Here is the episode we’ve all been waiting for: Author Martin Popoff (Iron Maiden: Album By Album) joins us to talk about record #2, Killers.
With Adrian Smith now in the fold, Maiden settled into the studio with legendary producer Martin Birch to lay down another series of tracks that the band had been working up for years. “Wrathchild”, “Killers”, “The Ides of March” and more will be broken down, track by track.
We will also discuss the singles, the B-sides, and the tour. Once again Harrison goes through the Killers tour and tells us the facts, figures and songs.
Don’t miss this awesome episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden, tonight on Youtube.
I have made my debut on Sea of Tranquility! Thank you to Jamie Laszlo for inviting me. The Review Crew topic is Albums from 1990. 35 years ago!
I am taking a big, big chance with my first time on S.O.T. I’m reviewing an artist they normally wouldn’t touch. I’m going for it because it’s a topic I can discuss confidently and passionately. It’s also a concept album. It’s Jon Bon Jovi’s Blaze of Glory, today on the Review Crew. It was nerve wracking bringing such an album to this channel, but I stuck to my guns, spoke passionately, and I think it shows.
A personal highlight was having the chance to converse face to face with Phil Aston regarding his pick, Deep Purple’s Slaves and Masters.
A post-show chat with Johnny Metal was in order after our great Iron Maiden (1980) episode on 50 Years of Iron Maiden. In this special chat, Johnny and I discuss some addition Iron Maiden content not covered in the actual episode, such as an album with Dennis Stratton (Lionheart) and some compilations with almost every Maiden member pre-Killers. (Even the keyboard player!)
I also unboxed a very cool, very rare CD from Mike Slayen. Check this out! A true rarity.
Finally, one reason I wanted to do this post-show chat was that I needed to be social last night. My 100 year old Grandma is sick again, and I was having such anxiety during the day, that I thought it would do me some good to tell some Grandma stories with Johnny Metal. I hope you find these as heartfelt and amusing as I do.
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!
mikeladano.com 