Ask me.

loopyworld

loopyworld

Prowler
You must have a million questions about the early days of Iron Maiden, so I will do my best to answer them. All questions will be regulated by a third party, so only genuine questions will get through and be answered by me. If you are happy with that, then fire away.
 
A nice opportunity! :)
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This is a bit later than the early days, but if I remember well, did you help Maiden during the time they recorded the Powerslave album? Or was it Piece of Mind?

Even if I'm mistaken, I'd still like to ask a question about the song "The Duellists" from Powerslave. This song is one of my favourites and features a long instrumental part with nice harmonies and solos. My question however is about the chorus. I'd swear that the backing vocals are not done by Bruce (only). I really think I can hear Adrian Smith singing whooo hooo. What do you think? Is Adrian Smith's voice there as well?

Another question about backing vocals. Who did them on "Die With You Boots On" (besides Bruce if he did)? Adrian and/or Steve?

(I asked these questions via the last two or three opportunities on the Iron Maiden site but I'm afraid Adrian didn't answer any questions since that time, unless I missed that)
 
Hmm. I have more as well. Maybe it's indeed handier to ask more at the same time. Some answers could take longer than others, so perhaps it isn't handy to wait with the next question before an answer is published(?)
 
It's doesn't sound like Bruce, Forostar --so it makes sense to suggest it's Adrian, & perhaps Steve too (--doing backing on The Duellist chorus). Your swearing seems merited...
 
Forostar said:
A nice opportunity! :)
- - - - - - -

This is a bit later than the early days, but if I remember well, did you help Maiden during the time they recorded the Powerslave album? Or was it Piece of Mind?

Even if I'm mistaken, I'd still like to ask a question about the song "The Duellists" from Powerslave. This song is one of my favourites and features a long instrumental part with nice harmonies and solos. My question however is about the chorus. I'd swear that the backing vocals are not done by Bruce (only). I really think I can hear Adrian Smith singing whooo hooo. What do you think? Is Adrian Smith's voice there as well?

Another question about backing vocals. Who did them on "Die With You Boots On" (besides Bruce if he did)? Adrian and/or Steve?

(I asked these questions via the last two or three opportunities on the Iron Maiden site but I'm afraid Adrian didn't answer any questions since that time, unless I missed that)
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I was present during the recording of Powerslave, but not Piece of Mind. As for the vocal over lay for The Duellist, I think it was mostly Bruce but Adrian and Steve Harris did a bit too.
 
Thank you Loopy! I don't recognize Bruce and Harry that much, but at least this confirms my idea that I hear Adrian. Will come up with an entirely different question, later.
 
Hi Loopy. Being able to ask questions to someone so closely involved with the band's history is like a dream come true. I've got one in mind. Maybe it's stupid, but I'd like to know if Steve and Paul really got on well. I mean, they are so different. Was it like a work relationship, or was there a real complicity and friendship beetween the two.
 
mckindog said:
How much of Maidens success do you credit to Rod Smallwood?
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What a great question. Obviously, we all played our part in promoting the band and helping to push them forward, and we had no problem drawing in crowds to see the band play. But you have to give Rod credit. He had the contacts and Steve liked the way Rod worked. Once the first album was recorded and successful, Rod took over the helm which took a lot of the pressure off Steve. I would have to say Maiden would never have been as big as they are without Rod, but would have given it a go.
 
harrisdevot said:
Hi Loopy. Being able to ask questions to someone so closely involved with the band's history is like a dream come true. I've got one in mind. Maybe it's stupid, but I'd like to know if Steve and Paul really got on well. I mean, they are so different. Was it like a work relationship, or was there a real complicity and friendship beetween the two.
Click to expand...

Another good question. Steve and Paul got on really well to start with. We all messed about when relaxed, but were serious when it came to doing what had to be done. Paul was no different to any other singer, meaning he would suffer throat problems. There was one occasion when Paul missed rehearsal, and came to my house the following day. He was upstairs in my bedroom, when Steve and Dave turned up unexpectedly. They went straight up and spoke to Paul. 20 minutes later they were gone, and Paul came down with his tail between his legs, but never mentioned what the chat was about. Even to this day I have no idea what was said. After that, he never missed another rehearsal. I think you may be right about the work relationship, but he did what was asked of him. I don't even know if they still communicate.
 
