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Judas Priest
Born: 1970
Judas Priest was one of the most influential heavy metal bands of the '70s, spearheading the New Wave of British Heavy Metal late in the decade...............
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Decked out in leather and chains, the band fused the gothic doom of Black Sabbath with the riffs and speed of Led Zeppelin, as well as adding a vicious two-lead guitar attack; in doing so, they set the pace for much popular heavy metal from 1975 until 1985, as well as laying the groundwork for the speed and death metal of the '80s. Formed in Birmingham, England, in 1970, the group's core members were guitarist K.K. Downing and bassist Ian Hill. Joined by Alan Atkins and drummer John Ellis, the band played their first concert in 1971. Atkins' previous band was called Judas Priest, yet the members decided it was the best name for the new group. The band played numerous shows throughout 1971; during the year, Ellis was replaced by Alan Moore; by the end of the year, Chris Campbell replaced Moore. After a solid year of touring the U.K., Atkins and Campbell left the band in 1973 and were replaced by vocalist Rob Halford and drummer John Hinch. They continued touring, including a visit to Germany and the Netherlands in 1974; by the time the tour was completed, they had secured a record contract with Gull, an independent U.K. label. Before recording their debut album, Rocka Rolla, Judas Priest added guitarist Glenn Tipton. They released the record in September of 1974 to almost no attention. The following year, they gave a well-received performance at the Reading Festival and Hinch departed the band; he was replaced by Alan Moore. Later that year, the group released Sad Wings of Destiny, which earned some positive reviews. However, the lack of sales was putting the band in a dire financial situation, which was remedied by an international contract with CBS Records. Sin After Sin (1977) was the first album released under that contract; it was recorded with Simon Phillips, who replaced Moore. The record received positive reviews and the band departed for their first American tour, with Les Binks on drums. When they returned to England, Judas Priest recorded 1978's Stained Class, the record that established them as an international force in metal. Along with 1979's Hell Bent for Leather (Killing Machine in the U.K.), Stained Class began the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. A significant number of bands adopted Priest's leather-clad image and hard, driving sound, making their music harder, faster, and louder. After releasing Hell Bent for Leather, the band recorded the live album Unleashed in the East (1979) in Japan; it became their first platinum album in America. Les Binks left the band in 1979; he was replaced by former Trapeze drummer Dave Holland. Their next album, 1980's British Steel, entered the British charts at number three, launched the hit singles "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight," and was their second American platinum record; Point of Entry, released the following year, was nearly as successful.
At the beginning of the '80s, Judas Priest was a top concert attraction around the world, in addition to being a best-selling recording artist. Featuring the hit single "You've Got Another Thing Comin'," Screaming for Vengeance (1982) marked the height of their popularity, peaking at number 17 in America and selling over a million copies. Two years later, Defenders of the Faith nearly matched its predecessor's performance, yet metal tastes were beginning to change, as Metallica and other speed/thrash metal groups started to grow in popularity. That shift was evident on 1986's Turbo, where Judas Priest seemed out of touch with current trends; nevertheless, the record sold over a million copies in America on the basis of name recognition alone. However, 1987's Priest...Live! was their first album since Stained Class not to go gold. Ram It Down (1988) was a return to raw metal and returned the group to gold status. Dave Holland left after this record and was replaced by Scott Travis for 1990's Painkiller. Like Ram It Down, Painkiller didn't make an impact outside the band's diehard fans, yet the group was still a popular concert act. In the early '90s, Rob Halford began his own thrash band, Fight, and soon left Judas Priest. In 1996, following a solo album by Glenn Tipton, the band rebounded with a new young singer, Tim "Ripper" Owens, (formerly a member of a Priest tribute band and of Winter's Bane). They spent the next