In 1975, in London, Steve Harris created Iron Maiden . Around the same time, the punk genre began to emerge and gain popularity in the British music scene.
From the start, the band had to face several challenges to stand out among the other bands that were emerging.
However, Harris's vision ended up shaping a completely unique style, which soon became one of the foundations of the musical movement known as NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal).
In this somewhat distinctive style, we had several bands that represented it very well at the time, such as Judas Priest , Venom , Def Leppard , Saxon , Motörhead , Angel Witch , among others.
In 1979, with the arrival of vocalist Paul Di'Anno in the band, they began to attract even more attention, mixing the energy of the punk scene of the time with the complexity and exotic lines of heavy metal, elements that won them a large and completely loyal fan base.
However, the only thing they really wanted from the punk genre was just the energy. In October of the same year, Geoff Barton , a journalist from Classic Rock, attended a heavy metal event where Iron Maiden played in London and managed to talk to the band members.
During this conversation, Barton questioned Harris about why he had formed a heavy metal band in the midst of the punk era and its popularization. Harris succinctly replied: “It was something I wanted to do. I couldn't have started a punk band… That would have been against my religion . ” Steve Harris never hid his aversion to the punk movement.
In 2012, in an interview with The Quietus , he further reinforced this stance by stating that Maiden had no connection whatsoever with the punk movement. He said, “I didn’t share with them. I wouldn’t share anything with them because I hated them! They were taking the shows away from us.”
He continues: “They showed up – the newcomers that they were – and most of them didn’t know how to play their instruments, which was annoying. And most of them were getting gigs and publicity and not letting us have a look.”.”
Steve Harris also mentions that they were still lucky enough to get to play in some captive venues, but that it was very difficult for them.
He concludes: “We hated them and we hated what they represented. We had nothing in common with them . ” For Harris, punk was just a bunch of kids from good backgrounds, just talking nonsense and nothing like his own values.
Furthermore, Paul Di'Anno, who was known for his very straightforward personality and charisma on stage, once made a great comparison between Iron Maiden and AC/DC , highlighting to Barton the authenticity and simplicity that the bands shared.
“They’re a no-frills group that just goes out there and does what they have to do. I mean, look at Bon Scott . There aren’t many guys who lead a band covered in tattoos, with a beer belly, and yet he makes it work. Like us, they’re down to earth . ”
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