Iron Maiden article at Star Newspapers
Star Newspapers have an Iron Maiden article and a brief interview with Dave Murray:<blockquote>Iron Maiden set to play dream gig for its metal fans
By Jessi Virtusio
When asking rock or metal musicians about their influences, Iron Maiden is a band that is often mentioned.
The decades-old metal band continues to make an impact nearly 30 years after its inception, despite never really being a part of the mainstream.
"We haven't had MTV, radio play. That's kind of always avoided us like the plague," says guitarist Dave Murray, who joined the band one year after its formation in 1975.
"We've gone out and we've gone to the towns and cities, and we spend six or seven weeks in the U.S. and in Europe, as well as taking the show and the songs to the fans.</blockquote>
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Iron Maiden set to play dream gig for its metal fans
By Jessi Virtusio
When asking rock or metal musicians about their influences, Iron Maiden is a band that is often mentioned.
The decades-old metal band continues to make an impact nearly 30 years after its inception, despite never really being a part of the mainstream.
"We haven't had MTV, radio play. That's kind of always avoided us like the plague," says guitarist Dave Murray, who joined the band one year after its formation in 1975.
"We've gone out and we've gone to the towns and cities, and we spend six or seven weeks in the U.S. and in Europe, as well as taking the show and the songs to the fans.
"In a particular show, we put on a big production with lights. We really try to put on the best show we possibly can," Murray says. "It reverberates from the fans, and I think that's one of the reasons for little jealously in the band."
Murray, along with Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris, guitarists Adrian Smith and Janick Gers and drummer Nicko McBrain, will be coming to the Tweeter Center this weekend for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"This is kind of a classic rock lineup. It's a great night out," Murray says of the band's Sunday show with Dio and Motorhead in Tinley Park.
"We all get along really well. It's like a big family. It's an entertaining evening. With this, every band fits together nicely. It's like a jigsaw puzzle where every part fits."
With a set that lasts about an hour and a half, Iron Maiden (www.ironmaiden.com) is slated to play a longtime fan's dream gig.
"We've still got Eddie (the band's mascot). We play songs that really start out live. They're all instantly recognizable, that fans sing along to and have a great time," Murray says, prior to the band's Sunday gig at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto, Canada.
"This is the chance to see the band do all the old stuff," he said, adding that one new song, "Wildest Dreams," will be included with the classics.
According to Murray, he and his Maiden mates, who actually played the Chicago Blues Festival many moons ago, are looking forward to hitting the Chicago blues clubs after their area gig.
"I love Chicago," he says. "We've been coming to Chicago since the early '80s, and the Maiden fans have been absolutely terrific. It's real hardcore fans there."
The English band — which hasn't played the States since 2000 — recently announced that after spring 2004 it will not go on long touring jaunts that hit as many cities as possible, opting instead for shorter tours to major cities.
"Over the last 20 years, the band's come to see the fans really, and (the fans) spend a couple of hours to see us," Murray says.
"We're basically going to be hitting the major places and festivals. We felt maybe it's time to take a little step back from it.
"We're going to still make albums. It's just we'll probably be touring more frequently, but not as long. The nine-month tour is the thing of the past."
Whether it's long tours or short jaunts, playing live remains one of the top reasons Murray still enjoys being a part of Iron Maiden.
He recalls his first experience abroad touring with Iron Maiden in support of Kiss in 1981. From there, his band went on to open for many popular rock acts, including the Scorpions, Judas Priest, Rainbow and .38 Special, before becoming a headliner of its own.
Citing "Hallowed Be Thy Name," "The Number of the Beast," "The Trooper" and "Run to the Hills" as his favorite songs to play live, Murray says Iron Maiden prefers not to soundcheck, instead simply tuning up and hitting the stage for that extra live spark.
"You want to make music and still go out and tour and put on this type of show and sustain it over the years. It's a fantastic feeling," he says.
"It feels like the music has that bite to it. There's a whole new generation of fans."
Educating new fans and enthralling years-long fans is Iron Maiden's "Visions of the Beast" DVD, which was released last month.
"It really shows what the band is like in the live performance. It's like you're in the audience," Murray says, adding that it's a collection of every promotional video the band has done over the last 20-odd years.
The DVD also offers an interactive experience for fans.
"There's a lot of hidden things in there. It adds a bit more to it. We just wanted to make it a bit more interesting, more exciting, a little more value for the money," he says.
Many Iron Maiden fans also are excited about the band's new CD, "Dance Of Death," which will hit stores early next month.
And Murray shares their enthusiasm for the release, which was recorded in 5.1 Surround sound to give the CD a richer listening experience.
"It's quite a diverse album. There's a lot of music on there. There's something for every Maiden fan on there," he says.
"I feel very proud of it. I don't think the fans will be disappointed. If (fans) liked what we've done in the past, they'll be blown away."
IF YOU GO ...
WHAT: Give Me 'Ed... Til I'm Dead tour featuring Iron Maiden, Dio and Motorhead.
WHERE: Tweeter Center, 19100 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park.
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
TICKETS: $37 to $47.
PHONE: (708) 614-1616.
WEB: www.tweetercenter.com/chicago.
Jessi Virtusio may be reached at (708) 802-8854 or via e-mail at jvirtusio@starnewspapers.com
Cool article btw