First Interview About The Early Days DVD
www.hammer.gr
Story Act 1: To Tame A Band
By Hakos Pervanidis
The DVD “The History Of Iron Maiden – Part 1: The Early Years” covers the band’s course from its first days, back in the mid 70’s, up until 1983, when Maiden went on their first major World Tour. Rod Smallwood, the band’s manager from 1979 to present day, and theoretically their seventh member, speaks to Metal Hammer, which, although tries to refresh his memories, falls on to “red tape” rocks which greatly diminish the prearranged time we had in our hands…
Why did you consider this to be the ideal period for Maiden to issue the first part of their history on DVD?
Why, do you think it’s not? I think this is a very good season for something like that. The group has finished its obligations for “Dance Of Death” and is on vacation until they go on tour again next summer. We always had it in mind to issue our history in this way and now was the ideal opportunity for this to be realized. Maiden fans know that the band doesn’t leave much time without offering something to them and I believe that this release is something that they will appreciate.
How many DVDs will be issued until Maiden’s History is covered completely?
It depends on how much we last as a band. If we break up next year, we won’t need more than 3-4 DVDs, if though we continue for the next 20 years, we will need twice that number (laughs). We haven’t decided yet how many DVDs there will be or exactly what they will contain. There is a great volume of footage, though, that we want to use. At this moment, I don’t even know what our next release will be. At this period, Harris is working on the mix of a DVD, which will contain footage from the Dance Of Death World Tour. This might be issued first, followed by the next studio album and later by the second part of the band’s history series – or the opposite may happen. Anyway, the most possible scenario is that the second part will reach until “Seventh Son…” or “Fear Of The Dark”, we’ll see…
Which is, in your opinion, the most interesting period in the band’s history?
Surely the first years that are being covered by the first DVD have the biggest interest, because, during that time, the band started from zero and went to realizing large world tours. Many members changed, many and crucial decisions were made and I believe there is great interest for the fan to witness the impressive evolvement of the band from pubs to the biggest arenas in the world. After that the situation might be a little dull… You go to places you’ve been before, see people you’ve seen before, things seem to repeat themselves. For example, the first time we were in Greece it was very nice, to see the Parthenon for the very first time is something very impressive, the second time though it’s not the same…
I’m sorry to disagree but the Parthenon is not something only to be seen, but something that has the power to inspire, thus you never get bored of “seeing it”…
Indeed, that’s how it is. Recently, I was browsing through some photos of the band which are taken at that old stadium in Athens (the Kallimarmaro Stadium evidently), which was recently shown on TV during the Olympics. Don’t imagine though that Maiden were as fast as the athletes…
You have been the band’s manager for the last 25 years. Could you say which was the most difficult period for you, in relation to the decisions you had to take in relation to the band?
Hmmm, it was never easy, not in the beginning and not now. In the beginning you have the stress to accomplish to be distinguished and now you have the stress to manage to stay at the top. The truth is that as time goes by thing become increasingly more difficult, because you have to find ways to keep the old fans and then to reach new ones. Steve and the rest of the boys write the music and, as you most probably know, they are quite opinionated as far as their direction is concerned. We at the management though are the people who must give this music to the people. To return though to your question, I’d say that one of the most difficult times was when we had to stick together in a period during which we went from playing in front of 150 people in the Ruskin Arms to playing four consecutive nights at a filled to the brim Long Beach Arena in Los Angeles. Everything then was happening at great speed, which we had to master.
In the first disk of the release there are 3 shows from 3 different periods of the band. Are those concerts indicatory of the state in which the band was at the respective periods?
