Iron Maiden book showcases metal band’s history and merchandise
MUSIC
Iron Maiden: Endless Dreams
Thames and Hudson, $100
The child was about eight years old. He was wearing an Iron Maiden T-shirt, as was his father and the other crazy souls in the men’s room, as Rod Laver’s lobby bell blared its three-minute warning. “There’s no time for this,” his father grumbled when the little man stopped to wash his hands. “They’re starting!”
I share this precious memory not to disparage the Sisterhood’s hygiene standards, but to demonstrate its commitment. British metal institution for generations, officially spanning 50 years this Christmas Men’s Own A legend unique in the history of the genre in terms of loyalty, panache and wearables.
This book is for them. At 2.7 kilograms, the weight joke speaks for itself. The thick, glossy pages are designed for terrifying effect: a no-brainer, given the cult’s endless appetite for comic book horror, sci-fi, war and apocalypse, as depicted on hundreds of T-shirts, record sleeves and posters in the evolving form of the deadly zombie mascot Eddie.
Designed by artist Derek Riggs circa 1978, Eddie is the veteran face of a band whose real-life narrative is less than exciting, world-conquering stats aside. The story of West Ham tragic/bass player Steve Harris gathering his brothers together and shaping the world according to his will is revealed vividly among the pictures.
Photographs from his 1976 pocket diary detail London’s early pub gigs and their staff. “September 16th. Third gig at Cat & Horses. Rated £10. With John – he got along really well – he’s a good guitar player.” John can’t last long, but the bassist’s penchant for orderly, documented progress is as clear as the annotated timeline at the end of the book.
Bold leather, skinny jeans and dodgy vans give way to comical Lycra, sweatbands, exuberant stadiums and packed passenger jets snarling in Eddie’s tail fins. Striking graphic art and increasingly elaborate stage designs alternate with heroic shots of the band in alleyways, backstage bathrooms, and in full flight, crotches over monitors and guitars sprawling in a rain of sweat and fire.
Culturally, Maiden is the anti-Motley Crue. Party anthems have no place in sets filled with Poe, Coleridge and Shakespeare; history, prophecy and mythology set to galloping riffs. Of course they love to drink, but there are no girls, girls, girls in this narrative. There is no drama that is not resolved by the honorable restraint of gentlemen. Family bonds remain touching as members joyfully enter and exit the story.
The moral panic of American church groups and other momentary nonsense are touched upon, but at this stage of the play the decisive victory of Eddie and everyone else dangling in his shadow is the only story worth telling. Overthinking is not an option. Summary of Riggs’ insanely detailed explanation “Build some pyramids” power slave album cover. “We want a tank with a huge gun on the stage” comes loudly.
Close-up Guitar Pick spreads are for fans who recognize curly maple fingerboards from Rockinger vibrato systems, but who doesn’t love a drum kit painted to shine like Satan’s own stained-glass coffin? Photo galleries of the group Soldier– branded beer labels, t-shirts, t-shirts and more t-shirts can keep your eyes glued to a single jersey for half an hour.
A grandiose death allegory – Eddie commanding an army of skeletons across a twilight wasteland – comes with a typically straightforward title from artist Tim Bradstreet. “Don’t change or evolve too much, they’re just showing everyone how it’s done,” Maiden believes. “They don’t age.”
Until they do. Singer Bruce Dickinson recovers from his cancer scare in the final pages; drummer Nicko McBrain retires after suffering a stroke. “We’ve got to act our age,” guitarist Dave Murray tells manager Rod Smallwood during a round of golf. But there’s no time for that. maiden Run for Your Life The world tour continues in 2026.
By the way, there’s a good chance you have a child in your life who will enjoy this fun adventure this Christmas. (Lots of women love Maiden, too—Japan’s new prime minister among them—but good luck finding any in these 352 pages.) Just make sure they wash their hands. This is Art.
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