year recording Jugulator amongst much self-perpetuated hype concerning Priest's return to their roots. The album debuted at number 82 on the Billboard album charts upon its release in late 1997. Halford had by then disbanded Fight following a decrease in interest and signed with Trent Reznor's Nothing label with a new project, Two. In the meantime, the remaining members of Judas Priest forged on with '98 Live Meltdown, a live set recorded during their inaugural tour with Ripper on the mic. Around the same time, a movie was readying production that was to be based on Ripper's rags-to-riches story of how he got to front his all-time favorite band. Although Priest was originally supposed to be involved with the film, they ultimately pulled out, but production went on anyway without the band's blessing (the movie, Rock Star, was eventually released in the summer of 2001, starring Mark Wahlberg in the lead role). Rob Halford in the meantime disbanded Two after just a single album, 1997's Voyeurs, and returned back to his metal roots with a quintet titled simply...Halford. The group issued their debut in 2000, Resurrection, following it with a worldwide tour that saw the new group open up Iron Maiden's Brave New World U.S. tour, and issuing a live set one year later (which included a healthy helping of Priest classics) -- Live Insurrection. In 2001 the Ripper-led Priest issued a new album, Demolition, and Priest's entire back catalog for Columbia was reissued with remastered sound and bonus tracks. In 2003 the band--including Halford--collaborated on the liner notes and song selections for their mammoth career-encompassing box Metalogy, a collaboration that brought Halford back into the fold. Owens split from the group amicably in 2003, allowing the newly reunited heavy metal legends to plan their global live concert tour in 2004, with their sixteenth studio album, Angel of Retribution, to be released the following year.
Cannibal Corpse
From Buffalo, New York comes a death metal monster that has yet to be tamed: Cannibal Corpse. Comprised of George ‘Corpsegrinder’ Fisher, Alex Webster, Paul Mazurkiewicz, Jack Owen, and Pat O’Brien, the quintet has been ravaging the landscape with picturesque stories of death and many processes by which death can be achieved. At first glance, it seems morbid and repulsive. Ironically, that is just what Cannibal Corpse has aimed for since its birth..............................
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Beginning in 1989, Cannibal Corpse was formed from the remnants of three local Buffalo bands, Tirant Sin, Beyond Death, and Leviathan. The original lineup, consisting of vocalist Chris Barnes, guitarists Jack Owen and Bob Rusay, bassist Alex Webster, and drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz, recorded a self-titled demo. Unbeknownst to them, they were about to be signed to Metal Blade Records to create the primitive yet uninhibited 1990 release, ‘Eaten Back to Life’, produced by Scott Burns (Sepultura, Deicide). Although it wasn’t exactly what you’d call a best-seller, it certainly got their names in the public with songs like ‘A Skull Full of Maggots’ and ‘Born in a Casket'.
Next came 1991’s ‘Butchered at Birth’, an album with a refined (but still fairly primitive) death metal sound. Songs such as ‘Meat Hook Sodomy’, ‘Covered With Sores’, and ‘Vomit the Soul’ grabbed the attention of the average passer-by…that is, if they weren’t thrown off by the ultra-violent album cover by none other than Vincent Locke of Dead World Comics. 1991 was also the first year Cannibal Corpse went on tour, eventually spreading their music to Europe (where they weren’t well received by many countries).
A year later, Cannibal Corpse released ‘Tomb of the Mutilated’, a death metal classic sporting perhaps the most popular Cannibal Corpse song, ‘Hammer Smashed Face’. Other classics, including ‘I Cum Blood’, ‘Addicted to Vaginal Skin’, and ‘The Cryptic Stench’, as well as yet another offensive album cover by Vincent Locke put this album at the top of the death metaller’s must-have list. ‘Hammer Smashed Face’ later appeared in the soundtrack to the 1994 film ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’, a decision made by Jim Carrey himself (who turns out to be a big Corpse fan).
A note about the first three albums: Germany has banned Cannibal Corpse from playing material from the first three albums.
In 1993, Cannibal Corpse released their ‘Hammer Smashed EP’, containing ‘Hammer Smashed Face’, and two unreleased cover songs, ‘The Exorcist’ by Possessed and ‘Zero the Hero’ by Black Sabbath.