I’d say yes. They are three shows I really like and which portray the constant ascendance of the band. I believe that “Live At The Rainbow” is exceptional for the standards of the time and shows the band when it had progressed from pubs and had started appearing in proper venues. We had issued it as a VHS release back then and it had sold very nicely. You know, that wasn’t a very widespread thing back then, only very big bands used to issue videos. Nevertheless, we wanted to show to the people that hadn’t seen us that we’re a band that was worth it and that’s why we made that video. “Live At Dortmund” was directed by the German television, which did a very nice job, although we’d have done it differently. This video hadn’t been issued as a stand-alone release of the band but had made its way as a collection, having tracks from other bands too. I think that it’s filmed rather nicely, while I believe that the performance of the band was amazing. Lastly, “Live At Hammersmith” is itself very good and we had issued this as a video. My only objection concerning this has to do with the lightning, which is bad and I remember back then we had put serious thought into whether we should issue it or not.
”Live At Hammersmith” is a document of the first tour Dickinson did with the band. How had people reacted then, seeing Bruce in Paul’s place?
Reactions were very positive. There were, of course, those who had their objections but it was nothing more than isolated cases. Indicative of Bruce’s reception is the fact that our first single with him, “Run To The Hills”, reached No.7 on the British Charts. A that time in fact, singles used to sell many, many copies. Just think that “Run To The Hills” sold approximately 250.000 copies and reached No.7, while a few years later, “Bring Your Daughter… …To The slaughter” sold half that number and went to No.1.
And something about Live in Dortmund: There, Maiden where the typical headliners as they closed the second date of the festival. They played over bands such as Ozzy, Priest and Scorpions, bands that Maiden had been supporting up until then. When you’re on the same bill with such bands, do you feel competitive towards them?
I’d say “competitive” isn’t the right word. You want to perform well, you want to be the best but you can’t do more than give 100% of yourself onstage. For Iron Maiden, every concert is a challenge, especially when you are appearing onstage with other great bands. The truth is that we were thinking of it at the beginning but when time came to go onstage, we just gave our best without thinking how the others performed.
On the second part of the DVD there is an appearance of the band in the Ruskin Arms, which, although lacking good sound and image, is very interesting…
Yes, there isn’t much material from that period; who’d go into the trouble of carrying a video camera to shoot a young metal band? The company interest back then was absent and bootlegging wasn’t that widespread back then. Not anyone would go into the crowd with a camera. You are right, the sound and image aren’t of excellent quality but unfortunately nothing else exists from that period. As you realize, from a DVD concerning the first years of Maiden, a n appearance of the band with Dennis Stratton couldn’t be missing.
It is the place as well however… Ruskin Arms is undoubtedly linked with that period of the band.
Of course, during that time Maiden would play in any pub they could and their audience practically doubled from show to show. During the period when Maiden where playing at the Ruskin Arms, people from all over London were coming over to see them. Ruskin Arms was a step before the Rainbow, which was a step before Hammersmith and so forth. It is certainly an important chapter in the band’s history.
Another story that personally impresses me is that according to which Maiden appeared live on “Top Of The Pops”. Legend has it that only The Who had played live there, ten years before Maiden…
Yes, that’s true. That decision belonged as much to Steve as it belonged to us. We’re not a fake band of the studio, our music is not fake, we can play live and we’re not taking a risk because we believe in ourselves. The initial proposal was for us to playback, but it was simply out of question. They wanted us there and they’d have us live or not at all. We informed them and they let us play. Maiden must have performed once or twice – I don’t remember exactly – using playback and that happened at TV appearances at other countries, where there were no technical means of our performing live.
The “Early Days” documentary is very impressive and revealing. It’s great the most of the ex members appear but some do not. Why is that?
Those who are absent are no longer living in England so it was impossible to contact them. We tried to track down all the past members and all took part in this documentary gladly. I think the things they are saying have great interest and render the whole effort much more lively.
He who appears too little is Eddie’s father, Derek Riggs. In fact, I am under the impression that the scenes in which he appears are quite old…
That’s the way it is… Derek was unavailable during the shootings but we had some old footage that served our purpose just fine.
I also like the appearance of producer Martin Birch, who played a great role in the creation of the well-known Maiden sound. Really, what’s he up to these days?
