I started playing guitar back in the late 70's while in high school. Loved EVH, Rhoads, Malmsteen, and did my best to emulate them. I got to be a fairly decent player and always dreamt of being a rock star, but never quite made it, LOL!
Fast forward about 25 years or so. My then 10-yr-old son expressed an interest in playing guitar, so I bought him his own and showed him the basics for the next year or two. After few more years went by, he soon surpassed my playing skill level, so I pondered the idea of picking up a cheap bass to lay down some tracks for him to solo over. One Saturday morning I'm flipping through channels and landed on Metal Mania, that VH1 wankfest where they play the same seven metal videos every week. But thankfully, one of those oft-repeated vids was 'Run To The Hills'. Although I was never into Maiden before, watching 'Arry's fingers during that bass 'solo' made me sit up and take note. THAT was the moment I got up off the couch, went straight to Sam Ash, and came back with my first bass guitar (and amp).
Since I already knew the fretboard through and through, knew my scales, etc, I was able to start jamming right away on my new instrument. Still having those images from the RTTH video in my head, soon bought Somewhere Back In Time, the compilation of their biggest hits from the 80's. I was able to pick up the basslines rather quickly, and soon could play along with the entire CD.
By that time I was hooked on Iron Maiden, and knew I had nearly 30 years to catch up on! Bought other CDs and learned the more popular songs, then some of the more obscure ones, too. Even auditioned for a Maiden tribute band, but although my playing was fine, the fact that I do not resemble Steve Harris in any way shape or form, I didn't get the gig, LOL.
Bottom line, I was just trying to do something for my son when I bought that bass, and that lead to me becoming a fan of the greatest metal band in the world. Up the Irons!