Iron Maiden News, Links, and Interviews

[The_7th_one]

Steve's Essex house streaming Open Air concert
To me all the songs are weak, even themselves. I don't understand why Steve has created this band to be honest.

 

[RLonger]

Horrible band made just for fun or as a joke

 

[Sth2112]

The band just exist because playing in small clubs with British lion is something different than doing arenas with the same old guys he’s been playing with for 30-45 years.

 

[Randalf]

I don't understand why Steve has created this band to be honest.

just for fun

I might be on the minority here, but I think it's... great? Can't say I like their music that much, but given how it doesn't affect Maiden (that is more or less on hold for now anyway) stuff at all and Steve is clearly having good time with British Lion, it doesn't really bother me in the slightest. If it keeps Steve going, gives him energy, good vibes and all the better if inspiration too, then yeah, cool!

 

[Meliegree]

I like British Lion. Maybe not in a way I like Maiden but still - I have some songs on my home playlist and I enjoy them a lot. Music is subjective.

 

[Black Abyss Babe]

I don't understand why Steve has created this band to be honest.

My understanding is that he didn't: he started out managing them and only joined later on.

 

[Randalf]

Music is subjective.

This.

The solo projects of current and ex-Maiden members sometimes end up being overrated for being underrated - namely Blaze, whose albums I still consider above-average and often very, very good. There's also underrated for being overrated, which I believe is the case with British Lion; being Steve's project, they get both ends, positive and negative, quite harshly. There's those who love it merely because it's, well, Steve, and there's those who label it as utter garbage just for being a bit lame and, naturally, not matching the majesty of Maiden classics or Bruce's solo masterpieces. Sometimes biased reviews or not, both Blaze and British Lion have quite good critical reception and while the attention and spotlight they got is all due to Maiden-status, it's not like they have absolutely no value whatsoever. It's the reason people buy and give the record a chance in the first place and sure, they couldn't tour as extensively as they've done if it wasn't for Steve and they'd never have that many fans if people didn't know it was Steve's band, but you know... it doesn't necessarily make it that bad.

Granted, I'm not very capable at labeling anything bad or bullshit or whatever. I'm often overly positive and diplomatic and it's great that most people have more fleshed out and direct opinions on stuff, for the sake of interesting discussion alone. It'd be boring if people just agreed or agreed to disagree without bringing their views to the table at all.

Anyway, I'm not overly fussed about the state of Maiden stuff right now. I'd love to hear the new album already and I'd be fine if LOTB was wrapped up already, but at this point I'm just happy that we'll eventually get some new Iron Maiden music and shows in the first place. Things could be better, but they could be so much worse too. This unexpectedly long gap between any proper Maiden activity has resulted in me giving some other bands a bit more attention and giving a spin or two more to certain parts of the Maiden discography I don't visit too often.

I understand the frustration of my fellow fans and I quite like humor and memes crafted around the current state of Maiden business, but can't say I'm too... bothered about it, really. It is what it...

Yeah.

People, excuse me for my blathering. This is becoming a habit..!

 

[srfc]

I might be on the minority here, but I think it's... great? Can't say I like their music that much, but given how it doesn't affect Maiden (that is more or less on hold for now anyway) stuff at all and Steve is clearly having good time with British Lion, it doesn't really bother me in the slightest. If it keeps Steve going, gives him energy, good vibes and all the better if inspiration too, then yeah, cool!

I like both the albums, some very good songs on both them. First album is produced terrible though. Can't beat seeing Steve in a venue that holds a few hundred people.

 

[GhostofCain]

Whilst I find British Lion pretty uninspired and boring for the most part, I take my hat off to Steve. At least our favourite tax exile is spending his time being a musician rather than giving umpteen pointless corporate pep talks about how to turn your customers into fans whilst not giving a shit about creating new music to keep those fans on board.