1994’s ‘The Bleeding’, Cannibal Corpse’s best-selling album, brought in a new era, as founding guitarist Bob Rusay was fired from the group and replaced by Malevolent Creation guitarist Rob Barrett. Barrett joined the group as a welcome and contributing addition to the death metal team, helping record malicious classics to include ‘Staring Through the Eyes of the Dead’, ‘Fucked With a Knife’, and ‘Stripped, Raped and Strangled’, which contests to be the most popular Cannibal Corpse song against ‘Hammer Smashed Face’.
Next, in 1995, Cannibal Corpse vocalist Chris Barnes was fired due to ‘musical differences,’ and replaced by former Monstrosity vocalist George ‘Corpsegrinder’ Fisher on the band’s follow-up to ‘The Bleeding’, entitled ‘Vile’ (originally entitled ‘Created to Kill’). Corpsegrinder made an instant impression on the death metal audience with the 9 second scream heard in the album’s opener, ‘Devoured by Vermin’. ‘Vile’ is proof that Cannibal Corpse’s fate doesn’t rest on one person’s talents alone.
In 1997, after recording the Monolith of Death Tour VHS, Rob Barrett decided to leave the band to pursue other fields of interest, and was replaced by Nevermore guitarist Pat O’Brien to record their 1998 release, ‘Gallery of Suicide’. ‘Gallery’ also marks the first time recording without long-time Cannibal Corpse producer Scott Burns, who was replaced by Jim Morris (Iced Earth, Morbid Angel). Labeled as their most technical album, ‘Gallery’ retains the tried-but-true standards of relentless pounding, intense riffs, and guttural vocals that keep the fans coming back for more. O’Brien proves to be a powerful force, marking his abilities in the song ‘From Skin to Liquid,’ the album’s instrumental track.
The following year, 1999, was the year of ‘Bloodthirst’, their first album working with producer Colin Richardson (Fear Factory, Carcass). This was the first time in five years that Cannibal Corpse had consistent band members spanning two albums. The feverish pace of ‘Dead Human Collection’, the adrenal flood created by ‘Pounded into Dust’, and the skull-crushing symphony ‘Unleashing the Bloodthirsty’ caught the attention of more death metal fans across the globe.
In 2000, Cannibal Corpse released their second live recording, entitled ‘Live Cannibalism’. A compilation of most of their classic tracks played at two venues (the Rave in Milwaukee, WI and Indianapolis, IN), Colin Richardson managed to produce one of the finest raw live albums ever recorded, capturing the true essence of a brutal Cannibal Corpse show.
Come 2002 and Cannibal Corpse returned with producer Neil Kernon (Queensryche, Hall and Oates) to release ‘Gore Obsessed’, another violent episode in the quintet’s saga. Opening with the vehement, impulsive ‘Savage Butchery’, entrancing the listener with the ferocity of ‘Pit of Zombies’, and closing the album with the Metallica classic ‘No Remorse,’ ‘Gore Obsessed’ is a whirlwind of violence and bloodshed, accounting methods of one’s own demise (‘Hung and Bled’) to unconscious mass murder (‘Grotesque’).
Later that year, Cannibal Corpse released the six-song ‘Worm Infested’ EP featuring two unreleased original songs (‘Systematic Elimination’ and ‘Worm Infested’), ‘The Undead Will Feast’, and three cover songs: ‘Demon’s Night’ by Accept, ‘Confessions’ by Possessed, and ‘No Remorse’ by Metallica.
‘15 Year Killing Spree,’ released in 2003, is a collection of some of their best material over the years, a CD featuring demos and cover songs, a DVD of live shows and recording sessions, and a bundle of other goodies (to include a comic based on ‘Unleashing the Bloodthirsty’ drawn by Vincent Locke) to satisfy the Cannibal Corpse fanatic’s palate for death metal.
