Simon Dawson is the new drummer

GhostofCain said:
James LaBrie was one of the singers mentioned in the music press back in 1993 (as were Michael Kiske and Joey Belladona) but I do not think he was even a contender.
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Terry1958 said:
Really! Steve wanted him? He is not British.
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Kiske it was BS all along I didn't even buy it back then. Belladonna didn't reject an offer to become vocalist in Metallica?
Regarding LaBrie, I did a fast search in ChatGPT and below is what I found:

Yes, Iron Maiden did offer James LaBrie, the lead vocalist of Dream Theater, a job in the past, though the circumstances around this offer are often discussed in the context of “what might have been.”
In the early 1980s, Iron Maiden was looking for a replacement for their original vocalist, Paul Di’Anno, who was struggling with personal issues and was eventually let go. During this period, James LaBrie was reportedly offered an audition with the band. However, at the time, LaBrie was focused on his band, Winter Rose, and wasn’t in a position to join Iron Maiden.
LaBrie himself has mentioned in interviews that he was aware of the offer, but the timing just wasn’t right for him to pursue it. Eventually, Iron Maiden chose Bruce Dickinson as their permanent lead vocalist in 1981, which led to the iconic lineup the band is known for today.
So, while James LaBrie did have an opportunity to work with Iron Maiden early in his career, he declined it, and the rest is history.
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In this interview, it sounds as if Rod Smallwood wanted him.
blabbermouth.net

DREAM THEATER's JAMES LABRIE Says He Turned Down Offer To Audition For IRON MAIDEN

In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, DREAM THEATER's James LaBrie was asked if there was ever any talk of him trying out for the singer position in IRON MAIDEN when Bruce Dickinson left the British heavy metal legends back in 1993. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET)...
blabbermouth.net blabbermouth.net

Funny, Nicko and especially Adrian look here as if they are thinking: "Oh no, do we really have to do this?" Dave slightly embarrassed too. :D

IMG_0983 - Copy.jpeg
 
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DorotheaMe said:
In this interview, it sounds as if Rod Smallwood wanted him.
blabbermouth.net

DREAM THEATER's JAMES LABRIE Says He Turned Down Offer To Audition For IRON MAIDEN

In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, DREAM THEATER's James LaBrie was asked if there was ever any talk of him trying out for the singer position in IRON MAIDEN when Bruce Dickinson left the British heavy metal legends back in 1993. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET)...
blabbermouth.net blabbermouth.net
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What a dick Rod was! Yes this interview is very close to the point I was trying to make about Jame's integrity. It seems to be in the same line with what I've read. @Terry1958

GhostofCain said:
I would urge caution when using ChatGPT!
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In deed. Judging from the interview above, completely useless.
 
Yes, thanks! Then you can certainly say that getting a fantastic offer did not make James blind to why it would be very problematic.

But Rod, really! :devil:
 
____no5 said:
It seems likely and I agree that Harris would do everything that nothing would go on without him. But this doesn't mean it's the beautiful thing to do. A band is a group of people, or Harris should call it Steve Harris and in a perfect world a band should be able to continue should anyone disappears. I know, it rarely happens but still.
You cannot compare Motörhead with Maiden, like it or not Harris is not the front man. And what's wrong with Thin Lizzy? They even haven't released an album without Lynott. (I wish they would)
Things evolve, bands are greater than their members. I liked that Doors continued for 2 albums without Morrison; it was hugely unsuccessful and they disbanded. But they did try. Fleetwood Mac success hit the stratosphere after Peter Green left. Do I like them post Green? Not really. But I like evolution.

