FOUNDATIONS
March 15, 1993/Vol. 6, Issue 5
2 pg. B&W Article

Interview questions by John Strednansky

So give me details, Steve! [regarding Bruce's departure]

SH: "This came as a total surprise to us. It was just a few days ago that Bruce Dickinson told us that he is leaving the band at the end of this tour. We had this feeling, especially since he's been making more and more solo material, writing books, his fencing..., things he always wanted to get to sooner or later, but we certainly didn't expect this development this soon! He is still going to do the tour and we will part as mates and everything, I must repect him for making the decision now. He could have waited until the end of the tour. This way, it gives us plenty of time to find someone else."

Let's talk about the new live album. Generally, live albums have a stigma surrounding them: A band is either fulfilling a contract or the label is cashing in on a high level of popularity - rarely are they liked upon as true artistic statements as they were in the seventies. How do you feel about this?

SH: "We've done live albums before and we just felt like it was the right time to do another one. It certainly wasn't to fulfill a contract ...we've just resigned with Capitol! This band has always been about playing live as a matter of fact, for us it's a case to recreate in the studio what we do live! Live is the best representation of what we're about. This new album in particular has a tremendous amount of audience participation, just listen to the version of Fear Of The Dark. We recorded this album over twelve or so shows and picked the best performances. This way we never had to worry abhout whether we were playing the right notes. The excitement comes out much better this way."

What stage of your career does this live album represent?

SH: "Well, with Bruce leaving, it certainly puts a different perspective on things and our plans. It now becomes a symbol for the end of phase two, I suppose. But I must say that this is totally coincidental.. This album is coming out March 23rd and a second one is to come out in September! This first record has material we made after 1985, the next one has stuff pre-1985 on it. But now that Bruce is leaving, we will record more stuff on this tour and kind of change the game plan a bit. "

Do you think that maybe live albums are coming back into fashion, much like they were in the seventies? I mean, look at the list of recent releases: Van Halen, AC/DC ...and now Iron Maiden, and coming up, Metallica!

SH: "I've always been a fan of live albums, like UFO's Strangers In The Night and stuff like that. To me, rock bands are about playing live, which makes live albums very valid for this type of music. With so many videos out today, that takes away from the mystique of a band. While nothing can compensate for actually being there, listening to alive album can be more effective than watching a MTV video."

What are the key differences between Life After Death and this one?

SH: "Life After Death was recorded over two nights - the first night was used for the video, the second for the album. We were very conscious that we had to get it done right and on time, so there was a distinct pressure level. This time, we simply took a 32-track machine and plugged it in. By recording ten or so shows, we could simply go about playing like we normally play. It makes the performance much more exciting because it is a better representation of what we're all about."

There are certain Maiden classics that will live on forever in the minds of many fans: "Aces High;" 'Wrathchild," "Iron Maiden"...How do you arrive at the set selection and is there one particular cut that personifies what Iron Maiden is all about, one that you don't think you'll ever leave out of the set?

SH: "It's very difficult these days because we have so many songs to choose from. We start out with a handful. We know we want to play, those that have become standards, like "Iron Maiden," or "The Number Of The Beast." Then we always pick the best from the most recent studio album. Finally, we round it out with whatever we feel like playing at the time. A song like "Iron Maiden;" that'll probably always be around. I mean, it's our name! That's been a strong part of out set for a long time."

This live album comes less than a year since the last studio album. In an age when bands take two or more years to release, do you think that this signals the return to the good old days, the one album a year cycle, especially with another one planned for the fall?

SH: "Well, the main reason we are doing two live albums is to give our fans a choice. The album we had planned to put out in September has material on it that was also on Live After Death, so older fans in particular might not want it. Of course with Bruce gone, the plan has changed. We are going to record some more stuff, maybe even stuff we've never played live before."

Oh, maybe that odd Samson track?

SH: "I doubt that we'll do that! We've got too many Maiden songs to choose from. Believe me, we will keep things interesting, it certainly keeps you on your toes."

Why do you think there is this longer time span between albums, I mean, even Maiden only took one year between Killers and The Number Of The Beast?

SH: "In our case in particular, wove never taken more than two years between albums. You take five months or so to write and record an album, then you go out on tour. That can take fifteen or so months! In the early days, we used to do much shorter tours. Besides, we don't take a long time in the studio, I think the longest we've ever taken was four months with the last one. We may take slightly longer on the next one to get things right with the new singer, but we want to go out on the road as quickly as possible. If you stay too long in the studio, you go stale!"

Iron Maiden has experimented a bit, but basically has stuck with the same immediately indentifiable sound. How much of a role does modern recording technology play in the music of Iron Maiden today?

SH: "You must use it to quicken things up. It should be a lot easier to get things mixed using the computerized aspects. That's the way we look at it. Some people go way overboard with computers, but we like to record things very live."