Cannibal Corpse’s latest effort, ‘The Wretched Spawn’ was released in February 2004, again with producer Neil Kernon. Perhaps the most anticipated of the CC releases, ‘Wretched’ delivered powerful imagery coupled with fast, intense musicianship in many of the albums’ tracks, namely ‘Severed Head Stoning,’ ‘Frantic Disembowelment,’ and ‘They Deserve to Die.’ They also struck a chord or two with two of the slower tracks on the album, ‘Festering in the Crypt’ and the title track, not to mention the album’s single ‘Decency Defied.’
Shortly after the first U.S. Tour of the Wretched, founding member/guitarist Jack Owen decided it was time to say goodbye, and was replaced on the following tours by Jeremy Turner (Origin). Now Corpse fans are waiting to see whether Jeremy will continue to play with CC in the years to come or if someone else will enter the fray. In any case, there’s sure to be another chapter of brutality for the masters of death metal - Cannibal Corpse!
Next came 1991’s ‘Butchered at Birth’, an album with a refined (but still fairly primitive) death metal sound. Songs such as ‘Meat Hook Sodomy’, ‘Covered With Sores’, and ‘Vomit the Soul’ grabbed the attention of the average passer-by…that is, if they weren’t thrown off by the ultra-violent album cover by none other than Vincent Locke of Dead World Comics. 1991 was also the first year Cannibal Corpse went on tour, eventually spreading their music to Europe (where they weren’t well received by many countries).
A year later, Cannibal Corpse released ‘Tomb of the Mutilated’, a death metal classic sporting perhaps the most popular Cannibal Corpse song, ‘Hammer Smashed Face’. Other classics, including ‘I Cum Blood’, ‘Addicted to Vaginal Skin’, and ‘The Cryptic Stench’, as well as yet another offensive album cover by Vincent Locke put this album at the top of the death metaller’s must-have list. ‘Hammer Smashed Face’ later appeared in the soundtrack to the 1994 film ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’, a decision made by Jim Carrey himself (who turns out to be a big Corpse fan).
A note about the first three albums: Germany has banned Cannibal Corpse from playing material from the first three albums.
In 1993, Cannibal Corpse released their ‘Hammer Smashed EP’, containing ‘Hammer Smashed Face’, and two unreleased cover songs, ‘The Exorcist’ by Possessed and ‘Zero the Hero’ by Black Sabbath.
1994’s ‘The Bleeding’, Cannibal Corpse’s best-selling album, brought in a new era, as founding guitarist Bob Rusay was fired from the group and replaced by Malevolent Creation guitarist Rob Barrett. Barrett joined the group as a welcome and contributing addition to the death metal team, helping record malicious classics to include ‘Staring Through the Eyes of the Dead’, ‘Fucked With a Knife’, and ‘Stripped, Raped and Strangled’, which contests to be the most popular Cannibal Corpse song against ‘Hammer Smashed Face’.
Next, in 1995, Cannibal Corpse vocalist Chris Barnes was fired due to ‘musical differences,’ and replaced by former Monstrosity vocalist George ‘Corpsegrinder’ Fisher on the band’s follow-up to ‘The Bleeding’, entitled ‘Vile’ (originally entitled ‘Created to Kill’). Corpsegrinder made an instant impression on the death metal audience with the 9 second scream heard in the album’s opener, ‘Devoured by Vermin’. ‘Vile’ is proof that Cannibal Corpse’s fate doesn’t rest on one person’s talents alone.
In 1997, after recording the Monolith of Death Tour VHS, Rob Barrett decided to leave the band to pursue other fields of interest, and was replaced by Nevermore guitarist Pat O’Brien to record their 1998 release, ‘Gallery of Suicide’. ‘Gallery’ also marks the first time recording without long-time Cannibal Corpse producer Scott Burns, who was replaced by Jim Morris (Iced Earth, Morbid Angel). Labeled as their most technical album, ‘Gallery’ retains the tried-but-true standards of relentless pounding, intense riffs, and guttural vocals that keep the fans coming back for more. O’Brien proves to be a powerful force, marking his abilities in the song ‘From Skin to Liquid,’ the album’s instrumental track.