Once the band started becoming established (ie after the first album), did you see much songwriting and jamming off-stage between various members while on tour, or was the creative process largely restricted to between tours?

(And I seriously appreciate this opportunity. Thanks man.)
 
Thanks for doing this. I have questions about openers and headliners. When Maiden was opening, I think I remember reading something about Kiss giving them some good advice about money ... do you think Maiden has tried to mentor bands that opened for them and in general what is the relationship between an opener and headliner on an extended tour. Not sure if this was in your time, but any comments about Frehleys Comet opening for Maiden or if there were any other openers/headliners that stood out.
 
mckindog said:
Once the band started becoming established (ie after the first album), did you see much songwriting and jamming off-stage between various members while on tour, or was the creative process largely restricted to between tours?

(And I seriously appreciate this opportunity. Thanks man.)
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Steve (Harris) always had idea's for a new song, either on the road or at home, wherever. Once he had the main riff he usually came up with the melody pretty quickly. To answer your question properly, the band rarely jammed or rehearsed a new number while on tour, but we weren't with them 24/7, so who knows?
 
bearfan said:
Thanks for doing this. I have questions about openers and headliners. When Maiden was opening, I think I remember reading something about Kiss giving them some good advice about money ... do you think Maiden has tried to mentor bands that opened for them and in general what is the relationship between an opener and headliner on an extended tour. Not sure if this was in your time, but any comments about Frehleys Comet opening for Maiden or if there were any other openers/headliners that stood out.
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Frehley's Comet was way after my time with maiden, but we had some good and bad times being an opening act. Nothing really bad ever happened, but we decided to put a stop to all the 'we'll be better than you' shit very early. Having been through all that crap, Maiden's attitude toward Support bands, or opening acts if you prefer, was simple. These people work as hard as we did to get somewhere, why stand in their way? Maiden are now the biggest heavy metal band in the World, but they did not get there by stepping on the little guy. They help as many up and coming bands as they can. The band Voodoo Six, the opening act for the Euro slog has Tony Newton, ( Maiden crew) on bass and Joe Lazarus ( drums) is Steve's nephew. Things have changed, and are much better for it.
 
So far things are going well with the Q & A thread. Keep the Q's coming and I'll answer all I can. Thanks all for the interest...Loopy
 
Thanks for answering my previous question ... have a few more and thanks for the info on Voodoo Six ... I planned my summer trip around seeing Maiden in Gdansk, think they are opening there


Do you have any insight on how set lists were chosen for a tour?
Anything you can share about how new members of the band were initiated into the band ... I am thinking mainly musically .. though anything else you can share would be of interest.

Thanks again for doing this .. it is very cool.
 
bearfan said:
Thanks for answering my previous question ... have a few more and thanks for the info on Voodoo Six ... I planned my summer trip around seeing Maiden in Gdansk, think they are opening there


Do you have any insight on how set lists were chosen for a tour?
Anything you can share about how new members of the band were initiated into the band ... I am thinking mainly musically .. though anything else you can share would be of interest.

Thanks again for doing this .. it is very cool.
Click to expand...

As for choosing the set list's, well yet again it's mostly down to Steve, and I really can't see anyone taking that job away from him, can you? As for initiating members into the band, as long as they knew their stuff, that's all it took. Steve knew the people he wanted in his band from day one. He wanted Bruce the first time he saw him, same as Adrian. He tried to get H to join the band many times, and finally got him after Dennis left. We had met Nicko a few times along the way, so it was obvious when Clive left that Nick would fill the spot. But there was nothing demonic about these guys joining, if that's what you are suggesting. Harris just wanted good musicians, and let's face it, he got some of the best around.
 
I did not mean anything demonic. I was thinking more about how song writing changed moving forward, were there songs that did not work as well (or better) with say Adrian versus Dennis ... or for live songs that Prowler (for example) certainly is different sounding with a lineup of Bruce, Nicko, Adrian, Dave, Steve versus Paul, Clive, Dennis, Dave, Steve

Sorry, I realized I did not make my question very clear.

One more if you do not mind (I do not want to be a pest) ... but with Clive's recent passing, is there anything you story you would mind sharing about him?

It is so sad, I never met the man and missed seeing him live by one tour, but I always picture him smiling behind the drum set making some incredible music ... from afar, he seemed like a very nice person and certainly an incredible drummer.
 
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