1 Iron Maiden
In 1999, Iron Maiden is a household-name in every part of the world. After 20 years and almost 50 million album sales, Maiden is now rightly regarded as the 'classic' rock band in every sense: modern masters of that most emotionally extreme and technically dazzling form of rock music - the black sheep they call heavy metal. A genre Maiden single-handedly reinvented for the Eighties, when they released their first single, the punk-metal collision, 'Running Free', and their uncompromisingly raw debut album, 'Iron Maiden', in 1980. And a genre which is once again currently enjoying a vast renaissance worldwide with Maiden very much involved as always.
Back in the early eighties, Maiden was the band at the forefront of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal - a short-lived media-led phenomenon that would propel them onto the world stage. "People always used to call us punk-metal when we first started getting reviewed in the music papers in Britain," bassist and founding member, Steve Harris, recalls with a rueful smile. "But I think that was partly to do with the fact that our singer then, Paul Di'Anno, had quite short hair and the fact that we used to play so fast. We used to come across as really aggressive. But that was never really a punk thing to me - that was a pure metal thing. We used to frighten the life out of the punks·"
Despite receiving no radio play whatsoever, 'Running Free' their debut single leapt into the UK Top 40. When the band were then offered their first appearance on Top Of The Pops, the UK's biggest weekly TV chart show, Maiden refused to do it unless they were allowed to play live - something no artist had done on Top Of The Pops since The Who demolished the studio during a performance of their 'Quadrophenia' hit, '5.15', in 1972. The BBC execs were sceptical but eventually relented and such precocity was rewarded when their debut album, 'Iron Maiden', was released a few weeks later and immediately crashed into the UK albums chart at No.4!
It was this take-no-prisoners attitude the band started with, and still adopt to this day, which has served them so well throughout their career. Since then, every one of the 11 studio albums and three live albums that Maiden have released have been major Top 10 successes both at home in the UK and more than 25 other countries around the world, including over 20 hit singles - a fact that sometimes gets overlooked as so few of them have ever been played on radio - and no less than five consecutive million-selling albums in America.
Along the way, despite numerous line-up changes the quintessential Maiden sound - the rumbling-earth bass, searchlight guitars, spatter-gun drums and lion's roar vocals - remained mercifully undimmed throughout. Their second album "Killers" followed in 1981 which saw the band paying first time tour visits to America, Canada and Japan. The album achieved the band gold album status around the world but at the end of the tour singer Paul Di Anno left heralding the arrival of Bruce Dickinson.
1982 was to exceed all expectations for the new line up. After a couple of warm up shows with Bruce the band went in to record the legendary "Number of The Beast" album. This blew away all competition to enter the UK Chart at No.1 while the classic Maiden track,"Run To The Hills", got the band their first UK Top 10 single. This success was mirrored across Europe and also the American charts. The gruelling 180 date , 8 month 'Beast on The Road Tour' again broke new ground for the band as they did shows in Australia and New Zealand and saw the band headline their first sold out US Show at the New York Palladium proving a portent of things to come. Once again there was a band casualty with Clive Burr ,the bands drummer, leaving to make way for the now infamous drummer/prankster/headcase Nicko McBrain.
The band immediately started work on Piece Of Mind which they recorded in Nassau in the Bahamas The album went in the UK charts at No.3 when the band started their "World Piece Tour" in the UK. As before there was to be no let up in pace and Maiden found themselves playing to larger and larger audiences selling out everywhere and gathering more momentum in America with their first - of many - full scale arena headline tour. Powerslave was recorded in Nassau in 1985. The "Slavery Tour" was to give fans a massive stageshow of lights and production featuring Eddie, the bands hugely popular mascot and icon, now being transformed from a walk on part to a huge twenty foot mechanised monster. The groundbreaking tour started behind the Iron Curtain in Poland which was the first time a major band had taken full western production behind the Iron Curtain. By the third week of the tour the album itself was released , going straight in the UK Album Charts at No. 2.