The following year, 1999, was the year of ‘Bloodthirst’, their first album working with producer Colin Richardson (Fear Factory, Carcass). This was the first time in five years that Cannibal Corpse had consistent band members spanning two albums. The feverish pace of ‘Dead Human Collection’, the adrenal flood created by ‘Pounded into Dust’, and the skull-crushing symphony ‘Unleashing the Bloodthirsty’ caught the attention of more death metal fans across the globe.
In 2000, Cannibal Corpse released their second live recording, entitled ‘Live Cannibalism’. A compilation of most of their classic tracks played at two venues (the Rave in Milwaukee, WI and Indianapolis, IN), Colin Richardson managed to produce one of the finest raw live albums ever recorded, capturing the true essence of a brutal Cannibal Corpse show.
Come 2002 and Cannibal Corpse returned with producer Neil Kernon (Queensryche, Hall and Oates) to release ‘Gore Obsessed’, another violent episode in the quintet’s saga. Opening with the vehement, impulsive ‘Savage Butchery’, entrancing the listener with the ferocity of ‘Pit of Zombies’, and closing the album with the Metallica classic ‘No Remorse,’ ‘Gore Obsessed’ is a whirlwind of violence and bloodshed, accounting methods of one’s own demise (‘Hung and Bled’) to unconscious mass murder (‘Grotesque’).
Later that year, Cannibal Corpse released the six-song ‘Worm Infested’ EP featuring two unreleased original songs (‘Systematic Elimination’ and ‘Worm Infested’), ‘The Undead Will Feast’, and three cover songs: ‘Demon’s Night’ by Accept, ‘Confessions’ by Possessed, and ‘No Remorse’ by Metallica.
‘15 Year Killing Spree,’ released in 2003, is a collection of some of their best material over the years, a CD featuring demos and cover songs, a DVD of live shows and recording sessions, and a bundle of other goodies (to include a comic based on ‘Unleashing the Bloodthirsty’ drawn by Vincent Locke) to satisfy the Cannibal Corpse fanatic’s palate for death metal.
Cannibal Corpse’s latest effort, ‘The Wretched Spawn’ was released in February 2004, again with producer Neil Kernon. Perhaps the most anticipated of the CC releases, ‘Wretched’ delivered powerful imagery coupled with fast, intense musicianship in many of the albums’ tracks, namely ‘Severed Head Stoning,’ ‘Frantic Disembowelment,’ and ‘They Deserve to Die.’ They also struck a chord or two with two of the slower tracks on the album, ‘Festering in the Crypt’ and the title track, not to mention the album’s single ‘Decency Defied.’
Shortly after the first U.S. Tour of the Wretched, founding member/guitarist Jack Owen decided it was time to say goodbye, and was replaced on the following tours by Jeremy Turner (Origin). Now Corpse fans are waiting to see whether Jeremy will continue to play with CC in the years to come or if someone else will enter the fray. In any case, there’s sure to be another chapter of brutality for the masters of death metal - Cannibal Corpse!
Iron Maiden
Formed in London, England, in 1976, Iron Maiden was from the start the brainchild of Steve Harris (b. 12 March 1957, Leytonstone, London, England; bass), formerly a member of pub rockers Smiler. Named after a medieval torture device, the music was suitably heavy and hard on the senses....
The heavy metal scene of the late 70s was widely regarded as stagnant, with only a handful of bands proving their ability to survive and produce music of quality. It was at this time that a new breed of young British bands began to emerge. This movement, which began to break cover in 1979 and 1980, was known as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, or N.W.O.B.*.M.. Iron Maiden were one of the foremost bands in the genre, and many would say its definitive example. Younger and meaner, the N.W.O.B.*.M. bands dealt in faster, more energetic heavy metal than any of their forefathers (punk being an obvious influence).
There were several line-up changes in the Iron Maiden ranks in the very early days, and come the release of their debut EP, the band featured Harris, Dave Murray (b. 23 December 1958, London, England; guitar), Paul Di'Anno (b. 17 May 1959, Chingford, London, England; vocals) and Doug Sampson (drums).
