janick gers

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 15: Fear of the Dark

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 15:  Fear of the Dark

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #105

In the spring of 1992, Iron Maiden returned with new music, less than two years since No Prayer for the Dying.  Album #2 for Janick Gers, and final album (for a long time) with Bruce Dickinson.  It was also the final production before retiring for longtime Maiden compatriot, Martin “Black Knight” Birch.  An historic album, significant in the discography, but of mixed reception.  We tackle Maiden’s direction(s) on this album, the first of the “grunge era” which found bands like Iron Maiden with diminishing sales.  We also had to address the new artwork by Melvyn Grant, the first Maiden album cover without Derek Riggs.

Eeeeewhhh-ZACH!  Maiden began to explore current events in their lyrics, along with some different musical directions, from ballads to Zeppelin-like dirges.   Were they chasing trends?  Harrison makes some arguments for this, while Mike bluntly states what he likes and does not like about each of the 12 album tracks.

There are more than just the 12 album tracks to discuss:  a variety of B-sides are included, such as covers of Montrose, Budgie and Chuck Berry songs.  There are comedic novelty songs (plural!) for fans only, and there are live tracks, plus one rare remix.  We tackle all of them.

As usual, Harrison discusses the tour, and how many of the songs were actually played live.  You can count on us to give you a complete picture of every era of Iron Maiden, and Fear of the Dark is one that makes for good deconstructing.  You can also count on our honesty, and Fear of the Dark is an album that divides fans…again.

Tell us what you think tonight on 50 Years of Iron Maiden.

 

Friday June 20 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T.  Enjoy on YouTube.

BONUS!  We also unboxed Martin Popoff’s new book HALLOWED BY THEIR NAME: THE UNOFFICIAL IRON MAIDEN BIBLE in a bonus episode earlier this week!

 

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Unboxing Martin Popoff’s Hallowed By Their Name: The Unofficial Iron Maiden Bible

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Unboxing Martin Popoff’s Hallowed By Their Name: The Unofficial Iron Maiden Bible

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK bonus episode

Welcome to a special “teaser” episode!  At long last, Martin Popoff’s Unofficial Iron Maiden Bible, called Hallowed By Their Name, has arrived at Grab A Stack HQ!  Check out this monstrosity in the bonus video below.

This is a gorgeous book, and heavy as the metal it represents.  Looking much like an actual hardcover bible, this book covers the entire 50 year history of the band, with loads of full colour pictures and 666 fully loaded pages.

Check out the unboxing video and let’s look forward to talking to Martin about this incredible book in the future.

Video is up now!   Enjoy on YouTube.

 

 

 

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 14: No Prayer for the Dying featuring Reed Little

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 14: No Prayer for the Dying

With special guest Reed Little

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #104

Change.  Though nobody could predict what the 1990s would bring, for hard rock and heavy metal, changes were afoot.  In Iron Maiden’s case, the changes began with No Prayer for the Dying, the first album since the debut without Adrian Smith on guitar.

Enter:  Janick Gers, former Gillan guitarist, but more importantly, an alumni of Bruce Dickinson’s Tattooed Millionaire band.  Even with a familiar face on board, Iron Maiden were bound for change.  Shorter songs.  Less progressive elements.  Stripped back music, artwork and stage show.  And one massive hit single.

Harrison, Mike and special guest Reed Little came at this album with different perspectives.  Therefore, more than any prior episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden, our opinions differ from one another.  This makes for a rousing, fun episode!  As an added bonus, we have some 1990 Nicko McBrain footage talking about how feels about the “new” album.

As usual can you expect Harrison to go through the tour and setlist in detail.  We will also discuss the four single B-sides:  “All In Your Mind”, “Kill Me Ce Soir”, “Communication Breakdown” and “I’m A Mover”.   We will also appraise the cover art, both the original and reissue Derek Riggs paintings.

Holy Smoke, I can’t believe we have already finished the entire decade of the 80s and are moving into the 1990s!  Be sure not to miss this important episode, and the changes to follow!

Friday June 6 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T.  Enjoy on YouTube.

