How good are Iron Maiden (individually)?

G

Gosheto

Prowler
I was reading the topic about Bruce's voice in TFF and some people were talking about how Bruce is one of the greatest vocalists. It got me to thinking, how good are each of the current Maiden members in their respective instruments (pretty damn good obviously, but how would you rank them amongst the all-time greats). I'm not an expert in music and can't always tell how difficult the songs/solos are, how well they're performed live, etc.

I haven't seen them often in stuff like top guitar players of all time from Rolling Stone etc, but even with my limited knowledge most of those seem pretty biased.

Anyway, for people more in the know, where would you place the current (and past if you want) members in a list of top guitarists/bassists/drummers/vocalists of all time? Try to be as objective as possible obviously.
 
I think Maiden  as a band, is better then the sum of it's parts.

Take that for what you will.

The reason Maiden are great is there ability to work together as a band.
 
Well this is a fan forum so you're going to get some more skewed responses as I, like many, think the musicians are all amazing.


However in regards to the general music spectrum, anyone who critiques music who actually knows what they're talking about at the very least greatly respects Maiden's ability.



Oh and Steve Harris is often considered one of the best bass players in rock and roll, let alone metal. And for good reason, obviously.


Mozzle: I agree with that statement.
 
Sincerely, it doesn't matter at all. It just started mattering when fucking Guitar Player, Guitar World magazines came along. Take Dream Theater or Yes - both from distant eras, amazing instrumentists, mostly university educated on music, but hardly can write a song to save their asses. Maiden, Sabbath, Rush, Zeppelin, Purple, Priest, Voivod, Cathedral all self taught and are the best bands ever.
 
As a non musician myself, I do find the OP's topic intriguing.  Nowadays progressive and complex metal is taken for granted.  Time changes are a dime a dozen these days.  I will say though, that Maiden know how to use their complexity to greater effect than any other band i've heard.  I think the 3 amigos are amazing guitarists up there with the best of them, Nicko is an astounding drummer and one of the only (if not only) drummer who only uses one foot on the bass pedal, making him utterly unique.  Bruce, to me, is second to none as a vocalist.  And yes, as a bassist and songwriter, Steve Harris is arguably the best in the world.  Add them together, and you get a band greater than their own sum, and leagues ahead of any other band, in my opinion.
 
chaosapiant said:
As a non musician myself, I do find the OP's topic intriguing.  Nowadays progressive and complex metal is taken for granted.  Time changes are a dime a dozen these days.  I will say though, that Maiden know how to use their complexity to greater effect than any other band i've heard.  I think the 3 amigos are amazing guitarists up there with the best of them, Nicko is an astounding drummer and one of the only (if not only) drummer who only uses one foot on the bass pedal, making him utterly unique.  Bruce, to me, is second to none as a vocalist.  And yes, as a bassist and songwriter, Steve Harris is arguably the best in the world.  Add them together, and you get a band greater than their own sum, and leagues ahead of any other band, in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Have you ever seen Dive Dive Live? That solo Gers does is off the hook.
 
LordMaiden said:
Have you ever seen Dive Dive Live? That solo Gers does is off the hook.
Click to expand...

That's on the Anthology for Bruce right?  I need to get that.  I understand it has roughly 86 hours of material.  Gers is underrated a bit, but to me, is a total bad ass.
 
I just checked out the solo and damn....pretty bad ass!  Janick is a total animal!  I also like how whenever Bruce gets bored he always goes and fucks with the drum set.
 
Jeffmetal said:
Sincerely, it doesn't matter at all. It just started mattering when fucking Guitar Player, Guitar World magazines came along. Take Dream Theater or Yes - both from distant eras, amazing instrumentists, mostly university educated on music, but hardly can write a song to save their asses. Maiden, Sabbath, Rush, Zeppelin, Purple, Priest, Voivod, Cathedral all self taught and are the best bands ever.
Click to expand...

I completely disagree with this.   Both Yes and DT are more than capable of writing great songs.  You may not like them, or it may not fit your ideal of what a great song is but that doesn't mean that other people, myself included, think that way.  You can't quantify "best band ever".  It's ridiculous to say that, every band you've listed is from the hard rock/metal genre.  There are a ton of other groups and musicians outside of the that small world who I think smoke most of the bands in your list both as song writers, and musicians, but that opinion is no more valid than yours of course.

The guitar magazines have nothing to do with it.  Technique and competitiveness among players has been around long before guitar magazines were mainstream.  Guys like DiMeola and Holdsworth were pushing technical proficiency to it's limit in the 1970's and just as many players cared about technique then as they do now.  
 
The biggest credit I can give to Maiden, is there songs always sound simple, despite being very complex.  They seem very natural with their time changes, and they have a penchant for writing riffs that other guitarist would call solos.  The intro (and most of) Back In The Village is a good example of this.
 
Twarkle said:
I completely disagree with this.   Both Yes and DT are more than capable of writing great songs.  You may not like them, or it may not fit your ideal of what a great song is but that doesn't mean that other people, myself included, think that way. You can't quantify "best band ever".  It's ridiculous to say that, every band you've listed is from the hard rock/metal genre.  There are a ton of other groups and musicians outside of the that small world who I think smoke most of the bands in your list both as song writers, and musicians, but that opinion is no more valid than yours of course.

