By the mid-1990s Iron Maiden had clearly become a diminished force, but they would gamely take another crack at rebuilding their house. With this chapter in our study of Maiden History we take a look at the making of Virtual XI and the events that led to the end of the Blaze era.
In trying to build the new Iron Maiden with their second Blaze Bayley album, the band unfortunately reaches the nadir of their recording history. Continue reading
Ex-Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith got busy in the mid-1990s, joining Bruce Dickinson‘s solo band and leading his own Psycho Motel at the same time. Welcome To The World would be the last alternative notes from Adrian before his path led right back to Maiden. Continue reading
“Welcome home”, goes the chorus. “It’s been too long, we’ve missed you”, go the fans. Bruce Dickinson found himself with his fourth solo album. And it was closer to home than he might have imagined. Continue reading
Iron Maiden released their first compilation album in 1996. But did Best Of The Beast serve to capture new fans, or did it simply shed a harsh light on the state of the band in the mid-1990s? Continue reading
Bruce Dickinson decided to make a band. His own name would fade into the background, while Skunkworks took center stage. How did Dickinson’s biggest solo gamble turn out? Continue reading
After many years of silence, Adrian Smith returned with Psycho Motel. At a time when all things Maiden seemed either lost or controversial, how did Smith do on his own? Continue reading
On Saturday March 2nd the legendary Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson visited Ole Bull Teater in Bergen and made the capacity crowd grin with laughter for the close to three hours long event. Torgrim Øyre was there to report. Continue reading
For five years in the 1990s Iron Maiden would sound and look different, lose old fans and make new ones, as they struggled to reestablish themselves with a new frontman: Blaze Bayley. With this chapter in our study of Maiden History we discuss the coming of Blaze and the making of The X Factor. Continue reading
Two years after the departure of Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden finally returned with Blaze Bayley and The X Factor. How did Maiden adapt to one of the biggest changes and challenges of their career? Continue reading
