1 - What role Iron Maiden music plays in your life? (is it just enjoying some nice music or does it
mean something more to you?); can you give some examples?
Iron Maiden is my favorite band. My passion for music was a slow experience. Prior to 1995, i only knew Metallica's black album, some Bon Jovi, and Gun's n Roses, apart the hits that would came and go. The first time i listened to them was when a friend presented me Real Live one and Real dead one on tape. I was... surprised. What the hell was that ? the first thing i noticed was the songs titles, they were strange and different. Then, the sound; i was instantly connected to it; i've said to myself: this is clearly me. Then, Dickinson's voice live. I was overpowered by his quality, specially after i' ve heard FOTD on RLO. So, i began to buy everything about Maiden, first the albums, then a few things i discovered at some places (the vhs, for example - first 10 years video and 12 wasted years). There was a time that i listened Live After Death or X-Factor every single day. That was a new discover to me (listen the same album every day, not in a background style). So, Maiden opened my mind towards music. Another thing i can say is Maiden disapointed me or make me smile here or there: for instance, i remember to be quite sad after seeing raising hell, just because Bruce never was close or fooling around with his team mates, with the exception of Janick. Or when i saw Best of the Beast songs list (where´s Revelations ??), or the x-factor booklet, which didn´t include any "thank you Bruce" or "good luck Bruce", i was actually sad about this. Or the other way around - lad video version, i was amazed by their perfomance. So, i began to see them as friends, although not in the personal perspective, but people that were honest, and i could trust on (something that fails often in reality, most of the times the so-called friends or other persons around, including familly, are really dishonest).
More amazed i was when i began to read about their lives, Maiden along the time... they were never concerned about the Metal stereotypes most of the bands were, those i´ve discovered then or already was aware about, i mean, sex, drugs, abuse of alcool... of course they have a couple of songs about it, and they are not saints, but i hope you understand my opinion here, those stereotypes were not Maiden's main concern to make music.
Some friends later on usually comment about them after i said they were becoming my favorite band: "ah, they played always the same, never change, boring...". I was surprised to hear this, because for me they write fabulous lyrics, about so many themes (History, psychological complexes, Fantasy, Horror, Mythology, War, Reality, Literature, Movies, an invented storyline, and invented plot, Dreams), have great solos, some studio versions that i simple cannot compare them to anyone else on the Metal world.. to me they were quite inventive and never boring, Maiden was really one of the finest bands on the world, if not the best (well to me, they were).
The first album that i bought after it´s immediate release was Virtual XI. So, back in 1998, after a 1997 full of Maiden discoveries, i was somewhat disappointed. I expected Maiden to achieve always a great standard (only now i am into V-XI). I am always concern about the musical capabilities, and when they are about to publish another record, i usually have doubts about is quality. This is important, because i never want Maiden to take their fans for granted, they need to be as consistent as they always were, even in their darkest periods (no one or anything is perfect in life).
So, here it is. Maiden is now a part of me. When i was on a bus or subway or going someplace, i most of the time im whispering a Maiden song... call me crazy, i don´t care... Maiden pacifies me.
Sorry for the long essay, but i think Maiden deserve it.
2 - Iron Maiden have been consistent in their artwork (album covers, tickets, live performances, they all include Eddie for example) - what difference do you think it would have made if they hadn't?
Eddie or Maiden's logo is like their trademark. For me, although it doesn't have that importance, it's something that unite the fans. It´s a symbol, so have a merchandise importance. In this particular view, i believe it makes a difference, because give to Maiden something that is not exclusively made of musique. Eddie or their artwork made them push their live perfomances a little higher, in terms of visual atmosphere, albeit Maiden's full energy on stage (another important Maiden trademark).
3 - What does it mean to be a Maiden fan (I've read the commandments, but what does it mean
to you)?
I think i' ve answered this on the first question. I was in my teenage years when Metal was in deep crisis. So, it was a strange event when Maiden began to be part of my life. I never was into the group thing, because back then there wasn't any metal groups, as far as i can remember. Also when i was younger i often thought: " hum, this metal sound, this Maiden fascination, will disappear gradually as i grown up". Well, 12 years after i first heard them, they still have the same or even more importance in my life. I am proud to have met Iron Maiden, from a musical view.
Okay, exaggerating a bit there, but Maiden does have a huge role in my life. It helps me when I'm in a bad mood (especially The X Factor, for some reason), it helps me relax, and it generally causes positive feelings. The music and lyrics are both brilliant most of the time, and that also has a large role. Most music I can leave as background noise, but Maiden I just can't ignore. If I hear it, I have to listen to it. Maiden isn't perfect, but they come close on many songs.