The band found themselves breaking records everywhere playing the Rock In Rio Festival to 200,000 fans, selling out Radio City Hall in NewYork five nights running (illness preventing it from reaching seven) and the first act ever to sell out Long Beach Arena (Capacity 13000) for 4 consecutive nights. This Long Beach success was captured in the bands next release "Live After Death", Maidens first Double Live album and video of the same name. The Live album charted at No.2 and the video went to No.1 in the video charts and remained there for some time.These releases are still regarded by many as one of the best live albums/videos of all time.
"Somewhere in Time" was released in September 1986, this time recorded in both Nassau and Munich. This album marked a slight change in their style with the inclusion of keyboards for the first time but in no way diluted Maidens classic style. The first single released off the album "Wasted Years" reached the UK top twenty and was a track written about the rigours of their previous tours. The album continued to go gold or platinum in practically every major territory. The live show as before was a dazzling spectacle. The highlight featured Eddie , this time an understage inflatable and portrayed as a cyborg from the cover artwork, lifting the band off the stage with his two hands and sending Nicko and drumkit skywards balanced on his head. "Somewhere On Tour" again started in Eastern Europe and included six sell out nights at the Hammersmith Odeon before again spending the spring of 87 touring through the US and finishing in Japan some eight months later.
1988 brought "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son", Maidens' first and only concept album. This wasn't the original idea at the outset, but in writing and followed by rehearsals it seemed the material had a common theme running through out. The first single "Can I Play With Madness" went to No. 3 in the UK Charts and was followed by 3 other singles from the album all reaching the Top 10 - quite a feat without Radio support. The "Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour" saw them begin in the US. The high spot of the tour was to be the headlining of the legendary "Monsters Of Rock Festival" at Castle Donington which with support by the likes of Kiss, Dave Lee Roth, Guns and Roses and stablemates Helloween, they played to a all time record breaking 107,000 fans. The "Monsters" festival also had repeated success in Europe after which the band continued back to the UK to complete the tour with sell out shows at Wembley Arena for 2 nights the Birmingham NEC , 2 nights and 4 nights at the Hammersmith Odeon.
The band had previously decided to take the whole of 1989 off however, unable to rest, Bruce and Adrian spent their time recording their first solo albums and November 1989 saw the group team up again for the launch of the "Maiden England" video. In January 1990 work had barely begun on the "No Prayer For The Dying" album when Adrian decided to leave the band, this being their first personnel change for some seven years. Bruce meanwhile had been working through the previous summer with ex-Gillan and White Spirit guitarist, Janick Gers who after auditioning was invited to join.
The new line-up recorded the album in the UK at Steve's own Barnyard studio. Released October 1st the album entered the UK Chart at No.2. This album was to finally bring the band their first elusive No.1 single with "Bring Your Daughter to The Slaughter" going straight to No.1 for Christmas 1990.
Work on "Fear on The Dark" started early in 1992 and Eddie went through a transformation as for the first time artist Derek Riggs did not supply the cover art but instead the band took a more sinister image drawn by Melvin Grant. "Fear Of The Dark" was to be the bands third No.1 album and with an elaborate show the band hit the road again starting this time in Scandanavia. Again the opportunity to play Castle Donington came to the band. The show was filmed and later released on video while several other shows on the tour were being recorded for a possible live album. Finishing in Japan in November the band returned unaware of what was lurking around the corner.
In March 1993 Bruce announced his departure feeling he had got to saturation point with other projects and the band set to work on finding a replacement while doing a final "Real Live Tour" tour with Bruce. The band visited Moscow for the first time and received an amazing reception and went on to complete 44 shows across Europe. Bruces final show was to be a live pay-per-view televised spectacular "Raising Hell" featuring the magician Simon Drake performing grisly tricks interspersed with live performance by the band. This included Simon playing a guitar solo with guitarist Dave Murray severed hands and Bruce being decapitated!
