Pavilhao Atlantico, Lisbon, Portugal, 9 July 2003 © Ross Halfin.
Since its formation in 1975, Iron Maiden has become one of heavy metal’s most influential and enthralling bands. Not only has the band produced numerous award-winning and best-selling albums, but it has also cultivated an avid fan base that stretches across the world.
Described by Kerrang as being ‘packed with enough memorabilia to get even the most hardened heads giddy with excitement’, Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams chronicles the band’s success over the last fifty years with never-before-seen photography and tantalising commentary by band members past and present. This highly visual volume showcases iconic album and single artworks, stage props, hand-written lyrics and artefacts from the Maiden archive, celebrating the band’s creativity, dedication, personality and success.
In this special interview, band founder Steve Harris sits down to discuss the challenges of presenting Iron Maiden’s legacy in book form with Alexander Milas, who heads up the official Iron Maiden Fan Club.
From left to right: Battle Jacket © Anders Sune Berg. Courtesy Rasmus Stavnsborg. / The Number of the Beast 1982 (Album) © Illustrations by Derek Riggs. c 1982 Iron Maiden LLP under licence to Parlophone Music Group / Warner and Sanctuary Records Group / BMG.
Alexander Milas: Steve, the thought of summarising Maiden’s career is no easy task. What did you think of the idea?
Steve Harris: It’s been bandied around for a while really, and the general consensus was that it’d be a good idea! It could never tell the whole story – it’d be three volumes if it was! But we did as much as we could with what we have available – bits and bobs. People have been going at me for ages to do a book, but it’s the time it takes to do one. We’re just always so busy. This one tells the story through pictures and artwork though.
Alexander Milas: Was it a trip down memory lane for you?
Steve Harris: Yeah, what made this special was that when you look at stuff like that it’s like looking at a family photo album – it really takes you back to the time and it’s really nostalgic.
Backstage at New York City’s Palladium, 29 June 1982 © Ross Halfin.
Alexander Milas: One of the notable qualities of Infinite Dreams is that so much of it is never-before-seen and comes from your personal collection…
Steve Harris: Yeah – I’ve always saved loads of stuff over the years, and I’m really glad that I did! I’ve been accused of being a hoarder once or twice! But we don’t normally think about this kind of stuff until you’re looking at doing a book – we’ve always been forward-looking guys. It’s a band. We’ve always stayed busy and so we never thought too much about it – you’re always moving forward, so this book has been a reason to really look at this stuff. We don’t sit around thinking about the past all the time.
Alexander Milas: One item that was pretty interesting to see was your own personal diary from the time…
Steve Harris: Well to be honest it wasn’t done as a diary so much as it was just to keep a register of what we were being paid, or how little! And people used to say to me, ‘hang on, was that for the whole band?’ it wasn’t to tell tales, it was for different reasons.
From left to right: © John McMurtrie. / Men on the edge Steve and Blaze on the Virtual XI Tour, performing at Stadthalle Furth in Germany, 16 September 1998 © Hans-Martin Issler / IconicPix.
Alexander Milas: One thing that’s really apparent is just how hungry Maiden were, particularly in those earliest days when you’d just formed. Do you feel exhausted looking back at the relentlessness of it all?
Steve Harris: Well, there was a lot going on! I was just talking with someone about how amazing it was because I was going to see all these amazing bands, and a few years later we were on the bill with them. Queen is a prime example. We saw them at the Rainbow Theatre on their first album and six years later we’re there with them at Rock In Rio. When you look back at it like that so much happened in a short space, but when you’re doing it, you’re just working your ass off trying to get somewhere.
Alexander Milas: Is there a sense of pride in taking stock of it all for this book?
Steve Harris: We don’t really dwell on it too much – other people appreciate what you’re doing and that’s amazing and it means more than anything else really – it’s what gives you a feeling of pride, and when people come up and say you’ve saved their life or something – if it means that much to people then it’s fantastic.
Somewhere in Time 1986 (Album) © Illustrations by Derek Riggs. c 1986 Iron Maiden LLP under licence to Parlophone Music Group / Warner and Sanctuary Records Group / BMG.
Alexander Milas: Was there anything you rediscovered through the process of making Infinite Dreams?
Steve Harris: No – I remember it all! But some of it was a little fuzzy, so this was a nice reminder. It’s the early photos – loading the van up with Vic Vella or being up in Berwick-upon-Tweed en route to Aberdeen and we stayed above an old pub – it was fun to see things like that. The problem is you can never get it all in there, so we had to be careful what we chose.
Alexander Milas: Do you subscribe to the idea that Maiden have had two careers – the initial rise, and the epic comeback?
Steve Harris: More like five, but it’s really been a very long one. Maiden – we’ve been there all the time – that’s my personal experience and I obviously never left the band so for me it didn’t feel like that.
From left to right: Lado Earth 2000 (1984) Dark Sunburst © Photos by Simon Pask. Courtesy Adrian Smith. / Infinite Dreams Lyrics © Simon Pask. Steve Harris archive.
Alexander Milas: Are you looking forward to seeing Infinite Dreams out there at last?
Steve Harris: It wasn’t done on purpose for Christmas, but it’ll make a good present – it’s a big coffee table book, and I think it’s an interesting book. We’ve really tried to keep the price really reasonable for people, too.
Alexander Milas: As a collector, do you think there’s something especially nice about such a substantial physical product?
Steve Harris: Yeah, it’s a big one – I’m a record collector myself, and a t-shirt guy too – a real collector’s mentality, so yeah definitely. It’s been hard work, but the results have been worthwhile. The book looks great, too. It was difficult to actually get stuff crammed in there – there’s so much stuff, but I think it’s a really good book. We’ll obviously see what people think of it, but it’s a big old chunk of a book – lots of pages and a lot of good content, a good combination in my view.
Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams is available now.
