Why Did Iron Maiden Never Get As Big As Judad Priest,Ozzy , Def Leppard etc In America

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Huge everywhere else but not in the states. Why?

― GavinX, Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:06 (twenty-two years ago)

eddy.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Judas Priest obviously. Darn my typing.

― GavinX, Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:13 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah but Eddy didn't like Judas Priest either.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:16 (twenty-two years ago)

The joyless press ruined British prog rock for us. Although I guess that begs the question of Rush's popularity.

― otto, Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:30 (twenty-two years ago)

The US throws Canadian bands a bone once or twice a decade. Rush got theirs in the 70s and made it last.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:39 (twenty-two years ago)

They always seemed pretty popular to me in the states.I don't know how many records they sold, but they sold a lot of t-shirts.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:44 (twenty-two years ago)

and patches. lots of patches.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Well how else do you hold the jackets together?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Iron Maiden were as big, if not bigger than the Priest here, I'd say. Judas Priest were ultimately sort've a one-hit-wonder here ("Another Thing Comin'"), whereas Maiden continually sold out venues without radio/video airplay nor successfull hit singldeom. Moreover, Maiden never comprimised by chasing any single hit (witness Judas Priest's stylistic softening circa Turbo,....Maiden never did that. Maiden never cared to. Def Leppard, meanwhile, always had considerably more of a pop appeal than their NWOBHM peers, hence their greater popularity. I'd say Ozzy was in a different league, though, given his elder statesmen status from his tenure in Sabbath.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Cue Chuck Eddy to appear at any minute now and scold me for not recognizing Iron Maiden for their disco-skiffle roots and Judas Priest's unwitting invention of drum'n'bass music. Heavy Metal's all about dancing to that man.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

But Maiden were never as big as their american peers. Any reason why?

― Gavin X, Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh as their American peers....sorry, i misread your question. Well, I'd say Iron Maiden are far too British for most of America's palette. Moreover, Iron Maiden were less inclined to sing about the merits of getting loud, laid and louded with one's wheels, whiskey and women (especially after Di'anno left) than were their American counterparts. To Iron Maiden's debatable credit, they had higher aspirations. Reminds me of a quote I'll paraphrase by Bruce Dickinson: "I read books too, just like Sting. I just don't go `round telling people about it!"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, Chuck would complain specifically that both bands lacked anything like that, and that if they did have such things in their music he'd adore them!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Reminds me of a quote I'll paraphrase by Bruce Dickinson: "I read books too, just like Sting. I just don't go `round telling people about it!"

Instead, he wrote some.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Priest had more hits than "Another Thing Comin" didn't they? Didn't "Breakin' the Law" and "Livin' After Midnight" get pretty sizable amounts of airplay? Anyway Maiden have always been popular among metal heads in the states. Maybe they weren't as popular cause they were just too "metal" and not as easily assimilated into the traditional American "hard rock" market.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought Joe Elliott said that. Especially since, judging by some song titles, Dickinson sure as fuck DID go around telling people about it.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:03 (twenty-two years ago)

loaded, not louded...

Joe Elliott did NOT say that. It was Bruce (and the quote accompanied a shot of him fencing, pretentiously enough).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

What a weird question. I mean Def Leppard was (by record sales anyway) probably bigger (not to mention way way poppier) than the other three bands mentioned here and Ozzy was around for years before Iron Maiden and had that "Godfather of Heavy Metal" thing going on (even then I'm not sure he really sold more records in the 80s in the states than Maiden) and Judas Priest are maybe only slightly bigger than Maiden (if they were at all really and if they were it was because they had a couple more radio friendly hits than Maiden and don't ask me why oh "Aces High" wasn't bigger cuz frankly I have no idea.) And wondering why a lot of American metal bands are bigger in America just seems obtuse, frankly.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Sunday, 28 March 2004 02:05 (twenty-two years ago)

could it be that Run to the Hills wasn't as good a video as Another Thing Coming? Can't be because I've now got images of Run to the Hills flooding my mind, but Def Leppards videos were the best, and remember that Ozzy video MTV used to show of an 80s ozzy doing Iron Man? That used to creep me out.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Sunday, 28 March 2004 03:58 (twenty-two years ago)

They were definitely bigger than Judas Priest in my Grade 5 class.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Sunday, 28 March 2004 04:19 (twenty-two years ago)

(No one was as big as Def Leppard though. NKOTB didn't really make it till the next year.)

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Sunday, 28 March 2004 04:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm surprised? I thought J Priest had a string of platinum albums in the US starting in 1982 and going through to 1986, with one double platinum? Did Maiden come anywhere near that? I thought they were bigger than JP in the UK, and JP were bigger in the states, largely because of the amount of effort they put into touring and promo in the different countries?

