50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 2: Iron Maiden (1980) and “Women In Uniform”
With John Clauser (My Music Corner)
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #86
Welcome to the big leagues, as Iron Maiden are signed to EMI and release their first singles and album! New members Clive Burr and Dennis Stratton are now on board with Steve Harris, Dave Murray, and Paul Di’Anno. We cover it all on this second episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden.
Joining Harrison and I is John Clauser from My Music Corner! We bid you welcome to this special pre-recorded look at Iron Maiden’s self titled debut album. Because we always aim to go in depth as possible, we’ll discuss the entire album track by track, the artwork, and all the singles and B-sides. As an added bonus, we’ll also take a look at the standalone single “Women In Uniform”, a Skyhooks cover that the band have somewhat disowned.
A new feature to the series debuts tonight as well: Harrison Kopp will take the spotlight every time we talk about a studio album, to go over the tour in detail. Harrison will provide the facts, the figures, and the dates, while also analysing the setlists. This segment is a highlight of the show.
This episode premieres at 7 o’clock PM exclusively on YouTube. (Sorry Facebook – we are trying some new things with this Maiden series. The live episodes will still be streamed to Facebook, but not these recorded ones.)
One of us will try to be in the comments tonight, so if you want to take part in a discussion, please don’t miss the premiere!
This is a topic for which I’m no expert, but others on the panel will be. Martin sure knows his NWOBHM! Guaranteed, we will see some cool heavy metal album covers tonight on the Contrarians. Looking forward to it.
A busy day today at Grab A Stack of Rock HQ, as I make yet another appearance on Tim’s Vinyl Confessions! When you’re done watching Tim and I on Slogan’s Rock and Metal Extravaganza, then check out Tim and I on the TVC!
Today’s topic was a super, super fun one: Top Ten Live Albums of the 80s. The stipulation: each album had to be released in the 80s, containing at least some material from the 80s. Some of my picks may prove to be oddballs, but this was a fun episode and informative as well. What are your top ten live albums of the 80s?
This is what too-kind-Tim had to say about the show:
Sir Mike of Ladano of @GrabAStackofRocK fame joins me to discuss some fab live albums that came out between 1980 and 1989. It’s our Top 10 live albums of the ’80s!
Please join Sidney, Logan, Tim Durling and myself LIVE at 3:00 PM EST Saturday January 11 for this special double-header episode!
This is my second ever episode of Slogan’s Rock and Metal Extravaganza, my first being Black Sabbath’s Dehumanizer. I am excited to discuss this Triumph album, The Sport of Kings, which I have owned for 26 years now. It has been a love/hate affair over the decades, with some undue influence from Martin Popoff colouring my impressions too much in the 2000s. Have I come back full circle? Find out this afternoon.
Then, their bonus review is Montrose’s self titled debut album, a record which I have never tackled on this site. Check out the back half of this episode for our take on this legendary album, with the expert himself Tim Durling. I mean, he kinda wrote the book, didn’t he?
Catch us LIVE!
(By the way, there’s a story about the feature image here that I will explain during the show.)
A huge thank you to everyone who checked out our debut episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden! In this episode, we covered in detail the early years of the band. From Steve’s first band Smiler, to a roundabout of guitarists and drummers, we broke everything down. First we covered the Paul Mario Day years and a great recent live version of “Running Free”. We moved on to the Dennis Wilcock era and the turmoil that ensued! From swords to keyboards, Iron Maiden were all but derailed! Finally we turn to Paul Di’Anno, the first officially recorded lead vocalist of Iron Maiden.
With Di’Anno, there are several official releases to talk about from this era: the legendary Soundhouse Tapes, BBC Archives, Metal For Muthas, and Axe Attack. There is a rare, little known demo version of “Running Free” on one edition of Axe Attack, and Harrison will tell you how to get it.
We hope you enjoy this fully immersive look at the early years of Iron Maiden. See you next week for the EMI debut, the singles, and Johnny Clauser from My Music Corner.
SHOW NOTES:
Steve Harris originally formed Smiler.
The first lineup of Iron Maiden:
Steve Harris
Paul Mario Day
Terry Rance
Dave Sulivan
Rob “Rebel” Matthews
Paul Day still performs songs today, with former members of early Maiden. A strong vocalist. Powerful voice. Sounds a bit like Di’Anno, with a growl. Can sing clean, but can also really growl. Powerhouse vocals – level 10. Absolutely awesome version of “Running Free”, as good as any Maiden versions with Paul?
Paul Day left – “not enough on stage charisma”
Replaced by Dennis Wilcock, not a great singer but had the bloody sword trick.
