FOUNDATIONS
September 25, 1995/Vol. 8, Issue 19
2 pg. B&W Article

Interview questions by Michael Moses

You were born and raised in East London what was that like?

SH: East London isn't exactly the most well-off area. We weren't exactly poverty stricken, but having said that, we weren't well off either. My father was a truck driver and we led a fairly simple life. But we were happy. Do you remember seeing a particular performer as a kid one that made you say, "Yeah, that's what 1 want to do?" Not one in particular, but I saw bands like The Who, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, UFO, the Scorpions and early Judas Priest all at the same time. It was brilliant.

I know you're big soccer fan and that you still play today. Was there ever the thought of doing that professionally?

SH: Yeah at one time. When I was about 14, I trained with one of my favorite clubs for about 9 months and I suppose I probably did have a chance to do something along those lines at one point. But at that age a lot of other things come into play; you start getting interested in girls and doing other things, so something had to give. I don't know, maybe I just wasn't ready for it. Maybe if it had been a couple of years later, things would've been different. But then I started playing guitar at around age 17, which I suppose is quite late really. Once I discovered that, I knew it was what I really wanted to do. You started on guitar and not bass? Well I started on acoustic guitar, but I got fed up with it. I actually wanted to play drums originally but we didn't have the space for a kit. So I figured the next best thing would be to play along with a drummer.

What did your parents say when you told them you wanted to be a rock star?

SH: Well, I didn't really have those sort of aspirations. I just wanted to play and they were really supportive. They actually used to come down to see me play. I guess I was lucky in that respect.

What kind of an effect did England's punk movement have on the band in the early days?

SH: We couldn't get any work (in the pubs) because of them and we were pissed about it. And to be honest with you, we hated them for it. And most of those bands couldn't play very well either. But we managed to hang on and we started getting a following with people traveling about to see us.

Who came up with the idea of Eddie?

SH: I can't remember - it might've been our lighting guy. We had this giant kabuki mask that we'd set up in back of the drums and blood would drip out of its mouth and its eyes would light up. We called it 'Eddie The 'Ead' We wanted to put on some sort of show, rather than just getting up there and playing. So we started making backdrops, and doing stuff with the lights and using a smoke machine and dry ice machine and all that stuff. It was all pretty outrageous for a band that used to play those small pubs. It was exciting and the people were really shocked by it all.

Do you remember your first tour of America?

SH: Oh yeah (laughs). Definitely. The first gig we ever did was in Las Vegas and I remember thinking "Bloody hell, if all of America is like this, I'll be dead in two months. It was so crazy (laughs) - we were like kids in a candy store. We were supporting Judas Priest at the Aladdin Theater and it was a big deal for us. The people at that show had never heard of us before and we went up there and got right in their faces. It was great.

How did the American groupies differ from the English ones?

SH: Well, we couldn't believe it really. They were so forward - it was just fantastic. You don't get girls coming up to you and propositioning you like that in England ...or anyplace else for that matter. How has that scene changed over the years? Well, to be honest with you, 90% of our audience is guys anyway. We're not like, say, Def Leppard, who get lots of women. I remember getting up to jam with them in Portland once and I couldn't believe how many women were there. It was just unbelievable. But then, they are more commercial than we are. So you came back and said to Bruce, "Look, can you shake your ass a bit more?" (Laughs) Well, I must admit it was tempting.

After all these years, has there ever been a tour where it just wasn't there where you just had a miserable time?

SH: The only tour that was really hard work was the last one we did with Bruce, when he announced he was leaving.

Was that something that you saw coming or did it take you as a total surprise?

SH: I was surprised at the timing, but not surprised that he wanted to go. I would've been more prepared if it had happened during the time of No Prayer For The Dying because that was when he had done his first solo album. I thought he was getting restless then, but he said he wanted to stay. What was your initial reaction when he told you he was leaving? Well, he didn't tell me he told Rod (Smallwood - the band's mgr) and then Rod told me.

How did you deal with it?

SH: I would imagine there was a certain amount of resentment involved. Well, we just decided that if we were gonna carry on as a band, that we should get on with the tour. It was all such short notice - it was only three weeks before the tour and most of the gigs had already been sold out. At times it was difficult because he wasn't 100% into it and obviously we knew he wouldn't be. I didn't expect him to be passionate or look at the audience with any fire in his eyes because obviously you can't do that once you decide to leave. I did expect him to go out and perform and sing well, but there were times when he just didn't bother and that really upset the rest of us. But there was no point in arguing about it because we knew he was going. Basically we felt that he was letting us down and he was letting the fans down. It was really disappointing.

Do you still talk to him?

SH: I saw him a few months ago, but I haven't spoken to him all that much, no.

So I guess there isn't much chance for a reunion.

SH: (Laughs) No, I don't think so.

How do you think the past 20 years of playing with Maiden have changed you personally?

SH: (Pause) Well, I don't know. (Longer pause) I've never been comfortable with meeting people and making small talk. I've always sort of needed someone like Nicko around to take the pressure off me because he's always relaxed about that. I've always been a bit shy and I find that part of the business difficult. People see me onstage and they expect me to be the same way offstage. (laughs) They also think I'm a lot shorter in person. But they expect me to be this aggressive loud person and I'm really not.

Is that one of the reasons you got into this - to let that other side of you out?

SH: Maybe subconsciously. I've never really thought about that. I mean that is me onstage - it's not an act. It's a way for me to let off steam. But then, I also let off steam when I'm playing football or tennis or whatever. I'm very competitive.

Speaking of which, is it true that you had an entire soccer field built behind your house?

SH: (Laughs) Yeah, it's true. It's the same length as a (regulation) field, but width-wise it's just a little bit on the narrow side. We have games here from time to time.

And didn't you also have separate locker rooms built in for the opposing teams?

SH: Yeah. There were these old stables back there, but since I'm not into horseback riding, we converted them into dressing rooms.

Who else in Maiden plays on the team?

SH: Well, Janick plays sometimes. He's a really good goalkeeper, but we can't take the risk of him hurting his fingers. So you throw Nicko in there instead? Well, Nicko used to play goal for us years ago. But one day - about ten years ago, I think - we were playing against Rainbow in Copenhagen and he got kicked in the back pretty hard and he doesn't play all that much now. But we beat Rainbow and that's the main thing (laughs).

And in addition to the soccer field, the house also has a gigantic Eddie head in the driveway...

SH: Yeah, it's the one from Piece Of Mind. It lights up.

And you also have a full studio built into the house.

SH: Yeah.

So you've got a house that has a full-sized soccer field, a full studio, a gigantic Eddie head... how many rooms?

SH: I don't know, I haven't counted (laughs).

So all in all, rock 'n roll's been pretty good to you.

SH: I can't complain. I think it's amazing that we can go and play gigs all around the world and meet different people. We can be tourists and get paid for it - what a terrible job