Iron Maiden
United Kingdom, 1975–now
London band and flagship of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson. Complex compositions, historical and literary themes, virtuoso bass playing.
MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Iron Maiden and 11 artists Iron Maiden influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Iron Maiden?
- Black Sabbath — Steve Harris has named Sabbath among the foundations Maiden built on — the Birmingham riff tradition underpins the NWOBHM.
- Deep Purple — Harris has repeatedly cited Deep Purple as his formative band — Maiden's gallop and virtuosity descend from Purple's attack.
Which artists did Iron Maiden influence?
- Nightwish — Tuomas Holopainen has cited Iron Maiden as a foundational influence, and Nightwish's melodic, galloping power-metal riffing and epic song structures draw directly on the NWOBHM template.
- Pantera — The twin-guitar and the gallop, from the years before the band found its own sound.
- Avenged Sevenfold — Synyster Gates named Iron Maiden's guitar harmonies the direct model for his playing style.
- Slayer — King and Hanneman began by playing Iron Maiden and Judas Priest covers — the NWOBHM was Slayer's documented starting point.
- Anthrax — Maiden fandom is founding Anthrax lore — the band's early sets and Ian's NWOBHM devotion are extensively documented.
- My Chemical Romance — Iron Maiden were a shared favourite of Gerard and Mikey Way, feeding MCR's galloping, theatrical hard-rock drama.
- Sum 41 — Sum 41 grew up worshipping metal — 'Fat Lip' name-checks 'Maiden and Priest, the gods that we praised' — and Iron Maiden's twin-guitar heroics shaped their later metal turn.
- Bullet for My Valentine — Iron Maiden's twin-guitar harmonies are echoed throughout Bullet for My Valentine's melodic metal.
- Dream Theater — Iron Maiden's galloping, melodic metal is part of the heavy-metal foundation beneath Dream Theater.
- Opeth — Iron Maiden's melodic, harmonised metal is part of Opeth's heavy-metal grounding.
- Disturbed — Cited by the band among their influences, with Metallica, Pantera and Queensryche.