Maiden breaks up so Harris can be rid of Rance and Sulivan.
Got in Dave Murray and Bob Sawyer
1977, Matthews, Murray and Sawyer were all fired
Terry Wapram (guitar) and Tony Moore (keyboards) replace the guitarists. Barry Purkis/Thunderstick on drums with black leather mask.
This lineup played one show before Harris fired Moore. Keyboards didn’t fit.
There is a very slow, very different version of “Charlotte the Harlot” with this lineup. A bluesy rock n’ roll version of “Another Life” with a completely different kind of beat. Sounds more like Aerosmith.
Murray returns. Wapram leaves, down to one guitar again. Wilcock and Thunderstick leave and are replaced by Paul Di’Anno and Doug Samson who Steve had played with pre-Iron Maiden.
Rapid turnover of second guitarists:
Paul Cairns joins late 1978, plays on Soundhouse Tapes, lasts 3 months
Paul Todd – June 1979 – lasts one week. Girlfriend wouldn’t let him play shows. Later joined Paul Day in a band called More.
Tony Parsons joins Sep 1979 – Dec 1979, plays on BBC sessions. Fired due to lack of ability compared to Murray. Joined Dennis Wilcock in Gilbraltar.
Dennis Stratton comes aboard.
Doug Samson can’t handle touring schedule, and is replaced by Clive Burr, a friend of Dennis
– The Soundhouse Tapes
Iron Maiden – different, more straight ahead groove. Not as driving or ahead of the beat. Low end is more present. Vocal is more laid back.
Invasion – less frantic and speedy than the B-side version. Vocals on the chorus are heavily layered and produced. Can’t save the song for me.
Prowler – Brilliant version, with the high guitar part laying clean on the top. Great scream from Paul. More straightforward than the album version. Slower groove.
Strange World – Sounds unfinished compared to the other songs, a prototype of the skeleton without the atmosphere. Slow bluesy solo (Paul Cairns?)
– BBC Archives (four-song radio rock show)
Iron Maiden, Running Free, Transylvania, Sanctuary.
Tony Parsons on second guitar.
Strange to think they bothered with an instrumental for this recording session.
Really well recorded versions, with vocal overdubs. The drums really cut through and the guitars sound great. Of all the versions heard so far, these are closest to the final album.
Iron Maiden has really energetic, frantic drums lending it an extra punch. Vocals are nicely layered as on album.
Running Free is missing that pick scratching sound effect.
– Metal for Muthas (Sanctuary & Wrathchild)
Also with Tony Parsons.
Sanctuary – Very close to final version. Guitar solo is very different – similar to BBC Archives version. Tony Parsons lead – a little on the simpler side but very fast and catchy.
Wrathchild – Slower, more “heavy metal” groove. Vocal is double-tracked throughout. Nice impactful version, if less powerful.
– Axe Attack Running Free Demo – A really different sounding version. Doug Sampson on drums, a different feel. Guitars sound sharper. The middle section with the pick scratching is much better – a solid chug. Just overall more groovy. A little clean. Vocal harmonies intact. I love when Paul yelps. Snare drum could use more beef but it’s a demo.
50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode one: The Soundhouse Tapes and more! 1975-1980
A special 🅻🅸🆅🅴 debut episode
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #85
50 years ago, Steve Harris departed his previous band Smiler, and formed the first lineup or Iron Maiden: Steve Harris, Paul Mario Day, Terry Rance, Dave Sulivan and Ron “Rebel” Matthews.
Today, Harrison Kopp and Mike Ladano are proud to debut their new series, 50 Years of Iron Maiden.
We begin with their first lineup and run through all the changes. We cover every officially released recording available prior to their first releases on EMI, of which several exist. These include Metal For Muthas, the BBC Archives, The Soundhouse Tapes, and Axe Attack. There are also existent recordings of Iron Maiden with Dennis Wilcock on vocals, and Paul Mario Day playing Iron Maiden songs. Iron Maiden with a keyboardist instead of a second guitarist? Steve Harris on lead vocals? Tonight on this special live episode, we will cover it all.
While most episodes in this Maiden series will be recorded in advance, tonight’s debut will indeed be live. Grab A Stack of Rock is usually a live show, but in 2025 we have some very special guests lined up for this series. This requires scheduling, which makes recording in advance necessary. We will continue to release shows on Fridays at 7:00 PM eastern standard time, and there will be the occasional live one sprinkled in.