After an intensive search Blaze Bayley of Wolfsbane was announced as Maidens new vocalist. The band and Blaze had already crossed paths as Wolfsbane had supported Maiden on 1990 UK Tour. This new partnership started work on the darkly smouldering "X Factor" album , again recorded at Steve's Barnyard Studios but with Steve himself co-producing it with Nigel Green. The X Factour started prior to the album launch in October 1995 with shows in new territories Israel and South Africa. The album itself went to No.8 in the album chart while the band continued to tour comprehensively in Europe and the UK, highlighted with the bands Brixton Academy show before they continued throughout Western Europe, America, Japan and headlining many major festivals including the "Monsters of Rock" in Sao Paulo to 50,000 fans.
1997 saw work start on Virtual XI, aptly named, this being their Eleventh Studio album. The cover artwork supplied by Melvin Grant depicted a boy watching a football match through a Virtual Reality headset while being surrounded by Armageddon and Eddie. This being a comment on technology taking over everything and the concern society shares as we approach the Millennium. This sentiment was also reflected in the material on the album with tracks such as "Futureal" and "When Two Worlds Collide". The football theme was carried through as Maiden, always being massive football supporters, decided to promote the album launch with their own Football tour, 1998 being World Cup year. The band set to work on putting together a dream team of world professionals such as Paul Gascoigne, Ian Wright, Faustino Asprilla, Marc Overmars, Patrik Viera and Stuart Pearce, Stuart being an immense Maiden fan. A Virtual XI team which featured ex-England stalwarts Terry Butcher, Tony Woodcock, Neil Webb and Paul Mariner toured throughout Europe playing games against teams with similarly famous names like Anders Limpar in Sweden, Gentile and Altobelli in Italy and even meeting up with the great Eusebio in Portugal.
2 metallica
Metallica performed 2 shows in San Francisco and found the crowds there more friendly than LA's "there to be seen" crowd. They also caught up-and-coming band Trauma, and most importantly their bass player, Cliff Burton. Eventually, Metallica moved upstate and Cliff joined Metallica. In New York, a copy of No Life Til Leather made its way to Jon Zazula's record shop, the aptly-named Metal rock 'n' roll heaven . Zazula quickly recruited Metallica to come out east to play some shows and record an album. The band made it to New York in a stolen U-Haul only to make announcement to their now manager/record producer: "Our guitar player has got to go." Roadie Mark Whitakker suggested a guitar player from a band he knew back in SF, and on April 1, 1983 Kirk Hammett joins Metallica.
Metallica's first album, Kill 'Em All, is released in late 1983. Metallica toured behind Kill 'Em All, and in 1984, a second album Ride The Lightning was recorded and released. This album was a more mature album, both lyrically and musically while not missing a beat of the ferocity of Kill 'Em All. Notable on Ride The Lightning's eight songs is track four; Fade To Black. Inspired by the theft of the band's equipment earlier that year in Boston, the song delves rather deeply into dealing with loss. Other tracks are inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and the movie The Ten Commandments.
The band signed with major management agency Q Prime and soon after is signed to major record label Elektra. 1986 brought their third album, Master Of Puppets, and a tour with Ozzy Osbourne. Metallica was reaching new highs: the new album reached #29 and enjoyed a 72-week run on the US charts. The Ozzy tour helped them gain wide exposure. The band endured a minor downfall when James broke his arm skateboarding and was unable to play guitar. John Marshall pulled double duty, acting as Kirk's guitar roadie and filling in on rhythm guitar until James healed. With the Ozzy tour complete the band moved on to Europe and planned their first venture to the Far East. It was hoped that James would be ready to handle his guitar duties, but for the first shows in Europe, Marshall filled in.
James returned in full guitar and vocal duties on September 26th, 1986, the last time Metallica performed with Cliff. Early the next morning, the tour bus skidded out of control and flipped, killing Cliff Burton. It probably would have been easier for Metallica to call it quits right then and there. Cliff was a major part of the band, not only supplying bass but being somewhat of a teacher and mentor, sharing his musical wisdom and "be yourself" attitude. Knowing Cliff would be the first to want them to carry on, Metallica minus one carried on.
Jason Newsted was chosen from over 40 auditions to play bass with Metallica. His many strengths included being able to keep up with the band's drinking habits! It was decided they would jump right back into "tour mode" to initiate the new bass player and wrap up loose ends. The band also released an EP of all cover songs as an introduction to Jason. The EP, titled Garage Days Re-Revisited is considered a sequel of sorts to Garage Days Revisited which appeared as a B-side in 1984.