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

 

 

50 Years of Iron Maiden: Yes, we will be talking about the setlist…

Happy Friday everyone!  As mentioned on last week’s episode, Harrison and I are taking this week off.  Instead of an episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden tonight, we are re-running the debut MarriedandHeels episode, in solidarity with our friend and former co-host who needs some support today.

The topic everyone is talking about is the new Iron Maiden Run For Your Lives tour setlist.  Harrison and I are itching to talk about it with you, and we will.  Soon, we’ll be recording a bonus episode to talk about this new set.

I hope everyone else is doing well this week, and we’ll see you soon once again on 50 Years of Iron Maiden.

See below for our fun and frivolous “setlist speculation” episode from a few months ago.

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

 

 

 

50 Years of Iron Maiden: Updated Playlist

Playlist below has been updated.  All episode dates subject to change.  Tomorrow is our 10th episode, not including bonus shorts!

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Maiden Grail Acquired

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Maiden Grail Acquired

 

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK bonus episode

Back in 2013, T-Rev and I hit up the Hamilton record show, where I first encountered Iron Maiden’s Live!! + One EP.  I held it in my hands.  I didn’t know what I was holding, and I put it back, assuming I had all the tracks already.  I did not.  It was $100.

A few weeks ago, John Clauser from My Music Corner was heading to a record store in Birmingham Alabama.  I asked, on a lark, if he would mind picking me up a Live!! +One and he said “sure”!  He packed it with care and send it to Canada.  A Holy Grail item for sure, I was thrilled to get it.  Now you can watch me open the record as all three of us (John, Harrison and I) take a solid look at the record.  There are different versions available of varying authenticity, so let’s take a good look at this record.

Would you have bought it?  Let us know in the comments.

Past episodes:

Please “like” and subscribe, and help us keep going this year with 50 Years of Iron Maiden, on Grab A Stack of Rock!

Monday March 24 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Run For Your Lives Dream Setlists

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Run For Your Lives Dream Setlist

 

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK bonus episode

Welcome to our very first “bonus episode” of 50 Years of Iron Maiden!  These bonus episodes will feature shorter videos on a variety of topics.  With Maiden’s 2025 tour beginning in May, we wanted to get ahead of the pack and speculate on the setlist.

Harrison and I set two rules for these setlists, based on what we know from Iron Maiden themselves.  1) Each one of the first nine albums will be represented in the set, and 2) They will at least one song that has never been played live before.  From there we let our imaginations run wild!

What songs do you think Maiden will play this year?  What’s on your wishlist?  Tell us in the comments below, and UP THE IRONS in 2025!

Past episodes:

Please “like” and subscribe, and help us keep going this year with 50 Years of Iron Maiden, on Grab A Stack of Rock!

Monday March 17 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.

 

 

#1173: I Like Iron Maiden…A Lot

RECORD STORE TALES #1173: I Like Iron Maiden…A Lot

In 1984, I “rebooted” my musical taste and started from ground zero.  Out went Styx for almost two decades.  Out went Joey Scarbury, and Kenny Rogers.  In came KISS, W.A.S.P., and of course, Iron Maiden.  I don’t think there was ever a time that Iron Maiden were my #1 favourite band, because Kiss almost always held that spot.  It is safe to say that Maiden were always in the top five.

In grade school, I rocked Iron Maiden while being scolded by Catholic school teachers for doing so.  It didn’t stop me.  Through highschool, I proudly had their posters in my locker.  It didn’t matter that Maiden weren’t hip with the cool kids.  I was never cool, and never really intended to be.  I was happy to be one of the Children of the Damned, not having to fit my personality into any particular shoebox.

There was a time I wavered, which I shall now admit to you.  There was one Iron Maiden album that I didn’t intend to own.  I reversed my decision within four months, but it was in the fall of 1990 that Iron Maiden may have faltered in my eyes.  The album was the “back to basics” No Prayer For the Dying.  My favourite member, Adrian Smith was out.  I loved Janick Gers’ work with Bruce Dickinson, but I don’t think he quite fit with Maiden immediately.  I also didn’t like the growly, un-melodic way that Bruce Dickinson was singing.  I thought maybe this time, I would just buy the CD singles, and not worry about the album.  I came to my senses.  No Prayer wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the return that we hoped for.  I didn’t really want Maiden to get “back to basics” but was willing to go along for the ride.

