When 1999 began, Iron Maiden had decided to fire singer Blaze Bayley and reunite with Bruce Dickinson. This was one of the most important turns in the band’s history. The major question is how Steve Harris came to the conclusion, and how the new line-up of Maiden would secure their longevity in the new millennium.
The best ever Bruce Dickinson album rivals the best records of Iron Maiden. To add insult to injury, it was released in the same year as Maiden’s worst record: Virtual XI. What was needed to save Maiden became painfully clear in 1998. Continue reading
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
Maiden Revelations 