In all, I wouldn't mind even a Motörhead without Lemmy, let alone a Maiden without Haris. As in nature, let the market decide let's not try to confine and control everything, like it or not, Maiden wouldn't even exist today, or it would have been reduced to obscurity, if Bruce and Adrian hadn't return in 1999. So if Harris decides he's tired but the others want to go on, it would be a small mind & dick move to stop them. Or even worst, he dies and they can't continue.
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I couln't disagree more. Motörhead couln't exist without Lemmy. He was the band, and Steve is Maiden. Him not being the frontman is of no importance. He's the band's identity, without him the band would turn into something else.
And Lizzy without Lynott is a shame. That was his baby. I guess his only mistake was not making sure that the brand was all his. I just can't understand how they dare to do that. And the record is going to be released soon.
 
harrisdevot said:
And Lizzy without Lynott is a shame. That was his baby. I guess his only mistake was not making sure that the brand was all his. I just can't understand how they dare to do that. And the record is going to be released soon.
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Couldn't agree more with this.

The Thin Lizzy story for me ended with the Gary Moore & friends gig at the Dublin unveiling of the Philip Lynott statue. That was the Thin Lizzy/Phil farewell gig IMO. Everything else that happened afterwards is a shame.
 
harrisdevot said:
I couln't disagree more. Motörhead couln't exist without Lemmy. He was the band, and Steve is Maiden. Him not being the frontman is of no importance. He's the band's identity, without him the band would turn into something else.
And Lizzy without Lynott is a shame. That was his baby. I guess his only mistake was not making sure that the brand was all his. I just can't understand how they dare to do that. And the record is going to be released soon.
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Without Steve there wouldn't be Maiden agreed. He was the glue that held it together, creative force, decision maker and all for the first 20 years.
But things evolve. After 40+ years of being forged together, now Maiden can exist without Steve if he allows it, there's Bruce, Adrian, Dave & Janick. There's Kevin & Rod too. And being frontman or not has anything to do. We saw what happened in 1995 -1999. Without Bruce Maiden would be a British Lion by now.
The Road to Hell is a perfectly Maiden-ish song, and I wish Accident of Birth & Chemical Wedding were Maiden's albums. Some of the best post 2000 songs were written by Janick, Adrian, Bruce & Dave where Steve contributed the lyrics or added the slow intros /outros.
And we saw what Steve was capable of when Adrian and Bruce were not there. So I don't buy that without Steve there could be no Maiden, not in 2025. Actually there are chances they could release even better material for an album or two.

Any healthy business or organisation should be able to continue without its founder. This is the way of nature anything else is artificial and ugly.
 
____no5 said:
Without Steve there wouldn't be Maiden agreed. He was the glue that held it together, creative force, decision maker and all for the first 20 years.
But things evolve. After 40+ years of being forged together, now Maiden can exist without Steve if he allows it, there's Bruce, Adrian, Dave & Janick. There's Kevin & Rod too. And being frontman or not has anything to do. We saw what happened in 1995 -1999. Without Bruce Maiden would be a British Lion by now.
The Road to Hell is a perfectly Maiden-ish song, and I wish Accident of Birth & Chemical Wedding were Maiden's albums. Some of the best post 2000 songs were written by Janick, Adrian, Bruce & Dave where Steve contributed the lyrics or added the slow intros /outros.
And we saw what Steve was capable of when Adrian and Bruce were not there. So I don't buy that without Steve there could be no Maiden, not in 2025. Actually there are chances they could release even better material for an album or two.

Any healthy business or organisation should be able to continue without its founder. This is the way of nature anything else is artificial and ugly.
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Putting business, organisation and nature in the same sentence to talk about a babd is a real feat.

Bands are businesses and brands, but they are much more than that. An do you really think Rod would help build a Steveless Maiden ? Come on...

In the songs you are alluding to, Steve did not only contribute with lyrics, but with the vocal melodies, they made it clear repetedly. So they are not relevant to your point.
And Bruce's last album (which he didn't write on his own btw) sounds horrible to me, while TXF is an absolute masterpiece.
 
