Paul Di'Anno: "Maiden Have Lost The Magic"
BW&BK scribe Mitch Lafon spoke with former Iron Maiden frontman Paul Di'Anno recently. Here's the Q&A which occurred:What are you currently up to?
"Right now I am writing some new material for future release, and possibly looking for a new band for live shows. I like to move around a bit with new musicians and I start to get restless with a band after I have worked with them for more than 6 months. If there are any bands out there (not individual musicians though) from any country, who would like to be considered to work with me as my new live band, then they should contact my management - mail: Leajameshart@aol.com."
Are you recording a new album? If so, when will it be out? What kind of music - old school metal?
"I have been making various recordings and they are somewhere between old old school metal and new metal.I do not yet have a full album's worth of material, and I would love to hear from any modern metal writers, who wish to collaberate with me."
Are you planning a new tour? If so, will you be able to make it to North America?
"I have a lot of shows on offer at present, but North America is still a bit of a problem for me at the moment unfortunately."
What are your thoughts about the new Iron Maiden album? Would you like to sing with the band again (for example - a one show special event?)
"Maiden are the best Metal band of all time ever, but they seem to have lost the magic touch in recent years with the albums they have made. I am not saying anything bad about Maiden, but I would just love to hear a bit of the magic of the first 4 albums that htey have never quite managed to recreate. I would love to play a one off show with them, as it would be a great time to do it for both them and me, before we are all too old."
What's the future for you? More albums, tours, etc??
"Well death for sure, but hopefully not for a long time yet. More tours tour tours and albums, and hopefully a good some good album sales, and enough salary to pay off my mortgage as soon as possible."
Head to www.pauldianno.com for more info.
Source: Bravewords.com
14 Comments
As much as i respect the man for his vocal talents during maiden's first two albums, i beg to differ, i am still enjoying the new stuff! A lot!!
although i prefer some of there older stuff to their newer stuff, i think it's all great.
I think that the last 2 Maiden albums are better than some of their 80s stuff. Anyway, I don't really care for what someone who has been living mainly from just two albums all his life says.
sorry for paul, IM 80 + killers 81 are more than great albums, but it was 7th son back in 88 that did it! with bruce! comercially and mucically!
Paul is a great musician, but I very disagree with him.
I don{t say it because of fanatism, Maiden have done a great job with their latest and previous material, everyone would say that to you and you read that in forums, articles etc.
Thanks
Just to be controvercial, I agree with him [in part]. The later albums [anything after 7th son] have lacked that Maiden "class" Dance of Death was a step in the right direction but still not as "metal" as the early 80's albums.
I actually agree with him to a point. No Maiden album after 7th Son have lived up to the classics of the eighties. Though they might be very good and have some excellent songs, none of them have the same 'magic' as Iron Maiden, Piece of Mind and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (except for The X Factor). I must say though that I think that's a lot to say coming from someone who has built his entire career around his two Maiden albums.
To Shadow and RW:
You practically say the same thing.
I think that Maiden haven't lost any of their magic, I think they are just not like when they were at their peak in the 80's, they have changed.
It's hard to be what you were 20 years ago. The band since then went through various changes and events that changed the band in many aspects.
Not to say that the band members got a bit more older (forgive me Maiden).
I'm sure Steve and the band are happy with the things they were through 20 years ago and now, a long time after that they try to do what they can to sound as excellent as then.
Thanks
Yes agreed the band have changed and if they released a carbon copy of Powerslave now it would probably be laughed off as "cheese" but I copmare Maiden to Blaze and Bruce solo and both of their last albums were really modern heavy metal which is what Maiden were in the 80's now theyre getting progressive and I dunno its just not what I fell in love with. Dont get me wrong I still like them but not as much as I used to. As I said though, DoD was a step in the right direction
There is no good or bad Maiden. The Maiden soul is will be always same.
Iron Maiden was great in 1980, and it is great again...
Look, I never said I didn't like the later albums. In fact I think The X Factor is one of the very best metal albums of all time, and the others have great songs too. But some of the earlier albums had a special feel and sense of continuity which especially the nineties albums somewhat lack. In other words, the eighties albums speaks to me in a way that the later ones can't and probably won't ever. I must say though that I'm glad to see they're trying some new stuff.
Additionaly, the fact that I have discovered many other bands as good as Maiden is an important thing too.
Paul's opinion is understandable. After all, some Maiden fans agree and aren't bashed, so Di'Anno shouldn't be either.
Now, let's tell the story: for fans and members of a fan, taste is not only influenced by artistic value, which isn't objective. Liking a particular album goes beyond music, it goes with an entire context, one of which is youth.
It's hard to beat the past, for it's hard to beat youth, either for Paul or any fan, especially when memories tend to be idealized with time passing by.
And I won't go into the entire realm of fans prefering the 80s just because they think it was better without even having been there.
Nostalgia trip. Here's an important emotion.
Cheers
I think that Maiden hasn't lost the magic. However, there would be no Maiden w/o Dianno, thus I give him some credit. I think he's a better singer than Baley was, however musically Baley albums were better than Dianno albums, in my humble opinion. Anyways, I really enjoy when Maiden does stuff about history, since I'm teacher of the subject, and Mr. Harris, Smith, etc. research is very accurate and precise, which makes or breaks a song or movie, in my opinon. I thought Paschendale and Montsegur were excellent tunes, but my favorite Historical song is Alexander the Great, followed by Rhime of the Ancient Mariner, although that of course was based on Literature. Face in the sand is good too, but... Well, just wanted to say this is my first post, and I really enjoy the board. Keep up the good work and the posting. Feel free to email me if you would like to chat about music, history, or whatever, just please no viruses, hee hee!! Take care all.
Maidenite
history4life@hotmail.com
Now, let's tell the story: for fans and members of a fan, taste is not only influenced by artistic value, which isn't objective. Liking a particular album goes beyond music, it goes with an entire context, one of which is youth.
It's hard to beat the past, for it's hard to beat youth, either for Paul or any fan, especially when memories tend to be idealized with time passing by.
And I won't go into the entire realm of fans prefering the 80s just because they think it was better without even having been there.
Nostalgia trip. Here's an important emotion.
Cheers
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I agree with the whole post you wrote.
I want to add something and give an example to the last thing Saint wrote about Maiden 80s and what the fans say about it.
I think very few bands have reached what Maiden have in the 80s in many aspects.
And I also think that Maiden's work after that could have been as good as the 80s work. Maybe it wasn't as groundbreaking as the 80s albums, but it deserved a big credit to the band, because of their hard work, seriousness and effort.
IMO that was hardly gave to the band. Most of the times I get in a "Maiden's 90s" topic, people always talk about how bad are those albums instead of talking about the good things they have. I, for example think that No Prayer For The Dying is an excellent, outstanding album, it is just that the fans themselves who have loved Maiden so much because of their 80s huge success, didn't like a band member change and a different type of album compared to any other previous album.
Personally, I don't how would have been my opinion about all this if I lived that era, but I think Maiden's work was excellent and is excellent.
And yes, if fans agree with DiAnno, seems like he shouldn't be bashed, but I don't think he should have said that (at least publicly)
Thanks