My enthusiasm returned in 1992 with Fear of the Dark, a partial return to form with some solid tracks.  It could have been better, but I was happy.  Then the roof fell in.  Suddenly, Bruce Dickinson was out.  Meanwhile, the entire world had been sent into a grunge upheaval.  Bands like Iron Maiden were dismissed as irrelevant in this new angry world.  Bands who played their instruments with seasoned pride were being replaced by groups with punk aesthetics.  Maiden seemingly had no place in this new world, and now the lead singer was gone.  Just like Motley Crue, who were suffering a similar fate.

Blaze Bayley was the audacious name of the new singer, from Wolfsbane, and a different one he was.  A deep baritone, he was little like Bruce.  Immediately, I loved The X Factor.  My girlfriend at the time ridiculed me by telling me that Iron Maiden would “never be cool again”.

Oh, how wrong she was.

By the year 1999, Bruce was back.  And so was Adrian.  Maiden have never been bigger.  They have continued to issue albums, never being shy to play new material and deep cuts live.

That’s why I’m telling you this story.  2025 marks 50 Years of Iron Maiden, and there will be a lot happening.  2025 will launch the Run For Your Lives tour, and Bruce has promised that they will play some songs they’ve never done before.  It will also be the debut of new drummer Simon Dawson, from Steve Harris’ British Lion.  Nicko McBrain, on the drum stool since 1983, has finally taken a bow from the live stage.  It can’t be easy doing what he does.

2025 will also mark the launch of a new Martin Popoff book on Maiden (more on that in the coming weeks) and most importantly…tomorrow, January 10, Harrison Kopp and I will launch our own video series, 50 Years of Iron Maiden.

I have “only” been a fan for 40 years, but I’m all here for it.  Up the Irons.  Let’s give ‘er in 2025!

 

IRON MAIDEN SERIES ANNOUNCEMENT! Grab A Stack of Rock Celebrates 50 Years of Iron Maiden

Coming in 2025, right here on WordPress and YouTube.

M – Hi!  This is Mike!

H – And this is Harrison, from Grab A Stack of Rock

M – And we just wanted to let you know we have something very exciting cooking up for 2025.

H – That’s right.  2025 is the 50th Anniversary of the formation of Iron Maiden, and we are going to mark the occasion with a series of deep dives.

M – Right here on Youtube, we plan on discussing every studio, and every song, in detail.  We’re also bringing in a slate of special guests to help us.

H – Not just studio albums, but we will also be talking about the official live records too.

M – Live records, B-sides, the history, the artwork…we plan on doing Iron Maiden right.

H – I guess it will be my job to talk about the tours, correct?

M – That’s right buddy.  You’re an expert on the setlists, so we’ll have to touch on what songs were played, and which ones never were.

H – We have our work cut out for us my friend.

M – We sure do, but it’ll be a labour of love.  I’m really looking forward to this, especially some of the guests that will be joining us.

H – Let’s not spoil everything just yet.

M – You’re right Harrison.  So like, subscribe, and share the Grab A Stack of Rock Youtube channel for 50 Years of Iron Maiden.

H – Coming in 2025.

#ironmaiden #nickomcbrain #brucedickinson #pauldianno #steveharris #eddie #derekriggs #martinpopoff #martinbirch #davemurray #adriansmith #paulmarioday #denniswilcock #blazebayley #janickgers #adriansmith #cliveburr #dennisstratton #grabastackofrock

Make An Album Better Vol. 1: Iron Maiden’s Fear of the Dark (1992)

In 1992, we gave Iron Maiden’s Fear of the Dark album a generous 3.75/5 star rating.  Fear was the second in a row of underwhelming Iron Maiden albums.  After losing melodic songwriter Adrian Smith, the band struggled to achieve the heights of Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.  New member Janick Gers was also a songwriter, but Maiden struggled to match their previous mojo.  Several songs from Fear were never played live:   “Fear Is the Key”, “Childhood’s End”,  “The Fugitive”,  “Chains of Misery”,  “The Apparition”, “Judas Be My Guide”, and “Weekend Warrior”.  Meanwhile, the title track is a concert staple, played on almost every tour since.

