Iron Maiden's management: What went wrong?

[Nomadd]

This whole conversation makes no sense. Why? Because Maiden are as big as ever now. The 90's were a rough time for traditional metal, but let's not forget that rock is more mainstream than metal. Maiden made the change in 1995 - and it was different from all their albums before that, this was their choice after some ''experiments'' like everyone else back then. And despite the success in the charts, the mainstream FOTD wasn't accepted by the majority of the critics. The thrash scene since the mid-80's (the US), the new interests in the 90's, times were changing, but Rod can't tell what songs the band to write. Bruce wanted to try different styles and approaches, who knows if the albums would have been successful if he had stayed, Blaze had no chance in this impossible situation. Maybe Kiske (Helloween made a successful change in the 90's with vocalists, not the style in the early 90's, Priest did it with Painkiller, which was expected after their different styles since the 70's), but the material could/should have been more classic, probably. Comparison with bands from the 70's is not fair, Maiden were old in the public eye, but at the same time in their prime as a band in the 90's. They don't need to be more mainstream or more successful (how much more?), they have all the respect in the media, they do big promotions, play full stadiums, sale are good even nowadays... I mean, what else. It's a pointless discussion. They will always do what they want, being mainstream/very popular is nothing without good material. Recognition is earned through albums/songs and live playing (Maiden, Priest, Black Sabbath- check!), the biggest awards being the opinions of the fans. Nothing else, that's it. Music business, TV appearances... it was something for back in the day, but not now and not for (the big success of) Maiden. Rod is more than a manager, he's like a band member to them.

Maybe they should have made NPFTD (the same songs) really heavy or something? I admit, I want to hear that. Like I said before, Bruce's AOB is probably the heaviest and different Maiden could have sounded at the time.

All in all you are right, let's wait and see what will happen next.

 

[ShadowOfTheGods]

let's wait and see what will happen next.

You're going to say "Maiden's management is not as good as other bands', Rod is incompetent, Maiden is fading while X is loved by everyone" despite not having a single fact supporting your theory.

 

[Nomadd]

You're going to say "Maiden's management is not as good as other bands', Rod is incompetent, Maiden is fading while X is loved by everyone" despite not having a single fact supporting your theory.

Don't take that too seriously, just someone's opinion.

 

[GhostofCain]

Whilst Maiden could be even bigger had they made some different decisions in the 80s and 90s, I think it is undeniable that Rod has done an excellent job - for the most part - managing them.

His approach of being friends with journalists meant that the band rarely got a bad review in the metal press (a journalist who likes a drink or three once said that Rod put “hospital” in “hospitality”; he always knew how to treat them so they would always butter Maiden up). He also made the most of the partisan metal vs other styles of music attitude in the metal community. The often repeated claims of Maiden being successful in spite of never being played on the radio (I might have dreamt seeing them on MTV or listening to their songs in commercial radio in Spain in the 80s/90s) gave their success an aura of authenticity that other bands didn’t have.

How he managed to get away with people believing that “never sold out” propaganda whilst the band were releasing multiple versions of their singles to try and get top 5 singles (or a number 1 with BYDTTS) clearly demonstrates that he was a great manager, one who made his band commercial with people not realising that was the case.

For what is worth, Judas Priest are a smaller band worldwide popularity wise, yet they were often changing their sound to try and make it big in the USA. They were very big there for some time in the 80s, but not anymore (or at least they are a smaller band than Maiden in North America). I would argue that Rod’s approach has been more commercially successful whilst at the same time keeping that (made-up) aura of authenticity.

 

[Eddie's Uncle]

@ Mosh: very revealing that when I asked you several specific questions in order to Back Up your very questionable claims, all you come up with is .
In other words, you have no answers and instead try to make your opponent look ridiculous.

 

[Spaldy]

His approach of being friends with journalists meant that the band rarely got a bad review in the metal press (a journalist who likes a drink or three once said that Rod put “hospital” in “hospitality”; he always knew how to treat them so they would always butter Maiden up).

It didn't last though. They turned on Maiden in the 90s when they became uncool. Didn't Rod famously storm the Kerrang offices when they gave TXF a bad review?

He also made the most of the partisan metal vs other styles of music attitude in the metal community. The often repeated claims of Maiden being successful in spite of never being played on the radio (I might have dreamed seeing them on MTV or listening to their songs in commercial radio in Spain in the 80s/90s) gave their success an aura of authenticity that other bands didn’t have.

I never bought that "no radio support" bollocks. They got plenty of radio and tv coverage.

How he managed to get away with people believing that “never sold out” propaganda whilst the band were releasing multiple versions of their singles to try and get top 5 singles (or a number 1 with BYDTTS) clearly demonstrates that he was a great manager, one who made his band commercial with people not realising that was the case.

The issue here is that most of what you're referencing is their 80s success. Getting good at selling singles isn't relevant anymore but being big on TikTok and YouTube is. And that's where Maiden have fallen behind somewhat. When similar bands like Metallica are releasing live concert videos of every show and Maiden can't even give us one song from F/P? I hate the term content but that's what drives the success of bands today.

That being said, RFYL is a mostly sold out tour so at least they still have their long time fans like us to fall back on.

 

[GhostofCain]

It didn't last though. They turned on Maiden in the 90s when they became uncool. Didn't Rod famously storm the Kerrang offices when they gave TXF a bad review?

In the UK, but not elsewhere. The brown-nosing arguably came back shortly after Bruce and Adrian rejoined the band and continues to these days. Reading features and interviews with the band on Classic Rock and Metal Hammer is sometimes cringeworthy. Pravda was more critical with the Politburo than Dom Lawson et al. will ever be with Maiden!

I never bought that "no radio support" bollocks. They got plenty of radio and tv coverage.

Indeed!

The issue here is that most of what you're referencing is their 80s success. Getting good at selling singles isn't relevant anymore but being big on TikTok and YouTube is. And that's where Maiden have fallen behind somewhat. When similar bands like Metallica are releasing live concert videos of every show and Maiden can't even give us one song from F/P? I hate the term content but that's what drives the success of bands today.

Why worry with musical content when you can make shitloads of money with tacky merchandising featuring a zombie?

That being said, RFYL is a mostly sold out tour so at least they still have their long time fans like us to fall back on.

That and also a good number of casual fans willing to hear their classic material one last tour instead of their most recent material.

 

[GhostofCain]

@Spaldy Steve was the one who wanted to punch a journalist but did not find him.

Bruce did pin Dave Ling down and hit him with a pickle sandwich following a negative Tattooed Millionaire review that, by the way, had been written by someone else.

 

[Spaldy]

@Spaldy Steve was the one who wanted to punch a journalist but did not find him.

What would he have done if he had found him? Death by poor production?

Bruce did pin Dave Ling down and hit him with a pickle sandwich following a negative Tattooed Millionaire review that, by the way, had been written by someone else.

That's so Monty Python.

 

[Spaldy]

Pravda was more critical with the Politburo than Dom Lawson et al. will ever be with Maiden!

Slightly related. Dom Lawson gave the new Machine Head album 9/10 and it's a real stinker. He does seem to be the guy Metal Hammer wheel out to give fawning reviews to average material.