 

[Perun]

The solo projects of current and ex-Maiden members sometimes end up being overrated for being underrated - namely Blaze, whose albums I still consider above-average and often very, very good. There's also underrated for being overrated, which I believe is the case with British Lion; being Steve's project, they get both ends, positive and negative, quite harshly. There's those who love it merely because it's, well, Steve, and there's those who label it as utter garbage just for being a bit lame and, naturally, not matching the majesty of Maiden classics or Bruce's solo masterpieces. Sometimes biased reviews or not, both Blaze and British Lion have quite good critical reception and while the attention and spotlight they got is all due to Maiden-status, it's not like they have absolutely no value whatsoever. It's the reason people buy and give the record a chance in the first place and sure, they couldn't tour as extensively as they've done if it wasn't for Steve and they'd never have that many fans if people didn't know it was Steve's band, but you know... it doesn't necessarily make it that bad.

I totally agree with you on the premise - something can be overrated for being underrated and vice versa. I'm not sure I agree with these statements regarding the solo projects, though. The first British Lion album left me so cold that I wasn't interested in anything that would come afterwards, despite the fact that I am generally ready to kiss the ground Steve walks on. As for Blaze, his first three solo albums mean incredibly much to me, and I seriously and honestly think that Silicon Messiah is one of the best metal albums ever. I still enjoyed The Man Who Would Not Die, but I thought King of Metal was really bad and afterwards I just gradually lost touch with what he was doing. I've been promising myself to check out Infinite Entanglement one day, but so far that hasn't happened.
I don't know what that has to do with your point, but there you go.

 

[Cat Milk Supreme]

Whilst I find British Lion pretty uninspired and boring for the most part, I take my hat off to Steve. At least our favourite tax exile is spending his time being a musician rather than giving umpteen pointless corporate pep talks about how to turn your customers into fans whilst not giving a shit about creating new music to keep those fans on board.

Fuck damn, man, is it not possible tjat a human wants to live in the sun, on an island that speaks his own language without bein slapped with the Tax Exile epithet? Personally, I dont give a fuck where a person lives but if I, as a red brested proletariat, would be quite happy to live in a sunny spot. Actually, you're Spanish, if Im not mistaken. What is wrong with you, why are you living in England? You jave actively chosen shit weather

 

[Kalata]

And it’s all over.

Inductees:
— Foo Fighters
— The Go-Go’s
— Jay Z
— Tina Turner
— Carole King
— Todd Rundgren

Some reactions:

Gene Simmons: ''RR Hall of Fame is a sham not to include Maiden. Disgusting!''

Dee Snider: ''And for those saying "Maiden didn't want to be inducted," there are many actors and filmmakers who didn't want their Oscars but got them anyway because THEY DESERVE THEM. How the artist feels about the group giving the awards shouldn't matter.''

 

[The_7th_one]

Fuck damn, man, is it not possible tjat a human wants to live in the sun, on an island that speaks his own language without bein slapped with the Tax Exile epithet? Personally, I dont give a fuck where a person lives but if I, as a red brested proletariat, would be quite happy to live in a sunny spot. Actually, you're Spanish, if Im not mistaken. What is wrong with you, why are you living in England? You jave actively chosen shit weather

As spanish, let me to comment my point of view about this.

First of all, I have friends who left 'the sunny' Spain just for job or develop its career , they went to UK, Germany, Portugal, Canada and US they have formed a family and they're still living there and they don't pretend to return to their 'sunny' country.

Unfortunately we have lived a very hard economic crises in 2008 and now we're living another one. There are a lot of people in Spain as many other countries who have left the country because job opportunities, Just to develop proffesionaly, maybe they have found their loves there and they have formed a happy family, maybe it's because that country has respected and valued their professional skills, maybe they love the language, the culture the way of life, although they have to live with a shitty weather.

I don't know the reasons why Steve left UK to live in Bahamas or Miami or wherever. As a millionaire he can decide. Maybe could be for avoid to pay high taxes like many musicians, artists, actors…do or just for retirement like many old English people, They go to warmer and sunny climate countries to live their last years of their lives. For many reasons, politics, security, because Steve kids are adults and live their lives out of his father home or just because his wife wants to live in a sunny place all the year or whatever. He can live wherever he wants of course. I don't care. But as a millionaire leaving UK and avoiding his obligations of pay taxes there, he doesn't help to his country (where ghost lives).