With Jason established, the band went back to record their fourth full-length album, ?And Justice For All, released in August 1988. It reached #6 on the US charts, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Metal/Hard Rock album. The band took the show back out on the road and toured extensively to all parts of the world. ...And Justice For All produced two US singles and the band's very first venture into music video for the song One. They finally won a Grammy for the One single.
In 1991 Metallica released the self titled "black album." With new producer Bob Rock, this album was a departure from the previous album. The songs were shorter and the sound was fuller, deeper and less monotone. The "black album" went straight to number one all over the world.. and stayed there for several weeks. The album spawned several singles and videos and remains the most successful Metallica album to date. The band won several awards including a Grammy for the album and several MTV and American Music Awards. The band toured and toured and toured (get the picture?) playing all alone in "An Evening With Metallica" or with Guns N' Roses, or as headliner at many festivals. Metallica took the Black Album (and the other songs as well) to the people.
Five years would pass before the next Metallica album saw the light. The album was called Load and was the longest Metallica album to date. With 14 songs it took all available room on a compact disc. The album was again produced by Bob Rock, as was ReLoad, which followed in 1997. Both albums were written and mostly recorded together, and continued what the self-titled album started. Soundwise, the album was thick and and punchy, the songs were loose, powerful and eclectic. It would be unfair to say Metallica changed a great deal, as the band is the same band that recorded Kill 'Em All, ...And Justice For All and the rest, but the Load twins show a Metallica that has grown towards expanding past the "all attitude and speed" days and back to the "be yourself" attitude.
3 Megadeth
Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield form Metallica.Dave Mustaine leaves Panic and joins Metallica. Ron McGovney is hired as Metallica's bassist March, Metallica's first gig at Radio City in Anaheim
March, Metallica opens for Saxon on their "Denim and Leather" tour April, Brad Parker (a.k.a. Damian Phillips) is hired as Metallica's second guitarist. He leaves band after one gig, Metallica's only as a five-piece band. May, James Hetfield takes up rhythm guitar in addition to vocals. June, "Hit the Lights" is included on Metal Massacre compilation Rare demo album No Life 'til Leather is released. December, Cliff Burton leaves Trauma to replace Ron McGovney
March, Megadeth releases So Far, So Good... So What! Megadeth opens for Dio on US and Canadian tour Megadeth featured in acclaimed documentary, Decline of Western Civilization 2: The Metal Years August, Megadeth plays Castle Donnington with KISS, and Iron Maiden as the headliner
Megadeth opens for the "Monsters of Rock" tour. Megadeth cancels Australian tour Dave Mustaine helps produce Sanctuary's Refuge DeniedDave Mustaine makes a guest appearance on Diamond Head's Death and Progress Megadeth plays Milton Keynes Bowl with Diamond Head and Metallica
Megadeth opens for Iron Maiden for a few dates on their European Tour Aerosmith kicks Megadeth off their American "Get A Grip" tour, Jackyl takes their place Pantera opens for Megadeth's "Countdown to Extinction" Tour June, Megadeth's "Angry Again" featured on Last Action Hero soundtrack November, Megadeth's "99 Ways to Die" featured on The Beavis and Butthead Experience soundtrack Al Pitrelli joins the band replacing Marty Friedman. The band starts work on it's 10th release.Megadeth leaves Capitol Records.Megadeth signs with Sanctuary Records. "Kill the King" is number one most added song at rock radio. Megadeth releases Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years. The band returns to the studio in LA to finish recording their new release. Megadeth closes out the millenium in Anchorage, Alaska with the promise of a web broadcast of the New Years Eve show. March, Dave Mustaine and Al Pitrelli begin a world press tour for the new album
