- original lead vocalist (Nov 1976 - Mid 1977). Left IRON
MAIDEN permanently to form V1 with Terry Wapram (also former guitarist
with IRON MAIDEN, Spring 1977). Also sang for WARLOCK in
early 1976.
* David Michael (The Blonde Bomber) Murray - 12/23/56
- more or less a co-founder of IRON MAIDEN with Steve Harris (Mid
1976 - Nov 1976, Spring 1977 - present). Guitarist.
Was in a couple of
other bands previously: EVIL WAYS (1972 - 1974), a school
group along
with childhood friend Adrian Smith), URCHIN (early 1977, along
with Adrian
Smith). Also contributed to the HEAR'N AID project in 1986.
* Steve ('Arry) Harris - 03/12/56, raised in Leytonstone, England.
- founder of IRON MAIDEN (Dec 1975 - present). Bass guitarist
and back-up vocals. Was in bands INFLUENCE (which turned
into GYPSY'S
KISS) (1972 - 1973) and SMILER (1974-1975) previously. Several
GYPSY'S
KISS songs later became IRON MAIDEN songs, like "Burning Ambition"
and
"Drifter."
- original drummer for IRON MAIDEN (Mid 1977 - Early 1980).
Also original drummer for SMILER (1974 - 1975). Only recordings
on "The
Soundhouse Tapes" EP, "Burning Ambition".
- first recorded lead vocalist with IRON MAIDEN (Mid 1977 - Sep
1981). Recorded with IRON MAIDEN "The Soundhouse Tapes" EP,
"Sanctuary"
and "Wrathchild" on METAL FOR MUTHAS compilation, IRON MAIDEN album,
KILLERS album, LIVE PLUS ONE live album, "Maiden Japan" (aka "Heavy
Metal
Army") EP, "Women In Uniform" EP, and "Sanctuary" EP.
OTHER WORKS:
BIRD OF PREY (before 1977) - not much around.
LONE WOLF (1982 - ?) - not much around, but supposedly
sounds like
watered-down WHITESNAKE.
This was a 6-piece band.
GOGMAGOG (1985) - NWOBHM supergroup, featuring
Di'anno on vocals, Pete
Willis (DEF LEPPARD) and Jannick
Gers (GILLAN) on guitars, Neil
Murray (WHITESNAKE) on bass
guitar, and Clive Burr (IRON MAIDEN) on
drums. Released in 1985
a demo E.P. "I Will Be There."
DI'ANNO (1984 - May 1985) - I don't know much
about this band except it
sounds like JOURNEY.
Released an album Di'ANNO, as well as a single
from this album "Heartuser"
b/w "Road Rat" in 1984, under the FM
Coast to Coast label (a division
of Heavy Metal Records). Also
released an album TWO SWIMMERS
& A BAG OF JOCKIES in 1984 with Lee
Slater (Guitars, Vocals), P
J Ward (Guitars, Vocals), Kevin Browne
(Bass, Vocals), Mark Venables
(Keyboards), and Mark Stuart (Drums).
Mark Stuart left the band before
recording, so Dave Irving played
drums on this album.
(I *think* this information is correct!)
PAUL DI'ANNO'S BATTLEZONE (1986 - 1987) - recorded
in 1986 FIGHTING
BACK and in 1987 CHILDREN OF
MADNESS. Drummer on second album is
Steve Hopgood of famed NWOBHM
band PERSIAN RISK.
"ALL-STAR" PROJECT (1989) - with Lea Heart back
in '89. The album was
recorded somewhere in the UK,
and the participants were a Japanese
band around Tak Yonemochi,
Paul Di'Anno, Dennis Stratton, some of
Saxon, etc. - about 15 - 20
people altogether. The album seems to
have been produced for the
Japanese market, so there is little
English text on the cover,
mostly Japanese... Either the band or
the album is called "Kaizoku".
Anybody have any more information?
PRAYING MANTIS & Paul Di'anno, Dennis Stratton
(1990) - recorded on the
PRAYING MANTIS reunion in Japan
LIVE AT LAST in 1990. Other members
are Tino Troy and Chris Troy
of PRAYING MANTIS and STRATUS, Dennis
Stratton of LIONHEART, and
Bruce Bisland of Weapon and Statetrooper.
KILLERS (Jan 1992 - present) - featured Steve
Hopgood on drums and Nick
Burr (Clive Burr's brother)
on guitars. Released MURDER ONE in
1992.
- first official 2nd lead guitarist for IRON MAIDEN (End of 1979
for 10 weeks). Recorded "Sanctuary" and "Wrathchild" on the
METAL FOR
MUTHAS compilation.
- second official 2nd lead guitarist (Jan 1980 - Oct 1980).
With IRON MAIDEN recorded on the IRON MAIDEN album, "Women In Uniform"
EP,
subsequent singles, and LIVE PLUS ONE live album.