Martin… a great producer, he really helped in creating the Maiden sound. Steve wasn’t pleased at all with the production of the debut album; he considers the guitars too weak. All the guys in the band as well as me admired Martin’s productions with bands like Deep Purple and Black Sabbath and wanted to work with him but didn’t approach him initially in fear that he’d reject us. After that, of course, for a period, he became an indispensable part of Maiden. Martin has retired from producing years now and is enjoying his life. I don’t think he’d be interested in returning to the consoles…
The “Early Days” Documentary, in its entirety, is like a film. Did you ever consider doing something equivalent to what Metallica did, to make your own film that is?
Oh boy!, here’s how it is. We are a British Heavy Metal band, we’re not American boys. We want our peace and quiet and we wouldn’t in any case be able to put up with a TV crew in our way and a guy trying to analyze our behavior. Our behavior is just fine and we have no problems controlling it. No, there is no chance you’ll see something like that from Maiden in the future. I’d please of you at this point, to ask me a couple more questions because time is really pressing me…
…Maiden became what they did touring with no airplay and with no help from the general music press. Having the band on the road for months on end, did you ever think that that could bring turmoil in their relationships?
I’d lie if I claimed that there wasn’t any friction. Life on the road is tiring and unpredictable. Nevertheless, Maiden were quite aware of what they had to do and I knew this was the only way to the top, so they followed it, without that ever causing insurmountable problems.
Lastly, how different is Steve Harris in 2004 to Steve Harris in 1979?
Not much. Years, of course have gone by but Maiden are Steve’s life plan. There is nothing more important in his life. Above all, he remains the same stubborn Steve who doesn’t rest until he does what he wants.
7 Comments
ps. There also is a section in which different people from metal bands speak their mind on Maiden. Between them, Blaze is featured with the following enigmatic quote:
"Iron Maiden are legends but they don't know why that is"
QUOTE(gor @ Nov 3 2004, 04:37 PM)
ps. There also is a section in which different people from metal bands speak their mind on Maiden. Between them, Blaze is featured with the following enigmatic quote:
"Iron Maiden are legends but they don't know why that is"
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"Iron Maiden are legends but they don't know why that is"
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I would say that that is a good thing.
Nice interview- Thanks gor.
One thing, Can anyone tell me the correct Canadian/North American release date? Last time I checked it was on the 8th of Nov..?
QUOTE(gor @ Nov 3 2004, 04:33 PM)
www.hammer.gr
At this period, Harris is working on the mix of a DVD, which will contain footage from the Dance Of Death World Tour.
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At this period, Harris is working on the mix of a DVD, which will contain footage from the Dance Of Death World Tour.
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Yes! Me like!
QUOTE(ohgar_boy @ Nov 4 2004, 12:12 AM)
Nice interview- Thanks gor.
One thing, Can anyone tell me the correct Canadian/North American release date? Last time I checked it was on the 8th of Nov..?
[right][snapback]90849[/snapback][/right]
One thing, Can anyone tell me the correct Canadian/North American release date? Last time I checked it was on the 8th of Nov..?
[right][snapback]90849[/snapback][/right]
I believe the North American release date is November 23rd...Boris Karloffs birthday......woohoo.....
QUOTE(ohgar_boy @ Nov 3 2004, 07:12 PM)
Nice interview- Thanks gor.
One thing, Can anyone tell me the correct Canadian/North American release date? Last time I checked it was on the 8th of Nov..?
[right][snapback]90849[/snapback][/right]
One thing, Can anyone tell me the correct Canadian/North American release date? Last time I checked it was on the 8th of Nov..?
[right][snapback]90849[/snapback][/right]
All the places I have checked here have it arriving on Nov 23rd.
QUOTE(gor @ Nov 3 2004, 05:37 PM)
ps. There also is a section in which different people from metal bands speak their mind on Maiden.
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Other than BLAZE, are there famous bands speaking in there ?
Cheers