Iron Maiden are a British heavy metal band led by founder, bassist and songwriter Steve Harris. Since forming in 1975 they have released fourteen studio albums, nine live albums, four EPs and eight compilations.
As a pioneer of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement, Iron Maiden rose to fame in the early 1980s, and after several lineup changes, they went on to release a string of platinum and gold albums. These include the US platinum-selling landmark The Number of the Beast in 1982 and the follow up Piece of Mind in 1983. Iron Maiden released their newest studio effort in 2006 entitled A Matter of Life and Death peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in the UK.
As one of the most commercially successful heavy metal bands of all time, Iron Maiden have sold more than 70 million albums worldwide,[1] without significant mainstream or radio support. The band won the Ivor Novello Awards for international achievement in 2002,[2] and were also inducted into the Hollywood RockWalk in Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California during their tour in the United States in 2005. Their influences include Thin Lizzy, UFO, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep[3] and Wishbone Ash.
Studio albums
1980: Iron Maiden
1981: Killers
1982: The Number of the Beast
1983: Piece of Mind
1984: Powerslave
1986: Somewhere in Time
1988: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
1990: No Prayer for the Dying
1992: Fear of the Dark
1995: The X Factor
1998: Virtual XI
2000: Brave New World
2003: Dance of Death
2006: A Matter of Life and Death
Steve Harris – bass, keyboards, backing vocals (1975–present)
Dave Murray – guitars (1976–present)
Adrian Smith – guitars, backing vocals (1980–1990, 1999–present)
Bruce Dickinson – lead vocals, additional guitars (1981–1993, 1999–present)
Nicko McBrain – drums, percussion (1982–present)
Janick Gers – guitars (1990-present), backing vocals (2007-present)