OTHER WORKS:
REMUS DOWN BOULEVARD (Any more information?)
LIONHEART (Oct 1980 - 1985) - first NWOBHM supergroup,
with Jess Cox
(TYGERS OF PAN TANG) on vocals,
Stratton on guitar, Steve Mann on
guitar, Rocky Newton on bass
guitar, and Frank Noon (DEF LEPPARD,
soon to be in WAYSTED) on drums.
Though formed in 1980, never
recorded anything until 1985,
an album HOT TONIGHT, then split.
All-Stars NWOBHM (1990) - all-star lineup which
includes members and ex
members of FASTWAY, SAMSON,
GIRLSCHOOL, IRON MAIDEN, PRAYING MANTIS,
WHITESNAKE, BLIZZARD OF OZZ,
etc. Recorded an album ALL-STARS
NWOBHM in 1990.
PRAYING MANTIS & Paul Di'anno, Dennis Stratton
(1990) - played on their
reunion in Japan and in 1990
released LIVE AT LAST as lead guitarist
and co-lead vocalist with the
Troy brothers and Paul Di'anno.
PRAYING MANTIS - after the reunion became their
lead vocalist and
guitarist opposite Tino Troy.
Released album PREDATORS IN DISGUISE
in 1991.
- 2nd drummer for IRON MAIDEN (Jan 1980 - Dec 1982). Recorded on
all that Dennis Stratton recorded with the band, KILLERS album,
"Maiden
Japan" EP, and THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST album.
OTHER WORKS:
SAMSON (Early 1978 - 1979) - original drummer,
played on first NWOBHM
single ever "Mr. Rock N Roll"
with Chris Aylmer on bass and Paul
Samson on guitars and vocals.
CLIVE BURR'S ESCAPE (1983?) - Recorded a session
for Radio 1 on the BBC
in the UK. Anyone know
anthing else about this one?
STRATUS (1985) - With Tino and Chris Troy. Recorded
"Throwing Shapes"
on Steel Trax (Steel 31001),
produced by Norman Goodman.
TYGON (formely STRATUS) - The brief name change
to TYGON was abandoned
after a little while, 'cos
they found several other things with that
name.
PRAYING MANTIS (?) - one of their many drummers
in their history.
Recorded "The Soundhouse Tapes
Part II," and "Captured City" on
METAL FOR MUTHAS compilation.
Was very good friend of next PRAYING
MANTIS drummer Dave Potts.
TRUST (1983? - ?) - replaced Nicko McBrain as
a session drummer for
the album "Trust" (1982). This
is not to be confused with their 1979
debut album, which is also
called "Trust". TRUST is regarded by many
to be the greatest French heavy
metal band ever.
GOGMAGOG (Jun 1985 - ?) - drummer on "I Will
Be There" EP. That is all
the band recorded.
DESPERADOS (?) - formed by Dee Snyder of Twisted
Sister fame. Recorded
an album but it was never released.
None of the members have legal
access to any material on the
album.
ELIXIR (?) - drummer on second album LETHAL POTION.
As far as I know
he's still in ELIXIR.
TRUE BRITS (1992) - Releasd an album READY TO
RUMBLE in 1992 with Lea
Hart (Vocals, Guitar), Dave
Senczak (Guitar), Dennis Stratton
(Vocals, Guitar), and Mel Gagbbltas
(Bass). This might not actually
be a band. I think they
(Clive, Dennis, etc.) just joined the album
of Lea Hart (ex-FASTWAY).
There are many (36) names of special
guests on this album, for example,
Scott Gorham, Neil Murray, Paul
Di'Anno, Eddie Clarke, Paul
Samson, Gary Barden, Tino Troy, etc.
* Adrian (H) Smith - 02/27/57
- guitarist for IRON MAIDEN (Oct 1980 - Jan 1990). Dave
Murray's longtime friend and former guitarist of URCHIN, among
many other
bands. Played guitar on everything after Dennis Stratton
left, and was
permanent member for more than 9 years. His last recording
with IRON
MAIDEN is the "Infinite Dreams" EP, recorded live on the Seventh
Son Of A
Seventh Son World Tour, leaving a legacy of one song "Hooks In
You" on the
next album NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING.
OTHER WORKS:
EVIL WAYS (1972 - 1974) - a school group with
Dave Murray.
URCHIN (1974 - Spring 1980) - guitarist and vocals.
Released 2 DJM
singles ("Black Leather Fantasy"
and "She's A Roller", both of which
are pretty hard to find apparently),
then split up. Was originally
offered Maiden gig early in
1980, but was still convinced URCHIN
could make it. Band members
were Andy Barnett on guitar, Barry
Tyler on drums, and Alan Levett
on bass.
