Iron Maiden's management: What went wrong?

Eddie's Uncle said:
Exactly! The RnRHOF is a pathetic community based on cash flow, bribes and personal preferences of the board. Being induced there is not an honour, it is being part of a self-serving show. If Rod really told them to fuck off, then he has my respect. Just like Axl, who did not give a fuck and did not attend when is band got induced. Thats not bad management, thats balls!
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Exactly, just look at this year inductees. On the other hand, Rod's opinion and boycott are resonable but what he could offer the band instead of that?
 
There is not a single point in history, not a single diversion, not one alternate time line, where Maiden "should" have deliberately made themselves more accessible, dumbed down, or radio friendly.

This has to be a troll post - it has to be. Rod Smallwood mismanaged the band by not pushing them to be more mainstream? Come on! You really wanted Maiden to release a "Black" album, or a Turbo Lover? You want Bruce up there duetting with Lady Gaga? You want homage paid to Maiden by Avril Lavigne or Snoop fucking Dogg? To have albums artificially tightened and over produced to hell by Bob Rock or Andy bloody Sneap? All in the name of selling a few records to some idiots in America who'll buy anything with a mindless hook or easy lyrical content?

I think you're listening to the wrong band, mate. Go back to your Linkin Park or other easy to digest, mindless earworm pap.
 
Belshazzar said:
There is not a single point in history, not a single diversion, not one alternate time line, where Maiden "should" have deliberately made themselves more accessible, dumbed down, or radio friendly.

This has to be a troll post - it has to be. Rod Smallwood mismanaged the band by not pushing them to be more mainstream? Come on! You really wanted Maiden to release a "Black" album, or a Turbo Lover? You want Bruce up there duetting with Lady Gaga? You want homage paid to Maiden by Avril Lavigne or Snoop fucking Dogg? To have albums artificially tightened and over produced to hell by Bob Rock or Andy bloody Sneap? All in the name of selling a few records to some idiots in America who'll buy anything with a mindless hook or easy lyrical content?

I think you're listening to the wrong band, mate. Go back to your Linkin Park or other easy to digest, mindless earworm pap.
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No, I'm definitely not about and understand this point of view.
 
I don't quite understand this title, Rod Smallwood has been a great manager throughout the band's history. I could only wish the video of Somewhere tour and another little thing: he could have controlled Blaze's image during Virtual. It was very awkward for Blaze to always wear worn-out black jeans (the crotch part of the jeans looks terrible in all the concerts I watched) and a backwards hat. But probably Rod wanted Blaze to go even at that time and didn't care for such details...
 
Mosh said:
Let’s be real—the core issue with Iron Maiden’s ups and downs over the years falls on Rod Smallwood. His mismanagement, especially during the early ‘90s, nearly wrecked the band. Bruce’s departure? That wasn’t a band decision—it was Smallwood failing to manage the situation and causing a massive identity crisis. When Bruce left, Maiden lost their spark, and Smallwood didn’t do enough to smooth the transition. Blaze was never going to fill those shoes, and it showed.

Even after they got back on track, Smallwood’s inability to adapt the band to changing times kept them stuck in a rut. While other bands were evolving, Maiden was playing catch-up, stuck in the same old formula. Smallwood’s short-sighted approach kept them from reaching their full potential. They’re legends, sure, but they could’ve been even bigger with better management.
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What you are asking of Rod was to take on Steve in 1992. To lobby Steve on Bruce's behalf, voicing Bruce's complaints.

Are you serious? You are correct to point out Rod didn't impose himself on the situation and deferred to Steve in 1992/3.

But you ignore the fact that Rod's deference to Steve's musical vision, rightly or wrongly, is the basis of their partnership since 1979.

Even if Bruce had stayed in 1993, Maiden would have sunk badly from the mid-90s onwards, potentially damaging them in very different ways (eg. Bruce leaves in 1999 or 2000, instead, after 5 years of falling sales and building frustration).
 
MrKnickerbocker said:
With a proper management team behind them they could have really increased popularity in the 90s.
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???

Total conterfactual nonsense. I'm sorry, but do you remember the 90s? There is nothing anybody could have done with the Maiden brand, even with Bruce still in it, to push Maiden commercially in the USA and the UK for sure by 1995ish.

Niche gains in other markets maybe, but in their home (UK) and the biggest market in the world (USA), Maiden were always going to be in very big trouble as the 90s trundled on.

Remember, the very early 90s sill had an '80's feel' to them in terms of pop culture and rock music, and it took a few years into the 90s to kill of all the big beasts of the 80s. Except those that could make major fashion reinventions for the 90s, like Bon Jovi, Metallica, U2...

Maiden was just too 'dungeons & dragons' to really thrive in the 90s. There's no management vision that could have cracked that.
 
Helmuth Von Moltke said:
???

Total conterfactual nonsense. I'm sorry, but do you remember the 90s? There is nothing anybody could have done with the Maiden brand, even with Bruce still in it, to push Maiden commercially in the USA and the UK for sure by 1995ish.

Niche gains in other markets maybe, but in their home (UK) and the biggest market in the world (USA), Maiden were always going to be in very big trouble as the 90s trundled on.

Remember, the very early 90s sill had an '80's feel' to them in terms of pop culture and rock music, and it took a few years into the 90s to kill of all the big beasts of the 80s. Except those that could make major fashion reinventions for the 90s, like Bon Jovi, Metallica, U2...

Maiden was just too 'dungeons & dragons' to really thrive in the 90s. There's no management vision that could have cracked that.
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I agree with you and perfectly remember the 90s. One thing to blame Rod for is not to do enought to put a pressure on mainstream media to promote the band and gain them more respect and attention, even in the UK. This band deserves that and be same awarded and praised by music industry as (for example) Black Sabbath. Rod didn't do much to achieve this result. Maybe because he hasn't the proper relations with decidents, music journalusts, etc.
 
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