Back in 1985, Bruce Dickinson stated in a video interview that Iron Maiden will never use keyboards as, and I quote, "You can't play metal with keyboards." Do you ever say "never" anymore?

SH: "He was referring more to synthesizers, which we have used since. You know, times change, you get a different outlook. just because something was said years ago, that doesn't mean you can't change your ideas! Besides, it was him saying it, not the rest of us! He's not the one playing the stuff!"

A friend of mine, Accept's Wolf Hoffmann, stated recently that, and I quote: "You have to summon up the courage to abandon signpost routes or you'll be soon running in circles setting the band's identity in concrete." He also opposses the traditional definitions of the term "Heavy Metal" - How do you feel abut this and does this apply to Iron Maiden at all?

SH: "You must go with what you feel is right at the time. You got to have the frame of mind that allows you to change. What feels right one year may be the wrong thing the next. As far as calling us a 'heavy metal' band, I don't care what people call us it's just a term. I also love to do other things and that opens your way of thinking, like photography and darkroom work, playing soccer, lots of different things really. It's interesting to do other things - it makes you fresh when you come back to doing whatever you're doing with your music."

Which brings me to: Is making music a business or a pleasure and how has this changed over the years?

SH: "It's a pleasure, definitely. The bottom line is, we totally enjoy what we're doing and that's why we are going to carry on after Bruce leaves.

Not unlike when Adrian Smith left to be replaced by Janick Gers, or when Paul DiAnno left to be replaced by Bruce. One of the great strengths of Iron Maiden, and maybe one secret to their longevity, is to replace a departing member with an equal of better person. Some suggestions for a replacement Tygers of Pan Tang's Jon Deverill or even Paul DiAnno who according to some European press, has last year recorded the album Iron Maiden should have made. What do you think?

SH: "Yeah, we've had many changes over the years but we've never let that stop us. This is going to be the same. Obviously, changing singers is a bigger challenge but we got to look at it in a positive way and look forward toward the future. Paul will certainly not come back. A few other people already suggested that. We must look forward and that would be looking back. We have no idea who it will be, but whoever he is, he should and will bring a new diversity into the band."

In a way, Bruce's solo album seemed inevitable looking at the wealth of talent and varied interests in this band. What will you do when it comes for Steve Harris to do a solo album?

SH: "I don't really feel the need to do one. Maybe at some point in the future, but right now being in Maiden is more than sufficient for me. But even if I did, it certainly would not sway me from what I am doing with Iron Maiden."

As you look into the future of Iron Maiden, where do you see the band go? There were a couple significant changes on Fear Of The Dark - the cover wasn't a Derek Riggs drawing; you, got the lone producer's credit...

SH: "Well, Derek is back on with the new live one! You know, change is not a bad thing at all! The production? Well, I basically produced the Fear Of The Dark album anyway ...it was somewhat nervewrecking to be completely in charge on this tine, but I ended up really enjoying it. Maybe in the future I will try to help and produce some young band - especially the British bands nowadays, they need it!"

Similar question in regard of the live show - do you ever see abandoning Eddie? In some way is has become an equal to the Kiss make-up of the seventies ...where else can Eddie go?

SH: "I don't know ...I am sure Eddie will be around a bit longer, let's see what happens."

Playing live, I've seen everyone of your U.S. tours, starting with the UFO & Scorpions tours and including the surprise appearance at the Whiskey a couple years back. Is there one particular tour that stands out from the rest and how important are those small gigs to you?

SH: "The last tour was certainly excellent ...They've all been good tours really! For different reasons. The next tour is going to be quite an emotional tour ...The small gigs? We're doing four club gigs before the European tour - one in Portugal, then in Paris, Amsterdam and in Berlin. All those places are going to be mayhem! Afterward we start the full-blown tour but we will not do any American gigs this time! We wanted to do these European dates, because we always do so well there and there is no point in adding any more because Bruce is leaving. We need to concentrate on finding someone new, so if you want to see us you better do so in Europe. Our last gig is going to be May 25th in Belfast."

Do you feel that there still may be some sort of misconception about this band, like the devil worship stuff in the early eighties?

SH: "Yeah, there are misconceptions about most bands. We still get a little bit of that. We couldn't play Chile because of that bullshit. It's just ignorance. We didn't have the problems in Uruguay and Argentina, so maybe we'll get to go there next time. The only thing you can do is stick to what you believe in and maybe you'll get it through to these people that we're not that way at all. They are living in the dark ages, really!"

What's next for Iron Maiden, and how long will you be doing this?

SH: "That's difficult to say, really, especially now with changing singers. We never write on the road, so we never know what we're going to do next. That's part of the excitement! We don't plan ahead like that. All I can say ...we'll be doing this for as long as we enjoy it. I am sure we've got a few good years left in us, we see no reason for stopping now!