BROADWAY BRATS (Mid 1980 - Oct 1980) - along
with Andy Barnett on
guitar, Jeb Million on vocals
(formerly with BLAZER BLAZER), Steve
Wells on bass (also formerly
with BLAZER BLAZER), and Ian Richardson
on drums (also formerly with
BLAZER BLAZER).
A.S.A.P. (1990 - ?) - formed in 1989, featuring
Zak Starkey, son of
Beatles drummer Ringo, on drums.
Recorded in 1989 SILVER AND GOLD
and an EP. Changed their
name (?) to the UNTOUCHABLES. Andy
Barnett on guitars as well,
Dave Colwell also on guitars, Robin
Clayton on bass, and Richard
Young on keyboards as well. Quite a
different sound that IRON MAIDEN!
UNTOUCHABLES (Aug 1992 - present) - his current
band made up of half
the people in A.S.A.P. (there
were a lot of members in A.S.A.P.).
We're still waiting for their
release. Gary Liederman on bass, Huey
Lucas on guitar, and Bob Richards
on drums.
* Michael (Nicko) McBrain - 06/05/54
- longtime friend of the band, Clive Burr's replacement (Dec
1982 - present). Recorded everything from the beginning of
the PIECE OF
MIND sessions and is still a member. Member of French heavy
metal group
TRUST, considered the best French heavy metal in all rock history
by
many), among many other bands he was in.
OTHER WORKS:
STREETWALKERS (Feb 1975 - Jul 1976) - Nicko's
first pro band, with
Roger Chapman on vocals, Charlie
Whitney on guitar, and several
others, including Billy Day.
PAT TRAVERS BAND (1977) - Recorded on the album
PUTTING IT STRAIGHT in
1977 along with Pat Travers
(Gurtar, Keyboards, and Vocals), and
Peter Mars Cowling (Bass).
Also played on the album HEAT IN THE STREET
JENNY DARREN (?) - Anyone know about this one?
TRAUMA (?) - Anyone know about this one?
McKITTY (?) - Anyone know about this one?
TRUST (? - End 1982) - Legendary French heavy
metal band, considered by
many to be the best heavy
metal in France. Apparently Nicko got
pissed off with the musical
direction (not to mention the commute
to Paris everytime they
had to rehearse).
Bruce (Bruce Bruce/Air Raid Siren) Dickinson - 08/07/58, born in Worksop
Notts, England
- recorded everything with IRON MAIDEN since the THE NUMBER
OF THE BEAST sessions up until A REAL DEAD ONE (Sep 1981 - Sep
1993).
- Influences : started listening to heavy metal at age 13...DEEP PURPLE'S
"IN ROCK".
OTHER WORKS:
STYX - (Help, any more information?)
SPEED (?) - recorded nothing - were a cross between
the STRANGLERS and
JUDAS PRIEST, with keyboards.
SHOTS (1977 - 1979) - based on street theatrics,
sounded more like Deep
Purple and Ian Gillan Band
stuff as well as SPEED, but more hard
rock. Also never recorded.
SAMSON (Jun 1979 - Aug 1981) - Recorded SURVIVORS
(1979) for the band
but never released it.
Dickinson was on this album but as guitarist
and harmonica player.
He was a kind-of member at this time since he
said he didn't want to join
the band until he graduated from
college, which by this time
was only two weeks away). A previous
version of SURVIVORS was already
on the presses and so they wrote
HEAD ON, and then toured in
support of the two albums. Last album
with Bruce (aka Bruce Bruce)
was SHOCK TACTICS, in 1981. In 1990
Paul Samson released LIVE AT
READING '81 with Dickinson. During his
tenure with SAMSON, SAMSON
were regarded the most popular, equalled
only by DEF LEPPARD, IRON MAIDEN,
and SAXON. Paul Samson continued
on with SAMSON with Nicky Moore
(formerly with TIGER). The first 3
albums also had former IRON
MAIDEN drummer Thunderstick (Spring 1977
- Mid 1977).
OTHER PROJECT (1986?) - Appeared on "Lone Wolf",
the B-side of XERO's
"Oh Baby" single.
MR. BEAN & SMEAR CAMPAIGN (1992) - Together
with Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean)
and TASTE, Bruce Dickinson
recorded ELECTED (Alice Cooper) to raise
charity funds. The CD single
contains:
1. (I want
to be) ELECTED
Mr. Bean & Smear Campaign (Featuring Bruce Dickinson)
2. (I want
to be) ELECTED
Smear Campaign (Featuring Bruce Dickinson)
3. THE MANIFESTO
Mr. Bean
The second track is the song
ELECTED by TASTE with Bruce on vocals. The
third track is an election
manifesto read by Mr. Bean. The first track
is a mix of both. Apparently
there is also a video.
The whole thing is rather humorous,
it probably is more so if you
are British.
