By Blackie Lawless
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Steve Harris
All posts tagged Steve Harris
First out of the gates for the 2013 Download festival HEADLINER spot at Castle Donington in England (June 14-16) are Iron Maiden .
DONINGTON or BUST
A second HEAD-LINER will be announced tomorrow
Live at the Maiden England tour 2012 in Edmonton Alberta
Photograph by Karen Graham
Iron Maiden just completed a world tour and were on fire live. 2013 sees them celebrate 25 years since the first appearance as a HEAD-LINING band at Castle Doningtons infamous Monsters Of Rock show.
Bring it Bruce……..
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Maiden England and still giving good Ed(die)
Twenty plus years in between shows is probably considered a long time.
Singers come and go, some come again….
A selection of guitarists appear to have started mummification.
Drummers disappear totally. Yes, really, Nicko McBrain appeared (or not) to be invisible for most of the Iron Maiden show at Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on July 27 2012.
Alas the show support has few viewers as there is a serious lack of speed in getting people through the doors in a timely manner. Coheed and Cambria could be forgiven for thinking no-one has shown up. Entry to the venue was slow, but on a good point, security excelled.
The crowd know the headliners are on the way, prompted by the pre-show track Doctor Doctor, by UFO and give it their all to welcome the band with screams and shouts, loud enough to wake the baby next door and the one in the next block!
Loud, bright, hot pyro accompanies the entry of the mighty Maiden, followed by a blur of Bruce Dickinson. No longer sporting his bad bangs of the late 1980’s, Dickinson is the only band member to have had a haircut. Marauding upon the stage, the vision of a mission driven warrior who had a rather large and painful metal object rammed up his arse. Maybe he misplaced his foil! The returning lead voice is not still for a second. In 30 plus years the man with the voice has not slowed and he does not falter. Perfection in his delivery, both theatrically and vocally is at full throttle.
Bassist and songwriter Steve Harris is alongside and upfront, beating his bass like it owes him money. Harris aside from the odd laughter line appears as he did back in the day. A master of his craft, with the look of determination and I told you so. You can hear him screaming telepathically at the crowd…
Ave sam you fakkers!
Guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Jannik Gers give the crowd exactly what they want, loud, melodic guitar excellence, providing among others, classic songs Run To The Hills, The Number Of The Beast and Running Free with ease and expertise. These boys are so professional in their delivery they mesmerise and although music mogul Sharon Osbourne may have long ago formed a negative opinion of these NWOBHM legends, whatever she thinks or thought, she cannot take away from the fact that after so long these British blokes are still filling stadiums worldwide and producing a show that is worth waiting in a three hour plus, long line for. Skinny jeans, Hi- Tops and sleeveless T’s intact. No lip syncing, no prompter, flash bangs, Egyptian animals with glowing eyes and a 10 feet tall wanking Eddie providing the crowd with mid show entertainment.
What more could you the modern day metal head possibly want?
Well, another tour in 2014 would be nice!!
All Photographs and written article By Karen Graham 14/08/2012 11:59 AM
This article is dedicated to my good friend Mark Browne who lost his hard fought battle with cancer today. Mark was a musician and a music lover to the end.
Mark Browne 1966-2012
For Teresa, Mercedes, Imogen and Jak, inspirational and much loved.
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Press release from http://www.facebook.com/ironmaiden
EMI Music are proud to announce the release of Iron Maiden founder Steve Harris’ debut solo/side project album. Entitled ‘British Lion’ and comprising ten songs that Steve and his collaborators have been working on for the past few years between Iron Maiden tours and releases, it is an album that will surprise and delight music fans the world over.
With a decidedly heavy rock-vibe this roaring debut paints with a full palette of sounds; brooding, melancholic, righteously indignant and exuberantly heavy. With Kevin Shirley at the mixing helm – whose credits include Iron Maiden as well as Led Zeppelin, Journey and Rush among many others – this is an album to sink your teeth into.
From the growling riffage of opening salvo This Is My God to the heavy forlorn balladry of follow-up Lost Worlds which showcases Richard Taylor’s soaring vocals, it’s clear that ‘British Lion’ is an altogether different beast from Maiden.
Karma Killer, with its dirge-like muscularity, and Us Against The World, with its massive chorus, demonstrates just how far ‘British Lion’ has flexed Steve Harris’ considerable musical muscle. Dovetailed with guitarist David Hawkins’ positively gargantuan lyrical guitar melodies, it’s a mere hors d’oeuvre ahead of the epic, riffing-feast of The Chosen Ones, with its swaggering bravado.
A World Without Heaven, at a breathtaking seven minutes and infused with progressive elements without ever teetering into self-indulgence illustrates perfectly these songsmiths’ colossal abilities to create a mood and stay there. Supercharged by Steve Harris’ inimitable style, there’s an un-cynical vibe here that’s as refreshing as it is out of place in today’s all-too-categorised music industry.
And as far as the name ‘British Lion’; “I’ve always been proud to be British,” explains Steve, “I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be. It’s a massive part of being me. It’s not like I’m flag-waving or trying to preach, this is not a political statement at all. It’s like supporting your football team, where you come from. I just think it lends itself to some really strong imagery too, and to me it fits in with the sound.”
With Iron Maiden, Steve Harris has become one of the most recognised and successful ambassadors for British music on the world stage. Having released 15 studio albums, sold over 85 million records worldwide and played more than two thousand gigs in 58 countries in the band’s thirty-five year career, his appeal is truly global.
And now with ‘British Lion’, Steve steps out from Iron Maiden’s illustrious shadow to present a different side of his musical visions.
The tracklisting for ‘British Lion’ is as follows:
1.This Is My God
2.Lost Worlds
3.Karma Killer
4.Us Against The World
5.The Chosen Ones
6.A World Without Heaven
7.Judas
8.Eyes Of The Young
9.These Are The Hands
10.The Lesson
