Soundcheck Books [Publication date 10.04.14]

Prolific music writer Neil Daniels has done it again. We all know the Iron Maiden story, or do we?

From their inception on Christmas Day in 1975, bass player Steve Harris has steered England’s best loved heavy metal band from album to album and the band have long been a household name.

But long before their best known line up was entertaining audiences around the world, there were a number of musicians who came and went – most of whom never really gained the success that they would have done in Maiden, aside from Paul Di’Anno who still has a number of followers.

“Killers – the origins of Iron Maiden 1975-1983” is a comprehensive look at the time frame between the bands formation to the “Piece of Mind” album – and if Daniels has missed anything out then it is not worth knowing as he once again immerses us in the subject.

The book is dedicated to former drummer Clive Burr who passed away last year and this is a really nice touch, as is the awesome foreword from Guns n Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (there is also an afterword from ex-Judas Priest frontman Tim “Ripper” Owens).

The book covers Iron Maiden’s first two albums, which had more of a raw, punk edged feel to them. Once Bruce Dickinson joined the band they had a more melodic and commercial, and ultimately more successful sound – and the period up until the end of the ‘Piece of Mind’ era.

It was these four albums, the subsequent tours and the upheaval in the band’s line-up that not only shaped the future of Iron Maiden but indeed the future of heavy metal in general as Maiden was one of the genres leading lights. In fact, in my opinion, Iron Maiden would have been even bigger had Dickinson not left the band in 1993 (to return in 1999), and may even have rivalled Metallica in size.

Rare pictures, insightful interviews and an in depth discography and tour dates sections will appeal to fans of the band but the book itself will appeal to most readers who enjoy rock music.  ****

Review by Nikk Gunns

---

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

---

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

---

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)

---

---

Popular (last 10 days)

---