London, UK · heavy metal

Iron Maiden

1 upcoming festival

Up the irons — metal's greatest live institution, Eddie included, galloping twin leads and Bruce Dickinson sprinting the stage like it's 1985.

Iron Maiden were formed in east London in 1975 by bassist Steve Harris, who has led the band ever since and written much of its material. They emerged as one of the central acts of the new wave of British heavy metal, and their sound — galloping bass, twin and later triple guitar harmonies, long songs drawn from history, literature and film — became a template for much of the genre that followed.

Bruce Dickinson joined on vocals in 1981, and the run of albums that began with The Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind and Powerslave established the band internationally. Their mascot Eddie appears on the sleeves and looms over the stage sets, and Maiden's elaborate, high-energy live production has remained a large part of their reputation.

heavy metal