE
RULES OK" emblazoned on it. |
| Dec 31 |
Maiden buy time in Spaceward Studios, Essex, in order to
record a demo tape for the record companies. Steve gets the studio for
£200, plus an engineer. The recording starts on New Year's Eve, and
carries on to the next day. There are four tracks laid down on tape: Iron
Maiden, Prowler, Strange World and Invasion. |
| 1979 |
| Early |
Maiden hand a copy of the demo tape to Neal Kay, a London-based
DJ specialising in recent rock music. Kay's centre of operations is the
Bandwagon Heavy Metal Soundhouse in north west London. It is to prove a
very prudent move. Maiden tracks get played at very regular intervals,
as per requests from the regulars.
Meanwhile, Rod Smallwood speaks with his lawyer friend Howard Jones
about taking a course in law, even asking him to get some forms for him. |
| Apr 21 |
Maiden get their first Number One hit - Prowler reaches
#1 in the Soundhouse charts - a chart based on the requests from regulars
at the Soundhouse. It will remain at the top for a further three weeks. |
| Apr 28 |
Maiden play at the Soundhouse - an extremeley packed Soundhouse. |
| Mid |
By mid-1979, the band hold residencies all over London,
notably the Ruskin Arms, and the Cart And Horses. The band get gigs at
US air force bases, and go down a storm with the Americans.Then band rivalries
rear their ugly heads, several groups jealous of Maiden's success. This
is not helped by Arry's adverts for the band. One good thing to come out
of the ads, though, is the band's logo - IRON MAIDEN.
Also introduced around this time is the special effects department - namely
Dave Lights. It is Dave who, along with the fireworks, the dry ice, the
lighting rigs and the near catastrophes involving almost setting one gig
on fire, and nearly blowing Steve up, also designs the very first Maiden
backdrop - a series of flashing lights (that Dave had stolen from a hardware
shop, the naughty boy) around the band's logo. The logo evolves to include
a papier mache face mask, with the home-made dry ice machine rigged up
to go through the mouth. The dry ice is eventually replaced by "blood".
Doug is less than happy about having it spurt all over him during "Iron
Maiden", but goes with it anyway. Lovely bloke. The mask is even named
- Eddie the 'Ead. This name stems from a crap old East End joke:
- Eddie was born with no arms and legs, and no body - just a head.
But his mum and dad love him anyway, and every birthday he gets lots of
presents, like hats and blowing toys and the like. Then, just before his
16th birthday, the doctors tell his parents that, with modern tachnology
and all that wonderful stuff, they can now give Eddie a body. Well, the
parents are overjoyed, and come his birthday, his dad says "Hello Eddie.
Happy birthday son. Have we ever got a special present for you this year!"
And his mum's all happy tears and stuff, and all Edie can say is "Oh God,
not another fucking hat!"
Well, I did warn you.
The mask for the backdrop is later remade out of fibreglass, slightly
larger than before. |
| June |
The band perform a gig in Hammersmith, London. In attendance
for the gig - which takes place without Paul Di'Anno, arrested mere moments
before the gig for carrying a flick knife - is a certain blustering Yorkshireman
- Rod Smallwood. Rod is mightily impressed with the show, even without
the singer (Steve takes vocal duty for the night), and offers to assist
them for a while, even promising to get them a record deal. |
| Sept |
The search begins for a second guitarist to complement Dave
Murray. Paul Cairns joins unceremoniously, turning up late for his first
gig, but nonetheless lasting three months before being dropped. His successor,
Paul Todd, is less successful - he doesn't even make it on stage, because
his girlfriend won't let him. Eventually, the band seemingly settle on
guitarist Tony Parsons. But he is dropped in November. |
| Oct |
Geoff Barton produces a 12-page feature for Sounds magazine
entitled Kerrang! It features articles on a wide selection of rock
bands, but has a special focus on the new breed of bands - a collection
christened the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) by Barton. Thunderstick,
now a member of Samson, adorns the cover.
Later that month, Maiden are the main feature of Sounds magazine. Around
this time, Rod decides to get the band a major contract. His first move
is to book Maiden their first gig at the Marquee Club on October 11. He
then invites several top A&R (artist & repertoire) men to the gig
- from EMI, CBS, A&M and Warner Bros. A&M's man fails to appear.
Warner Bros. and CBS decline to offer the band a contract. EMI, however,
see something. |
| Nov 9 |
Maiden's demo tape is pressed and released through the band's
own label, Rock Hard records. 5,000 copies are originally made of the record.
The tracks Prowler, Invasion and Iron Maiden are included. Strange World
is left out due to a feeling that this version didn't do justice to the
live version. Steve names the EP "The Soundhouse Tapes". It sells 3,000
cpies in the first week alone, and soon record shops are asking for 20,000
copies! Steve, however, decides to decline the offers, choosing instead
to keep the Soundhouse Tapes special. |
|
Dec
|
Iron Maiden, after much wrangling and sweet-talking from Rod, are officially
signed to EMI. The contract includes a five album deal - then unheard
of - and a £50,000 and recording costs, to be spread over the first
three albums. Rod also ensures that the band can't be dropped until
after the third album. By thsis time, the band already have a publishing
deal with Zomba Music, the advance for which is £40,000, and the
services of booker John Jackson at the Cobwell Agency. And finally,
Rod Smallwood is officially instated as Maiden's manager, naming his management
company after awhat will become Maiden's second single - Sanctuary. |
|
Dec 14
|
Maiden perform Iron Maiden, Transylvania, Sanctuary and Running Free
on Radio 1's Friday Night Rock Show. Shortly thereafter, the
hunt begins for a second guitarist. Adrian Smith is offered the job,
but declines, his band Urchin seemingly about to make it. |
|
|
