If you’re like me, Iron Maiden consumes your mind every April, never fail. The debut album Iron Maiden (Capitol; 1980) was released on April 11, 1980 – precisely eight years to the day before Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (Capitol; 1988) (a masterpiece) was released. Yes, like it or not, April is Iron Maiden month and the band does in fact provide the soundtrack for many a midnight-prepared tax return in forlorn H&R Block offices nationwide. Don’t take my word for it; ask your preparer.
And so it is that to celebrate tax day in a fashion your Maiden-appreciative preparer might admire, we proudly bring to the forefront select anecdotes from an historical record and treatise of sorts entitled Various Significant Dates in IRON MAIDEN History at this time. Have all applicable receipts at the ready, cue the Maiden album of your choice and enjoy.
82/05/10 – The Number Of The Beast b/w Remember Tomorrow single is released in the UK. It went top 20, and the video featured ballroom dancers waltzing merrily with ’666’ on their backs. The big Eddie (the 12 foot tall one) made his first appearance on the Beast On The Road tour, but even though Eddie made an appearance in the video, he was edited out by MTV after viewers complained that he was scaring them too much.
82/09/21 – Dave Murray throws his guitar into the crowd at a free festival in Chicago, IL. Of course, he forgot to take his lead out, and it hit a guy in the back and it cost $50 to make sure he was okay.
More significant moments, plus ’Every Band Who Has Opened For Iron Maiden’ after the jump…