First Concert Memories #32: Iron Maiden with Brian Slagel, CEO Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade CEO/Founder Brian Slagel talks seeing Iron Maiden on the Killers Tour opening for Judas Priest, interviewing Steve Harris, what Paul Di'anno told him before the Long Beach show and where it ranks in the 300+ Maiden shows he's seen
When we first interviewed Metal Blade Records CEO/Founder Brian Slagel, one of the true godfathers of heavy metal, he told us about his first ever concert - KISS on the Alive! Tour in 1976. Talk about a high bar to live up to for rock n roll live production!?! Who would he find that can deliver such a live performance?
The answer is Iron Maiden, the heavy metal pioneers that Brian has witnessed live over 300x, who incorporate all kinds of props, blistering playing, lights, pyro and even an enormous mascot, Eddie. Brian takes us back to 1981 as Maiden were opening for Judas Priest. Brian tells us how he sold the album Killers in his record store to help promote the band he loved and sought out every album and single from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal he could get his hands on. So he jumped on a plane to Houston to see his favorite band.
Hear how Brian was thwarted by Texas cops as he attempted to headbang, how his buddy gave him a ride to interview Steve Harris at the hotel after the show and the power of Maiden during the early years. Brian also talks about how Paul Di'Anno dropped a bomb on him ahead of a show in Long Beach as he interviewed him for his fanzine, The New Heavy Metal Revue.
It was our pleasure to spend time with one of the true pioneers of metal, especially in the US, and hear how his first Maiden show ranks against the 300+ concerts he's seen with the boys over 45 years.
Learn more about Brian and his podcast 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal at www.metalblade.com/us
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