Iron Maiden’s bassist and founder, Steve Harris, expressed a sense of bewilderment when reflecting on the band’s remarkable half-century existence. “It’s gone so quick,” he remarked. “You go on tour for a few months and it seems to fly, but so much happens. Our whole career is an extension of that – for 50 years.” Harris, reflecting on his leadership of one of Britain’s most influential and distinctive bands, recounted their ascent. Propelled to the forefront of 80s metal with their signature galloping rhythms, theatrical flair, and multi-platinum albums such as ‘The Number of the Beast,’ ‘Powerslave,’ and ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son,’ Iron Maiden not only weathered the 1990s metal downturn that affected many contemporaries but also emerged with an even heavier and more ambitious sound.

English Translation

‘I nearly quit to become a fencing teacher’: Iron Maiden on 50 years of heavy metal, hard living – and hopeless communication skills

As a career-spanning documentary hits cinemas and the band eye two nights at Knebworth, they revisit their path from pubs to stadiums – but how did they get through their crisis-filled 1990s? When I ask Iron Maiden bassist and founder Steve Harris about the fact his band have lasted for more than half a century, he sounds bewildered, as if he’s put something down then forgotten where he’s left it. “It’s gone so quick. You go on tour for a few months and it seems to fly, but so much happens. Our whole career is an extension of that – for 50 years.” He’s looking back on how he steered one of the most influential – and deeply idiosyncratic – British bands in history. Catapulted to the premier league of 80s metal on the back of galloping, theatrical, multi-platinum LPs including The Number of the Beast, Powerslave and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, Iron Maiden not only survived the mid-90s slump that befell many metal bands, but got even more heavy and ambitious.