 

[Black Abyss Babe]

As spanish, let me to comment my point of view about this.

First of all, I have friends who left 'the sunny' Spain just for job or develop its career , they went to UK, Germany, Portugal, Canada and US they have formed a family and they're still living there and they don't pretend to return to their 'sunny' country.

Unfortunately we have lived a very hard economic crises in 2008 and now we're living another one. There are a lot of people in Spain as many other countries who have left the country because job opportunities, Just to develop proffesionaly, maybe they have found their loves there and they have formed a happy family, maybe it's because that country has respected and valued their professional skills, maybe they love the language, the culture the way of life, although they have to live with a shitty weather.

I don't know the reasons why Steve left UK to live in Bahamas or Miami or wherever. As a millionaire he can decide. Maybe could be for avoid to pay high taxes like many musicians, artists, actors…do or just for retirement like many old English people, They go to warmer and sunny climate countries to live their last years of their lives. For many reasons, politics, security, because Steve kids are adults and live their lives out of his father home or just because his wife wants to live in a sunny place all the year or whatever. He can live wherever he wants of course. I don't care. But as a millionaire leaving UK and avoiding his obligations of pay taxes there, he doesn't help to his country (where ghost lives).

I think Niall's point was quite simply that there are other ways of looking at things, and other possible reasons for the decision Steve has made than the cynical one Ghost has assumed (and never misses an opportunity to point out). You yourself have also observed that there are many reasons for choosing to live in a country other than the one you were born in. I think Niall (and me) just find Ghost's continual socialist-rebel-without-a-cause routine a bit irritating, that's all.

 

[Diesel 11]

Yeah, you might as well take a shot every time Ghost says “our favorite tax exile” and call that a drinking game.

 

[Black Abyss Babe]

Yeah, you might as well take a shot every time Ghost says “our favorite tax exile” and call that a drinking game.

Try running a forum search on that term, and see how many pages of results you get ...

 

[GhostofCain]

I can visualise my epitaph:

“GhostofCain, rubbing Maiden fans up the wrong way since 1976”

Please accept my apologies for any irritation caused.

Edit: typo on the epitaph edited thanks to a kind message from @Magnus

 

[GhostofCain]

Those with Sky Arts might be interested in this:

Metallica, Rammstein, Iron Maiden and more for Download Festival TV special

Download Festival has announced a two-night TV special called Download:...

planetradio.co.uk

Not sure they would show any Maiden songs that have not been broadcast previously, but it is always nice to see them on the telly.

Edit: I should have mentioned this would be at 9pm BST on Saturday 5th June and Sunday 6th June.

 

[GhostofCain]

Gallons of Trooper have been sold and Bruce had something to say about it:

TROOPER MARKS ITS 8TH BIRTHDAY WITH 30 MILLION PINTS SOLD

On a landmark day for British pubs as they re-open inside, IRON MAIDEN and Robinsons Brewery are celebrating 30 million TROOPER pints sold around the globe during the week they marked the 8th Birthday of their hugely successful collaboration.

www.robinsonsbrewery.com

Video filmed at Sanctum Soho, if I am not mistaken.

 

[srfc]

Those with Sky Arts might be interested in this:

Metallica, Rammstein, Iron Maiden and more for Download Festival TV special

Download Festival has announced a two-night TV special called Download:...

planetradio.co.uk

Not sure they would show any Maiden songs that have not been broadcast previously, but it is always nice to see them on the telly.

Edit: I should have mentioned this would be at 9pm BST on Saturday 5th June and Sunday 6th June.

Also, the Top of the Pops repeats that BBC 4 air had Christmas 1990 on last week, so that means the next two episodes they broadcast should have Bring Your Daughter...to the Slaughter as the number one single, if anyone is interested in that. They usually air on Friday or Saturday evenings.

EDIT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl6b/2021/05/21

Maiden not mentioned on second episode but it was number one for 2 weeks according to the Http://www.officialcharts.com website