dickinson1978
Ancient Mariner
I dont know how would sound the songs downtuned. If blaze with his solo band downtuned rhe songs,some of them sounded amateur,but i thought it was because the equipement
RUN FOR YOUR LIVES 2026
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Abas
Jester with no tears
What the fuck did I just read hahahahahahahaha
Vaenyr
Ancient Mariner
Kinda true, yeah. As time went on tunings got lower and lower. In the early-to-mid 90s going down a half step was popular, even power metal bands like Blind Guardian or Iced Earth did that. Some of the heavier bands went a whole step to D standard. Then the early 2000s blew out the bottom and bands started going pretty low.
It depends on how low they go. If it's 2 whole steps or more, obviously it's going to be a huge change. A half step or one whole step though? No one would bat an eye. To illustrate this, compare Lord Of The Flies on the album with the live version from Death On The Road. The album version is in F# minor, the live version with Bruce a whole step lower in E minor. So in the most ironic fashion, the one time where Maiden decided to play a song in a lower key than on the studio was Bruce singing a Blaze song. Can't make that up lol
I'm pretty sure Metallica played in Eb on their albums from Load to Death Magnetic didn't they? I know St Anger was in drop C for the most part.
tamasmunkacsi
Prowler
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If you're looking for the perfect warm-up before the Iron Maiden show at Knebworth, we've got you covered for two nights!
July 9
July 10
IRON MAIDNEM – 2 Nights at the Birthplace of Maiden!
Prepare for a double-header of pure heavy metal as Hungary’s premier tribute, IRON MAIDNEM, takes over the Cart & Horses on Thursday, July 9th and Friday, July 10th.
Renowned across Europe for their incredible "Studio Live" accuracy, Maidnem brings the spirit of the Beast to the very basement where it all began. Joining the bill are London’s own melodic metal powerhouses, AVENFORD, making this a powerhouse lineup from start to finish.
See you next Thursday and Friday at the legendary Cart & Horses.
Come and join us. Let’s make it a night to remember!
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Bands:
Iron Maidnem / Avenford
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BludBrutha
Ancient Mariner
KISS and Van Halen were Eb in their heydays. Sabbath used all sorts of downtuning in the 70s, down to C in some instances.
ProwlerInTheRueMorgue
Prowler
Nah, downtuning was all the rage in metal circa 1995, aside from Dio, Metallica, Danzig etc.playing in Eb, by 1995 Type O Negative, Pantera, Sepultura, Fear Factory etc. were all the rage and these bands played D and lower.
ProwlerInTheRueMorgue
Prowler
They already said they will use all of Paris. Eddfest footage will just be for the 3-4 missing songs.
dickinson1978
Ancient Mariner
Apart from the songs missing it seems that the show was very good
Spaldy
Ancient Mariner
srfc
Ancient Mariner
Bands definitely down tuned, I'm not disputing that. As well as the bands you and @BludBrutha mentioned, Thin Lizzy in the 70's and GNR in the 80s were in d#, bands who would definitely have been on Maiden's radar. 1995 is definitely where it was becoming the norm, to the point of today where bands in standard tuning are the exception. But it wasn't at that level then.
Abas
Jester with no tears
I think even if they did downtune for Blaze, things would have gone the same anyway. Blaze wouldn't necessarily be any more widely well received or accepted. The X Factor and Virtual XI would be more popular or less disliked in general.
Judas Priest downtuned for Tim "Ripper" Owens. There's a live version of The Sentinel with him that I really like. Maybe their downswing and upswing wasn't as dramatic as Iron Maiden's was, but there was still one.
Judas Priest downtuned for Tim "Ripper" Owens. There's a live version of The Sentinel with him that I really like. Maybe their downswing and upswing wasn't as dramatic as Iron Maiden's was, but there was still one.
Yax
Ancient Mariner
They went to D because they wanted to sound heavier. He sang in standard tuning with the Priest coverband he was in during the first half of the 90s and sings comfortably in Eb with KK's Priest.
Not the point you were making, but I'd like to clarify that, being a Ripper fan and all.
Ruflux
Ancient Marinade
I do think what would've followed had Maiden followed the trends a little and downtuned to Eb for example in the 90s. Would they have gone straight back to E once Bruce was back in the band, or stuck with the lower tuning because he would've likely been okay with it at that time, coming hot from the heels of his solo career? Would they have gone the Metallica route and started recording in E while playing a half step lower live?
He would have done better live though.
Cat Milk Supreme
Ancient Mariner
I had a look and clicked to buy and it was full price. £1 donation to charity is mentioned.