There were several line-up changes in the Iron Maiden ranks in the very early days, and come the release of their debut EP, the band featured Harris, Dave Murray (b. 23 December 1958, London, England; guitar), Paul Di'Anno (b. 17 May 1959, Chingford, London, England; vocals) and Doug Sampson (drums).
The band made its live debut at the Cart & Horses Pub in Stratford, east London, in 1977, before honing its sound on the local pub circuit over the ensuing two years. Unable to solicit a response from record companies, the band sent a three-track tape, featuring Iron Maiden, Prowler and Strange World, to Neal Kay, DJ at north London's hard rock disco, the Kingsbury Bandwagon Soundhouse. Kay's patronage of Iron Maiden won them an instant welcome, which prompted the release of The Soundhouse Tapes on the band's own label.
In November 1979 the band added second guitarist Tony Parsons to the line-up for two tracks on the Metal For Muthas compilation, but by the time the band embarked on sessions for their debut album, he had been replaced by Dennis Stratton (b. 9 November 1954, London, England), and Sampson by Clive Burr (b. 8 March 1957; drums, ex- Samson ). A promotional single, Running Free, reached number 34 on the UK charts and brought an appearance on BBC Television's Top Of The Pops. Refusing to mime, they became the first band since the Who in 1973 to play live on the show.
Iron Maiden was a roughly produced album, but reached number 4 in the UK album listings on the back of touring stints with Judas Priest and enduringly popular material such as Phantom Of The Opera . Killers boasted production superior to that of the first album, and saw Dennis Stratton replaced by guitarist Adrian Smith ( b. 27 February 1957).
In its wake, Iron Maiden became immensely popular among heavy metal fans, inspiring fanatical devotion, aided by blustering manager Rod Smallwood and apocalyptic mascot Eddie (the latter had been depicted on the cover of Sanctuary standing over Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's decapitated body).
The release of Number Of The Beast was crucial to the development of the band. Without it, Iron Maiden might never have gone on to be such a force in the heavy metal arena. The album was a spectacular success, the sound of a band on the crest of a wave.
Iron Maiden was a roughly produced album, but reached number 4 in the UK album listings on the back of touring stints with Judas Priest and enduringly popular material such as Phantom Of The Opera . Killers boasted production superior to that of the first album, and saw Dennis Stratton replaced by guitarist Adrian Smith ( b. 27 February 1957).
In its wake, Iron Maiden became immensely popular among heavy metal fans, inspiring fanatical devotion, aided by blustering manager Rod Smallwood and apocalyptic mascot Eddie (the latter had been depicted on the cover of Sanctuary standing over Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's decapitated body).
The release of Number Of The Beast was crucial to the development of the band. Without it, Iron Maiden might never have gone on to be such a force in the heavy metal arena. The album was a spectacular success, the sound of a band on the crest of a wave.
It was also the debut of former infantryman and new vocalist Bruce Dickinson (b. Paul Bruce Dickinson, 7 August 1958, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England), replacing Paul Di'Anno (who went on to front Dianno , Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone and Killers ). Formerly of Samson , history graduate Bruce Dickinson made his live debut with Maiden on 15 November 1981.
Singles such as Run To The Hills and The Number Of The Beast were big UK chart hits, Iron Maiden leaving behind their N.W.O.B.*.M. counterparts in terms of success, just as the movement itself was beginning to peter out.
Piece Of Mind continued their success and was a major hit in the UK (number 3) and USA (number 14). Clive Burr was replaced by Nicko McBrain on the sessions, formerly drummer with French metal band Trust , who had supported Maiden on their 1981 UK tour (he had also played in Streetwalkers ). Piece Of Mind was not dissimilar to the previous album, showcasing the strong twin-guitar bite of Murray and Smith, coupled with memorable vocal lines and a sound that perfectly suited their air-punching dynamic.