The guitar magazines have nothing to do with it. Technique and competitiveness among players has been around long before guitar magazines were mainstream.  Guys like DiMeola and Holdsworth were pushing technical proficiency to it's limit in the 1970's and just as many players cared about technique then as they do now.  
Click to expand...

Of course, I can!!! It's my preference. I won't qualify Return To Forever as best band ever just because Al Di Meola was part of it (and I like 'em a lot), and yes, guitar mags has a lot to do with bullshit competitiveness. Bands know or do not know how to write music, and the ones I've mentioned are the best, not the only ones, obviously, 'cos I won't be making an endless list here.

What makes you think I just know the kind of bands I've mentioned? Cite the bands that you think smokes the bands I've mentioned, then...
 
Jeffmetal said:
Of course, I can!!! It's my preference. I won't qualify Return To Forever as best band ever just because Al Di Meola was part of it (and I like 'em a lot), and yes, guitar mags has a lot to do with bullshit competitiveness. Bands know or do not know how to write music, and the ones I've mentioned are the best, not the only ones, obviously, 'cos I won't be making an endless list here.

What makes you think I just know the kind of bands I've mentioned? Cite the bands that you think smokes the bands I've mentioned, then...
Click to expand...

I never said you only listened to those bands, I said you listed them.  You are claiming song writing is black and white, it's not, there shades of gray , and a whole shit load of shades at that.  There is nothing wrong with being competitive on an instrument, it's no different than anything else.  Some people play sports for fun not to compete, others play instruments with a competitive nature, different personalities approach things in different ways, there is no right or wrong way.

You're looking for an argument and you're not going to get one from me because A)my opinion is as invalid to you as yours is to me.  It's an exercise in futility, and you know it and so do I.  B)Because I actually respect your passion for the things you believe and they are obviously important to you.  I know better than to argue with a guy on the internet who has so much fire.  I stated my opinion as my opinion, if you think I'm wrong that's fine with me.  C)You've already taken the stance that you are right because you said so, which means that anything I say you are going to shoot down because that's the way in which you debate.  There's not much substance to that type of argument which makes it virtually impossible to have a well thought out and spirited conversation about differences in opinions.
 
Oh, man, how much drama... refer to my signature - Those who think taste isn't debatable must not join a discussion forum. You stand and defend for your opinion and I do just the same with mine. Fair enough.

Good night.
 
Jeffmetal said:
Oh, man, how much drama... refer to my signature - Those who think taste isn't debatable must not join a discussion forum. You stand and defend for your opinion and I do just the same with mine. Fair enough.

Good night.
Click to expand...

Those who think their taste in music is the standard by which music is judged probably shouldn't join an internet forum either.  The difference is I recognize my opinion as being just that, and both accept, and expect that it is meaningless to most, especially strangers on the web.

By the way I love Maiden and they are my favorite band in the world, but at the same time I don not think they are the greatest band in the world.  
 
Twarkle said:
Those who think their taste in music is the standard by which music is judged probably shouldn't join an internet forum either.
Click to expand...

It's my standard, for sure. That's why I don't use poor excuses like 'IMHO'. I can only think for myself and also, where did I say you are wrong with your opinions? You're so out on a limb that you didn't even focus on what I questioned from you about the bands that 'smoke' the ones I quoted. So, tell me, which bands are these?! The debate is only starting, mate. Come up with something worth. I'm too drunk, now to continue with this... maybe, tomorrow. Also, you mentoned shades of grey... well, grey is the colour of the future, a future of individuals who are never able to make the decisions they desire. I'm not a part of it at all!

How silly is this - Maiden is my fave band, but not the greatest. I can only laugh! :lol:
 
Jeffmetal said:
How silly is this - Maiden is my fave band, but not the greatest. I can only laugh! :lol:
Click to expand...

To me it's not silly at all, and I think you know exactly what I'm talking about.  By the way Jeff, not that I think you care, but I do think you know your shit when it comes to music, it's just not in my nature to have an aggressive argument with anyone, and it seems like that was the path that we were headed down.

Jeffmetal said:
So, tell me, which bands are these?! The debate is only starting, mate. Come up with something worth. I'm too drunk, now to continue with this... maybe, tomorrow.
Click to expand...

You'll be debating yourself then.  I'm not going to be goaded into a debate any further than I already have.
 
No way, man. It was heated, but not aggressive. You have great ideas as you showed on the CD quality thread and I want to know everyone's opinions, sincerely, and altohugh I'll certainly learn from others, I'll stand for my thoughts. It's the most inherent approach a human can have of its rights.
 
Twarkle said:
By the way I love Maiden and they are my favorite band in the world, but at the same time I don not think they are the greatest band in the world.
Click to expand...

Ironically, I think the opposite. They're not my favorite band, though I've loved them since childhood, but I do honestly believe no one does everything that factors into making a great rock band better than Iron Maiden. Who else can make quality studio albums for 35 years, be generally regarded as great musicians, an amazing live performance, complete with inclusive call and response style singing with the audience and amazing aesthetics in terms of lighting and etc. sell everything as merchandise and still somehow not sell out, can tour and travel literally to anywhere in the world and play in front of tens of thousands, and be regarded well for their artistic and professional integrity?

The only thing Iron Maiden kind of suck at are promo music videos, but that's okay the ones that matter are where Maiden most matters - live.


So yeah, other than Rush, I can't think of really anyone else who competes, but to be fair there are a few rush albums that I'm just not that partial to
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top