What can we do to improve this album?

1. Tone down the keyboards

As the last Maiden album co-produced by Martin Birch, perhaps the metal maven was getting a little tired.  Fear isn’t as punchy as past albums.  Since Somewhere in Time, Maiden had become increasingly reliant on synths or keyboards.  Even the back-to-basics No Prayer for the Dying had keyboards.  Let’s not get rid of all the keyboards, let’s just tone them down.  On some tracks, such as “Afraid to Shoot Strangers”, they are little more than sonic wallpaper.  Let’s mix them a little lower for this experiment, and bring the drums up in the mix.

2. Remix the drums

Something about Nick McBrain’s drums on this album sound a little dead.  A tad too much like they’re in the back of a cave.  We should try making them a little more lively, and maybe just a tad louder in the mix.  Aim for something more like the Piece of Mind era drums sound.

3. Edit the album down, and re-sequence it

Let’s go for a nine track song list.  Clearly, the 12 on Fear were too many since they didn’t play the majority live.  Fear was a long album.  As the CD rose to dominance, albums grew longer.  CDs were initially made to be 74 minutes long so you could put long classical pieces on it without breaks.  74 minutes was never intended to be the standard album length, though Fear is shy of that at 58:34.  Still too long for a single record.  Classic Maiden albums were shorter than this.  We’ll go with nine songs.  Number of the Beast had eight, and Piece of Mind had nine.  Fear already had the perfect openers and closers, so we won’t touch those.

Side one

  1. “Be Quick or Be Dead”
  2. “Chains of Misery”
  3. “From Here to Eternity”
  4. “Judas Be My Guide”
  5. “Wasting Love”

Side two

  1. “Afraid to Shoot Strangers”
  2. “The Fugitive”
  3. “Weekend Warrior”
  4. “Fear of the Dark”

It was a real struggle to include “Weekend Warrior”, as I don’t think this ode to soccer hooliganism is a particularly good song.  However, I committed to nine, and I find “Fear is the Key” and “The Apparition” a tad dull.  “Childhood’s End” is the other deleted song, and really it could have been one or the other.  I went with “Weekend Warrior” because it’s different for Maiden.  (Not that “The Apparition” isn’t, but these songs aren’t really that great.  That’s why they weren’t played live.)

We maintain the kicking opener, high speed and going for the throat of big business.  Then we have anthemic shout-along rock in “Chains of Misery”.  “Wasting Love” acts as a side closer as it does on the proper album.  Kicking off side two with “Afraid to Shoot Strangers” is a bit of a risk, as it is a bit ballady to start, and coming off a ballad gives you two in a row.  However, it would work brilliantly as a side opener.  “Fear of the Dark” of course should close.  That’s what it’s built for.

This makes the album a perfect 44 minutes and 24 seconds!

4. Get rid of the tree Eddie!

Regular Maiden artist Derek Riggs had a falling out with Maiden’s management over his sketches for this album.  Instead, for the first of many times, Maiden went with the legendary sci-fi and fantasty artist Melvyn Grant, who didn’t really understand Eddie yet, or the continuity established on prior album covers.  From Number of the Beast to No Prayer for the Dying, there seemed to be an ongoing story with Eddie being manipulated, captured, and killed.  He is reborn, borgified, and gives birth, only to be reborn again.  Then, suddenly he’s a tree.  The lightning from Eddie’s eyes is gone, replaced by evil red peepers.  For our improved version of this album, the cover has to go.  Cover art is so important to Iron Maiden, and Fear had one of their most disappointing covers to date (with No Prayer by Riggs coming in second).

In Sum

Little can be done to improve some of the actual songs on this album.  Fear had filler, and a lot of it.  Even at nine songs, tracks like “The Fugitive” and “Weekend Warrior” are dangerously close to filler material.  Perhaps our hypothetical remix can liven them up, but shortening the album will do it some wonders.  Maiden rarely record original material for B-sides, and don’t put cover songs on their records.  There is no extra material we can substitute.

Doing the best with what we have at hand, what would you do to improve Fear of the Dark?