Things about Iron Maiden that annoy you

The lack of Dave's solo in "Gangland" is quite unsettling (partially why it's my second least favorite Maiden song). Other things that annoy me are the changed lyrics in some live versions of "The Evil That Men Do" (where the hell did that come from? Just sing the original ones, goddammit!), and the last "Still Life" chorus on Maiden England which Bruce messed up completely. So disturbing.
 
Number 6 said:
The lack of Dave's solo in "Gangland" is quite unsettling (partially why it's my second least favorite Maiden song). Other things that annoy me are the changed lyrics in some live versions of "The Evil That Men Do" (where the hell did that come from? Just sing the original ones, goddammit!), and the last "Still Life" chorus on Maiden England which Bruce messed up completely. So disturbing.
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True! I get annoyed with the changed lyrics by Bruce. TETMD, TOAC on last tour, ATSS on Maiden England, and the list goes on.
 
I'm curious. I know he changes the last line before the second pre-chrous in TETMD, but what were the changes on TOAC and ATSS?
 
Сури Вук said:
Personal oppinion: At the late stage of their carrers Maiden becomes pure merchandise. It was always fine to buy a t-shirt or some souvenir, but now... IM beer, with Bruce drinking it during the encores on TBOS tour (drank it, nothing special). Video games are OK, at least a good way for a beginner to get to know Maiden world.
I mean... It's their job, we all know that, but do they really have to comercialise so much? They had already secured themselves financially, not just the band itself, but the entire crew.
I could only understand it if, for example, that was the way to use the Maiden brand and give a job to some people who were unemployed or something like that...
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The record industry is in the dumpster, hardly any artists these day make any significant money off of new album sales. That is why there's more touring and all these expensive VIP/meet and greet packages alot of artists do now.
I guess Maiden doesn't really have to tour. But they love doing it and will do it as long as they can. I would highly doubt that their crew is "financially secure". When Maiden tour they put a good number of people to work. That's a good thing, right?
Let me ask you a question. How would you like it if someone told you you can't have a promotion at work because you have enough money? Oh, you got a good money making idea? Sorry - you have enough money, give it to someone else...
 
Marketing. I mean - I work in marketing, so I know how it works, but still, even 15 years later I hate hyping the shit out of things, and sometimes I feel like it's their strategy. I'm okay with merchandise - It's nothing special, but I like it.
 
Ruflux said:
I'm curious. I know he changes the last line before the second pre-chrous in TETMD, but what were the changes on TOAC and ATSS?
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TOAC:

"We saw the sadness in his eyes
It came as no surprise
And after all, we will never know" instead of "And now of course we’ll never know"

ATSS:

"Trying to visualize the horrors that will lay ahead" <-> "Trying to justify to ourselves the reasons to go"

He switched these parts during at least 2 concerts during the tour. (Not sure if it was a mistake.)
 
Сури Вук said:
Personal oppinion: At the late stage of their carrers Maiden becomes pure merchandise. It was always fine to buy a t-shirt or some souvenir, but now... IM beer, with Bruce drinking it during the encores on TBOS tour (drank it, nothing special). Video games are OK, at least a good way for a beginner to get to know Maiden world.
I mean... It's their job, we all know that, but do they really have to comercialise so much? They had already secured themselves financially, not just the band itself, but the entire crew.
I could only understand it if, for example, that was the way to use the Maiden brand and give a job to some people who were unemployed or something like that...
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I personally would say this happened rather early in their career.
Once the Eddie image really took off, maybe mid-80s.
Posters, flags, stickers, cards, postcards etc. The focus took a shift quite early really.
 
It's also not like Maiden's selling everything that they can. Actually, the only thing they've been selling that's more "out-there" is the pinball machine (which I still think is a fabulous idea and a very nice throwback to the '80s). Iron Maiden are (still) very far from being just another money-making machine, it's not like they're selling a customized coffin or something. Maiden is still on for the music first, merchandise and all other things second. To hold them as low as "pure merchandise" is cruel and completely unfair.
 
Number 6 said:
It's also not like Maiden's selling everything that they can.
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Pretty much, yes it is.
Early days was more "innocent" maybe but still a big part of the financial plan to tide band and management over. Sure money was spent back on the touring, but not like Rod and Stephen say.
These days it's very much less innocent and much more brand action based. Surprised there aren't more vinyl re-releases though. Perhaps there is not enough income in Maiden Japan, Beast Over Hammersmith or live bootlegs like Deep Purple do em.
 
Already mentioned, but one thing that's always annoyed me is the repeated snubbing of the UK on the majority of tours since 1999

That said, I'm seeing them in Birmingham very soon, so maybe it's a case of being glad of what I have.
 
John Silver said:
Pretty much, yes it is.
Early days was more "innocent" maybe but still a big part of the financial plan to tide band and management over. Sure money was spent back on the touring, but not like Rod and Stephen say.
These days it's very much less innocent and much more brand action based. Surprised there aren't more vinyl re-releases though. Perhaps there is not enough income in Maiden Japan, Beast Over Hammersmith or live bootlegs like Deep Purple do em.
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I never said in my post that Maiden don't sell anything. I said they're not selling away everything that they can—which they aren't. The last major batch of re-releases, for example, was in 1998. Currently, apart from the Trooper beer, the minor stuff in the LOTB game and the pinball machine (which actually received a very limited release), they're not really selling anything else. I won't count in additional merchandising such as T-shirts, because those have always been sold. Mainly, I only said what I said in response to @Сури Вук's claim that Maiden are "pure merchandise", which is simply false. They weren't, and will never be reduced to that.
 
John Silver said:
I personally would say this happened rather early in their career.
Once the Eddie image really took off, maybe mid-80s.
Posters, flags, stickers, cards, postcards etc. The focus took a shift quite early really.
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Yeah I agree, my Metallica biography says something like Metallica and other bands took merchandise inspiration from Maiden, because by the late 80s they were making millions off tours just by selling Eddie merchandise (as well as using clever sales strategies at shows) and it really appealed to everyone else as that was where the money was. It might also have said that merchandise was where Maidens first millions came from.
 
To be fair though, they only do the merchandise because they know that people want it - and that the bootleggers will supply that demand if they don't.
 
Another angle is that the merchandising empire likely allowed Maiden to avoid the alternate route of primarily relying on heavy radio/MTV rotation in the 80s and 90s, to stay viable. That's presumably how they were able to stay 'underground' and avoid the flavor-of-the-month trends of those areas whilst still making millions of dollars. Not a bad way to make a living in my book.
 
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