Singles such as Run To The Hills and The Number Of The Beast were big UK chart hits, Iron Maiden leaving behind their N.W.O.B.*.M. counterparts in terms of success, just as the movement itself was beginning to peter out.
Piece Of Mind continued their success and was a major hit in the UK (number 3) and USA (number 14). Clive Burr was replaced by Nicko McBrain on the sessions, formerly drummer with French metal band Trust , who had supported Maiden on their 1981 UK tour (he had also played in Streetwalkers ). Piece Of Mind was not dissimilar to the previous album, showcasing the strong twin-guitar bite of Murray and Smith, coupled with memorable vocal lines and a sound that perfectly suited their air-punching dynamic.
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Single offerings, Flight Of Icarus and The Trooper , were instant hits, as the band undertook two massive tours, the four-month World Piece jaunt in 1983, and a World Slavery retinue, which included four sell-out dates at London's Hammersmith Odeon a year later.
With the arrival of Powerslave in November, some critics accused Iron Maiden of conforming to a self-imposed writing formula, and playing safe with tried and tested ideas. Certainly, there was no significant departure from the two previous albums, but it was nonetheless happily consumed by the band's core supporters, who also purchased in sufficient quantities to ensure UK chart hits for Aces High and Two Minutes To Midnight . Live After Death was a double-album package of all their best-loved material, recorded live on their gargantuan 11-month world tour.
By this time, Iron Maiden had secured themselves an unassailable position within the metal hierarchy, their vast popularity spanning all continents. Somewhere In Time was a slight departure: it featured more melody than previously, and heralded the use of guitar synthesizers. Their songwriting still shone through and the now obligatory hit singles were easily attained in the shape of Wasted Years and Stranger In A Strange Land . Reaching number 11 in the USA, this was another million-plus seller.
Since the mid-80s Maiden had been staging increasingly spectacular live shows, with elaborate lighting effects and stage sets. The Somewhere In Time tour (seven months) was no exception, ensuring their continued fame as a live band, which had been the basis for much of their success.
A period of comparative inactivity preceded the release of Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son , which was very much in the same vein as its predecessor. A concept album, it retained its commercial edge (giving the band their second UK number 1 album) and yielded hit singles in Can I Play With Madness , the surprisingly sensitive The Evil That Men Do and The Clairvoyant .
After another exhausting mammoth world trek, the band announced their intention to take a well-earned break of at least a year. Speculation abounded that this signalled the dissolution of the band, exacerbated by Bruce Dickinson 's solo project, Tattooed Millionaire , his book, The Adventures Of Lord Iffy Boatrace , and EMI Records ' policy of re-releasing Iron Maiden 's single catalogue in its entirety (on 12-inch).
After a considerable hiatus, news of the band surfaced again. Steve Harris felt that the direction pursued on the last two albums had been taken as far as possible, and a return to the style of old was planned. Unhappy with this game plan, Adrian Smith left to be replaced by Janick Gers ( b. Hartlepool, Lancashire, England), previously guitarist with White Spirit and Ian Gillan (he had also contributed to Bruce Dickinson 's solo release).
The live show was also scaled down in a return to much smaller venues. No Prayer For The Dying was indeed much more like mid-period Iron Maiden , and was predictably well-received, bringing enormous UK hit singles with Holy Smoke and Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter . The latter, previously released in 1989 on the soundtrack to A Nightmare On Elm Street 5 , had already been awarded the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Song that year. Nevertheless, it gave Iron Maiden their first ever UK number 1.
The obligatory world tour followed. Despite being denounced as Satanists in Chile, 1992 also saw the band debut at number 1 in the UK charts with Fear Of The Dark , which housed another major single success in Be Quick Or Be Dead (number 2). However, it was Bruce Dickinson 's swan-song with the band, who invited demo tapes from new vocalists following the lead singer's announcement that he would depart following current touring engagements.