I think there could be some good songs without Steve's involvement on a next album, but for the full Maiden songwriting and idea potential to unfold, they definitely need Steve.
 
harrisdevot said:
Putting business, organisation and nature in the same sentence to talk about a babd is a real feat.
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I disagree. Everything humans do mimics nature. Including organisations, businesses and bands.

harrisdevot said:
Bands are businesses and brands, but they are much more than that. An do you really think Rod would help build a Steveless Maiden ? Come on...
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I agree, he wouldn't. In late 70s.
As I said Steve was essential for the first 20 years but now after all those years together, the rest have mature and can lead a project thus they could put out a great album or two without him, easily.

Melony said:
I think there could be some good songs without Steve's involvement on a next album, but for the full Maiden songwriting and idea potential to unfold, they definitely need Steve.
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This is a bit disparaging for the rest of the band. These are accomplished, seasoned musicians and at least two of them have led their own projects. Of course they could do that. They know Maiden inside out, what fans want, what market wants, the patterns, the road crew, the ecosystem, everything. They are Maiden in their own right. Especially under Rod's management and Shirley's help, they could release something really noteworthy.
 
Could Bruce, Adrian, Dave and Janick play heavy metal together? Sure! Could it even sound similar to Maiden? It likely would.

... But it would not be Iron Maiden without Steve, who is the only truly and utterly unreplaceable member. Iron Maiden is the musical realization of the person "Steve Harris".
 
____no5 said:
I disagree. Everything humans do mimics nature. Including organisations, businesses and bands.
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Well, Mankind is part of Nature, no doubt. But saying that businesses mimic nature is a pure (maybe uncouncious, I will leave you the benefit of doubt) liberal (in the economic sense of the word) discourse. There is nothing "natural" there, nor in the so-called "market". There are not self-working processes. Behind them (and the Lizzy thing is a perfect illustration, as is the fact that Motörhead has never been declared dead, contrary to all logics) there are calculations, fuelled by pure greediness.

Sure, Dave, Bruce and Adrian are great musicians, but they needed someone else to fullfill their potential, and this someone is what makes Maiden unique. Every time (not that often to be honest) I listen to Smith-Kotzen, or even to the non-Steve songs of Senjutsu, I remember why Smith needs Steve. Icko had it right: Maiden is five other guys living one guy's dream.
 
harrisdevot said:
Well, Mankind is part of Nature, no doubt. But saying that businesses mimic nature is a pure (maybe uncouncious, I will leave you the benefit of doubt) liberal (in the economic sense of the word) discourse. There is nothing "natural" there, nor in the so-called "market". There are not self-working processes. Behind them (and the Lizzy thing is a perfect illustration, as is the fact that Motörhead has never been declared dead, contrary to all logics) there are calculations, fuelled by pure greediness.

Sure, Dave, Bruce and Adrian are great musicians, but they needed someone else to fullfill their potential, and this someone is what makes Maiden unique. Every time (not that often to be honest) I listen to Smith-Kotzen, or even to the non-Steve songs of Senjutsu, I remember why Smith needs Steve. Icko had it right: Maiden is five other guys living one guy's dream.
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But... British Lion is also Steve project and they are nowhere near the level of first maiden albums (and with Steve current experience this should be in their reach).

I get credit that Steve gets (and deserve) but in all truth - band is sum of its parts.

Steve gives the band an iconic sound, but let's be honest - the last few albums don't sound as good as the last two. If Iron Maiden is 'Harris' vision' (I don't agree with that) then the last two albums haven't been the best. Martin kept Harris in check and was able to get the best out of him, with each album without him it's clear how much the band loses without a decent producer to push them forward.

The statement that Steve allows Adrian, Dave, Janick and Bruce to fulfil their potential is wrong (and a little bit disrespectful to acomplished musicians they all are). They all drive each other. Before an album is released we know what the songs are and who wrote them and we can predict with pretty good accuracy how the composition will sound. Why? Because it's the band and its members working together. Steve here is not the magic element that makes everything work musically. His persistence pushes the band forward and that's their greatest strength.
 
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