It’s 50 Years of Iron Maiden, and the celebrations commence tonight. Like and subscribe to Grab A Stack of Rock on YouTube, and hit that “notify” bell so you don’t miss a single episode. We will be discussing every studio album, and we won’t be neglecting the official – and unofficial – live releases either. From the compilations to box sets, you will see our entire collections throughout this comprehensive series. Hit the gas, and here we go!
Friday January 10 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic. Enjoy on YouTube or onFacebook!
We’re back! We had a couple weeks off for Christmas and New Year’s, but we’re back LIVE tonight to talk about some more album covers.
Today’s challenge comes again from the mind of Martin Popoff. Pick 10 great album covers from bands we despise. This was challenging in two respects. First, do we really want to say we “despise” a band? That’s a strong word, so we had to choose carefully. Just because I don’t listen to a band doesn’t mean I despise them. Second, I hate to say it, but many bands I hate have terrible covers. It was hard finding 10 good ones. But I did, so tune in tonight for some Contrarians fun with Martin, Grant, Peter, Jamie and myself.
This will be a controversial one. It is already. One of the covers I said was too crappy to include, was picked by Jamie. (At least we both despise the same band.) So we’ll see!
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man Episode 84: Lost Videos & Shorts – A Grab A Stack of Rock Special Friday Presentation!
While not a live episode, this special presentation was put together by yours truly, with me as your host through these forgotten and lost videos from years gone by. I have been making videos for 36 years now, and this collection of mini-episodes run from 2013 to the present day. These videos were made primarily for this blog, but also for other channels, my old show the LeBrain Train, and Grab A Stack of Rock. Some of these individual clips would require lots of determined scrolling and searching to find otherwise, so I thought it would be nice to take a viewing of some favourites of mine, and add in some that are now new and exclusive. It is certainly amusing to watch my look change, from bearded to clean and back to bearded and clean again.
New, previously unseen, and “lost” topics covered in this special episode: Rare rock and metal CDs sent from friends, rare books and rock magazines, rock band branded playing cards, a discussion on iTunes, video reviews of rare CDs, a updated check-in at the HMV/Toys R Us store, my collection of M.E.A.T Magazines, and the very first video I made in 1989. But that’s not all – stick around for Easter eggs.
I hope you can check it out tonight for this very special episode of Grab A Stack of Rock, assembled with care for your enjoyment.
Friday January 3 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic. Enjoy on YouTube or onFacebook!
Harrison and I would like to thank our new guests Ashley Geisler, Melissa Nee, and Sidney from Slogan’s Rock & Metal Extravaganza, as well as returning guests Johnny Clauser and Todd Evans, for a rollicking good time on New Year’s Eve.
The concept was simple. Each of us took turns going round, showing off an item we got recently over the holidays.
Sidney had a massive haul of Rock Candy CDs, and used metal bargains from The Beat Goes On. He had a strong showing of Budgie remasters, and a diverse collection of bands. Melissa had some cool Iron Maiden stuff, while Ash is collecting bootlegs and had several to show us. Johnny Clauser brought some recent purchases, and Todd Evans scored well in the Neal Morse department. As for Harrison and I, he had a cool Trust tin and something call ONXRT. I decided to unveil my Van Halen For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge deluxe edition, with a short discussion.
We also started the show with the traditional Ask Harrison featuring Jex Russell.
It’s very possible the winner of the year 2024 was Judas Priest with the recent Rocka Rolla reissue. Have a watch and see.
Because we did the live show mid-week this time, Friday’s show is a pre-recorded special episode. Don’t miss it January 3!
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man Episode 83: New Year’s Eve Drop-In Show
It has been a while since I’ve attempted a show like this, but it’s time to do something random and chaotic to end the year with a party.
Disclaimer #1: I never make it to midnight.
Disclaimer #2: I have no idea what will actually happen tonight.
Harrison and I need a break like this to blow off steam. We’ve both been active on other channels, plus we have been preparing our massive Iron Maiden project for 2025. We are ready to launch it in January. But first, let’s have a party.
Tonight Harrison and I will be hosting some brand new guests: Ash Geisler from Australia, plus Logan and Sidney from Slogan’s music channel. There will be some returning guests and some random drop-ins.
If there is a theme tonight, it’s just showing off music we acquired over the holidays. It should be a fun discussion on that front.
Bottoms up. It’s gonna be a rock and roll party tonight…with a 52 year old host who will require a nap mid-day.
Message me if you need a link to join tonight.
Tuesday December 31 at 9:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 10:00 P.M. Atlantic. Enjoy on YouTube or onFacebook!
mikeladano.com 