His eventual replacement was Blaze Bayley (b. 1963, Birmingham, West Midlands, England) from Wolfsbane . His debut album was The X-Factor , and on this and at live gigs (which they only resumed in November 1995), he easily proved his worth. This was a daunting task, having had to learn Maiden 's whole catalogue and win over patriotic Dickinson followers. Adrian Smith resurfaced in a new band, Psycho Motel , in 1996.
In February 1999 it was announced that Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith had rejoined the band, restoring the classic 80s line-up. To the great delight of their loyal followers an excellent new album was not long in following...........................................................................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With the arrival of Powerslave in November, some critics accused Iron Maiden of conforming to a self-imposed writing formula, and playing safe with tried and tested ideas. Certainly, there was no significant departure from the two previous albums, but it was nonetheless happily consumed by the band's core supporters, who also purchased in sufficient quantities to ensure UK chart hits for Aces High and Two Minutes To Midnight . Live After Death was a double-album package of all their best-loved material, recorded live on their gargantuan 11-month world tour.
By this time, Iron Maiden had secured themselves an unassailable position within the metal hierarchy, their vast popularity spanning all continents. Somewhere In Time was a slight departure: it featured more melody than previously, and heralded the use of guitar synthesizers. Their songwriting still shone through and the now obligatory hit singles were easily attained in the shape of Wasted Years and Stranger In A Strange Land . Reaching number 11 in the USA, this was another million-plus seller.
Since the mid-80s Maiden had been staging increasingly spectacular live shows, with elaborate lighting effects and stage sets. The Somewhere In Time tour (seven months) was no exception, ensuring their continued fame as a live band, which had been the basis for much of their success.
A period of comparative inactivity preceded the release of Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son , which was very much in the same vein as its predecessor. A concept album, it retained its commercial edge (giving the band their second UK number 1 album) and yielded hit singles in Can I Play With Madness , the surprisingly sensitive The Evil That Men Do and The Clairvoyant .
After another exhausting mammoth world trek, the band announced their intention to take a well-earned break of at least a year. Speculation abounded that this signalled the dissolution of the band, exacerbated by Bruce Dickinson 's solo project, Tattooed Millionaire , his book, The Adventures Of Lord Iffy Boatrace , and EMI Records ' policy of re-releasing Iron Maiden 's single catalogue in its entirety (on 12-inch).
After a considerable hiatus, news of the band surfaced again. Steve Harris felt that the direction pursued on the last two albums had been taken as far as possible, and a return to the style of old was planned. Unhappy with this game plan, Adrian Smith left to be replaced by Janick Gers ( b. Hartlepool, Lancashire, England), previously guitarist with White Spirit and Ian Gillan (he had also contributed to Bruce Dickinson 's solo release).
The live show was also scaled down in a return to much smaller venues. No Prayer For The Dying was indeed much more like mid-period Iron Maiden , and was predictably well-received, bringing enormous UK hit singles with Holy Smoke and Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter . The latter, previously released in 1989 on the soundtrack to A Nightmare On Elm Street 5 , had already been awarded the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Song that year. Nevertheless, it gave Iron Maiden their first ever UK number 1.
The obligatory world tour followed. Despite being denounced as Satanists in Chile, 1992 also saw the band debut at number 1 in the UK charts with Fear Of The Dark , which housed another major single success in Be Quick Or Be Dead (number 2). However, it was Bruce Dickinson 's swan-song with the band, who invited demo tapes from new vocalists following the lead singer's announcement that he would depart following current touring engagements.
His eventual replacement was Blaze Bayley (b. 1963, Birmingham, West Midlands, England) from Wolfsbane . His debut album was The X-Factor , and on this and at live gigs (which they only resumed in November 1995), he easily proved his worth. This was a daunting task, having had to learn Maiden 's whole catalogue and win over patriotic Dickinson followers. Adrian Smith resurfaced in a new band, Psycho Motel , in 1996.
In February 1999 it was announced that Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith had rejoined the band, restoring the classic 80s line-up. To the great delight of their loyal followers an excellent new album was not long in following...........................................................................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
good job
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