BRUCE DICKINSON SOLO PROJECT - released an album
TATTOOED MILLLIONAIRE
with future Maiden guitarist
Jannick Gers in 1990, as well as wrote
"Bring Your Daughter...To The
Slaughter" for the Nightmare On Elm
Street Part V - The Dream Child
soundtrack. Though disbanded soon
after the tour, it will probably
be resurrected in some form or
another soon enough.
Solo band also included Andy Carr on bass, and
Fabio Del Rio on drums, and
toured a little while Mid 1990.
THE EARTHQUAKE ALBUM / ROCK AID ARMENIA (1990)
- This is a compilation
the sales of which went towards
helping the people of Armenia stricken
by the 1990 earthquake. The
first track is SMOKE ON THE WATER '90 and
is a sort of all-star performance
of the classic DEEP PURPLE song.
Bruce sings the 2nd verse of
the song. (This performance also features
names like Ritchie Blackmore,
Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi, Dave Gilmour,
Roger Taylor, Brian May, Bryan
Adams, Keith Emerson and others).
* Janick (Jan) Gers - 01/27/57
- Adrian Smith's successor in IRON MAIDEN (Jan 1990 - present).
Performed on everything beginning with the NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING
sessions.
OTHER WORKS:
WHITE SPIRIT (Mid 1975 - Jun 1981) - another
very popular NWOBHM band.
Recorded classic WHITE SPIRIT
in 1980, then soon departed to join
GILLAN. Mick Tucker of
AXIS replaced him.
GILLAN (Jun 1981 - Dec 1982) - Replaced former
guitarist Bernie Torme
and recorded DOUBLE TROUBLE
(1981), a 2 LP set, 1 studio + one live
(now available on one CD from
Virgin). Live portion was from the
Reading Festival 1981). Bernie
Torme plays guitar on one of the live
tracks, "If You Believe Me",
recorded earlier. Janick also appears on
MAGIC (1982), another studio
LP, now also available on CD from
Virgin, with some single b-sides
and outtakes. When in GILLAN he used
to play a cover of BLACK NIGHT
which he later did with Bruce Dickinson
and is now available on a Dickinson
single. Gillan fell apart when
Ian Gillan thought there was
going to be a DEEP PURPLE reunion. When
that didn't happen, Ian joined
BLACK SABBATH, recording BORN AGAIN,
before the DEEP PURPLE reunion
eventually happened in 1984.
DI'ANNO (Jan 1985 - May 1985) - With Frank Noon
on drums, along with
others. Anyone know about
this one?
GOGMAGOG (Jun 1985 - ?) - you've read this one
enough times already.
FISH (1988? - 1990?) - ex-Marillion singer's
band. Janick was doing
studio sessions for them for
a while, he appeared live with them in
March of 1989, and also on
FISH's VIGIL IN A WILDERNESS OF MIRRORS
playing guitar on "View From
A Hill" and co-writing "View From A
Hill" and "Family Business".
BRUCE DICKINSON SOLO PROJECT - you just read
it a few minutes ago.
Blaze Bayley - 05/29/??
- (1994 - ) - joined IRON MAIDEN at the turn of the new year,
following Bruce Dickinson's departure in September 1993. Currently
singing on the new Maiden album which is being recorded and is
to be
released in September 1994.
OTHER WORKS:
WOLFSBANE (1987 - 1993) - Debuted with LIVE FAST,
DIE FAST (1989) which
according to Kerrang was good material but rendered
impotent by an
uncharacteristically weak Rick Rubin production.
In 1990 an EP titled
ALL HELL'S BREAKING LOOSE DOWN AT LITTLE KATHY
WILSON'S PLACE restored
their credibility. In 1991 they released DOWN
FALL ALL THE GOOD GUYS
which was their last record with Def American.
In Feb. 1993 a proud and
defiant live album called MASSIVE NOISE INJECTION
was released with
Bronze Records and another album titled WOLFSBANE
was to be released in
February 1994 and was in the process of being
mixed when Blaze decided
to front Iron Maiden. Blaze considers the Bronze
releases to be the
best of all Wolfsbane's albums.
Favourite singers: Bon Scott (RIP), Ronnie James Dio, Geoff
Tate, Elvis
Presley, James Hetfield and Ozzy Osbourne.
Favourite records: Highway to Hell (AC/DC), Black Sabbath
(Black Sabbath),
Ride the Lightning (Metallica), Jerry Lee Lewis Live at
The Star Club Hamburg, Arise (Sepultura), Home Invasion
(Ice-T).
Favourite IM songs: The Trooper, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Iron Maiden,
The
Clairvoyant, Run To The Hills, 2 Minutes To Midnight,
Fear of the Dark.
Favourite IM albums: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, Powerslave, The Number
of the Beast.