April, Megadeth shoots the video for Moto PsychoApril/May, Megadeth begins a short U.S. acoustic tour sponsored by local radio stations.May, The World Needs A Hero is released.June, Megadeth spends the summer on a world tour playing festivals, opening for AC/DC September, Megadeth tours the US, with Endo opening on the west coast and Iced Earth on the east.October, Megadeth's VH1 Behind The Music special is released on dvd.November, Megadeth plays last two shows of TWNAH tour in Arizona filming both for a live album and dvd.February, Killing Is My Business ...And Business Is Good! is re-mixed, re-mastered, and released March, the double live album Rude Awakening is released.April, Megadeth disband after Dave Mustaine suffers a nerve injury in his arm, leaving him unable to play guitar.September, Still Alive..And Well? is released by Sanctuary.February, Dave Mustaine announces his departure as an endorsee for Jackson GuitarsApril, Mustaine performs four Megadeth songs acoustically at a benefit for John Calleo July, Mustaine attends the summer NAMM convention in Nashville to unveil his new signature ESP guitars.October, Peace Sells ...But Who's Buying? is released as an audio dvd presented in Dolby 5.1 surround.January, Dave Mustaine makes an announcement about his good health, the future of Megadeth and upcoming releases.July, Megadeth's back catalog is re-mixed and re-mastered with bonus tracks!A new Megadeth album is recorded with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, bassist Jimmy Sloas and guest soloist Chris Poland. "The System Has Failed" is released September 14, 2004.August, The new touring lineup is announced: Glen Drover (King Diamond/Eidolon) and James MacDonough (Iced Earth).October, The "Blackmail The Universe" tour begins in North America with Exodus opening. New drummer, Shawn Drover joins the band the week before.February, Megadeth continues its Blackmail The Universe tour worldwide with Diamond Head and Dungeon opening.June, more worldwide shows and European festivals; Megadeth plays Iceland, Romania and Bulgaria for the first time.June, Greatest Hits: Back To The Start is released.July, Gigantour 1 hits North America all summer. Megadeth headlines with Dream Theater, Anthrax, Fear Factory, Dillinger Escape Plan, Nevermore, Life of Agony, Symphony X, Dry Kill Logic and Bobaflex. Footage is shot for an upcoming CD and DVD.October, Dave Mustaine announces his decision to keep Megadeth together at a concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The show is filmed for a live album/DVD.March, the two-disc DVD anthology Arsenal of Megadeth is released.
March, James LoMenzo (Black Label Society) replaces James MacDonough on bass.March, Megadeth headlines the United Arab Emirates' Dubai Desert Rock Festival.April, Megadeth begins recording a new album at SARM recording studios in England.May, Megadeth signs with Roadrunner Records.
July, Megadeth plays Spain's Metalway Festival in Gernika and Jerez.August, Gigantour's inaugural festival tour is released on 2-CD and 2-DVD sets.September, Gigantour 2006 begins in North America. Megadeth headlines with Lamb of God, Opeth, Arch Enemy, Overkill, Into Eternity, Sanctity and the Smashup.October, Megadeth tours Japan and continues Gigantour in Australia with Soulfly, Arch Enemy and Caliban.Halloween, Megadeth takes part in launching the 'Gears Of War' XBOX 360 game with a mini-concert at Six Flags theme park in Springfield, MA.December, Dave Mustaine announces his departure from ESP guitars.January, Dave Mustaine signs with Dean Guitars, debuts his new VMNT guitar at the NAMM Convention.March, Megadeth opens for a reunited Black Sabbath (Heaven And Hell) on their Canadian tour.March, That One Night: Live In Buenos Aires, filmed in Buenos Aires, is released on DVD. The 2CD set follows in October.April, The 'Heaven And Hell' tour continues in the U.S.May, Megadeth's 11th studio album, United Abominations, featurng the singles/videos "A Tout Le Monde" (featuring Christina Scabbia) and "Never Walk Alone" is released, debuts at #8 on U.S. charts.June, Megadeth's 'Tour of Duty' begins in Europe with summer festivals and headline shows.September, 'Tour of Duty' continues in the U.S. and Pacific Rim.October, Megadeth release Warchest, a 4CD/1DVD career-spanning box set.November, 'Gigantour 2007' kicks off in Australia with Static X, Devildriver, Lacuna Coil and Bring Me the Horizon.