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 28 March 2004 04:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Golly what a lot of questions I'm asking.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 28 March 2004 04:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"Anyway Maiden have always been popular among metal heads in the states. Maybe they weren't as popular cause they were just too "metal" and not as easily assimilated into the traditional American "hard rock" market."
I second this notion. Maybe they didn't have as much commercial succes in America, but they sure did have a greater impact in terms of influence, I'd say much more than any of their NWOBHM peers. There isn't any American self-proclaimed metalhead that wouldn't site word for word an Iron Maiden song. (well, if there were, he/she should be shot)

― Cacaman Flores, Monday, 29 March 2004 02:33 (twenty-two years ago)

duh, they were UGLIER

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 29 March 2004 05:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Than Ozzy?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Monday, 29 March 2004 05:01 (twenty-two years ago)

ozzy's on a whole nother level

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 29 March 2004 05:03 (twenty-two years ago)

although yeah - they were uglier than ozzy

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 29 March 2004 05:03 (twenty-two years ago)

They were all ugly, surely? Except for KK Downing.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 29 March 2004 05:03 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, but certain types of ugly play well on tv (jagger, daltrey, etc.), certain kinds don't (everyone in journey cept steve perry)

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 29 March 2004 05:06 (twenty-two years ago)

that said, iron maiden were pretty big in america

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 29 March 2004 05:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Iron Maiden was ugly in a very boring way.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 29 March 2004 05:09 (twenty-two years ago)

They weren't as heavy...more nimble than heavy, actually.

Although, I guess I'm thinking of them in comparison to the thrash metal bands that were inspired by NWoBHM.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 29 March 2004 07:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Priest had more commercial appeal. Maiden's song's were these huge, non-radio-friendly epics.

I think Ozzy's continued popularity has to do with Sharon's excellent management of his career (I'm not kidding).

― Ben St. Jacques (Ben St. Jacques), Monday, 29 March 2004 17:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Fugliest guy in Maiden: Nicko McBrain

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 29 March 2004 18:14 (twenty-two years ago)

>>Iron Maiden was ugly in a very boring way.

― All My Fault, Monday, 29 March 2004 18:23 (twenty-two years ago)

"Iron Maiden was ugly in a very boring way"

(oops!) Their music, for example.

― All My Fault, Monday, 29 March 2004 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Grrrrr.....

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 29 March 2004 18:26 (twenty-two years ago)

And here's Metal Mike Saunders (inventor of the genre name heavy metal, Rolling Stone/Creem/Phonograph Record Magazine, c. 1970), to the rescue:

"(comment to a network poster to my "myspace" home page who says that hilary's music makes him "vomit") (in the testimonials column or wherever it is down on the right hand side) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

in other words you just admitted that you have a bigger "i'm-so-offended" reaction to teenpop than the Queen did to the sexless pistols. ha ha ha: hilary duff IS TOTALLY PUNK ROCK! well in reverse. nooo, that's the same thing.

i win. again.

don't mess with someone who was a MONKEES fan in fall 1966, age 14 and alla dat. i was there at ground zero when bubblegum/pop stormed the beachhead. it took a looong time but we won. game, set, match. monkees, ABBA, ohio express, PWL, backstreet, spice girls, oldschool britney, hilary. we woooon, dude.

you're gonna tell me to go listen to some gay beatless grooveless NWOBHM-influenced shit like Metallica? judas "we're gay" priest or iron maiden? psssssssh. sabbath, dude. all metal since 1978 or so is 99% gaaay. and hilary is punk rock. (touring the arenas right now with a kickass guitar band and Salt N Pepa's old veteran black crazy girl drummer laying kickass beats). ha. well, uh, she does a girly-rock-garage cover of "my generation" each night in the encores.

i forget what the fuck i was talking about.

i might be musically gay but we won! in america that's all that counts. or as the revolution hippies of 1969 would say, aMeRiKa. yah!

--metal gayboy metallicahater mike"

― All My Fault, Monday, 29 March 2004 18:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Ummm........what?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 29 March 2004 18:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex has become Aja and the world just collapsed in on itself. Good night!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 29 March 2004 18:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't think of two bands more evenly matched than Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. (Ozzy and Def Leppard went platinum on the backs of power ballads, so forget them.) Any edge Priest has on Maiden can be chalked up to the eight-year head start. If you doubt Iron Maiden's popularity in America, just consider the wonders they did for the number 666 -- they made the number of the beast a household word! Sorry, Bono.

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Monday, 29 March 2004 18:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"has become"

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 29 March 2004 18:55 (twenty-two years ago)

"...they made the number of the beast a household word!"

I think the movie "the Omen" had more to do with that.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 29 March 2004 18:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Not that the Maiden song didn't help. Classic tune.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 29 March 2004 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

And record.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 29 March 2004 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I will not tolerate any further disrespect towards Iron Maiden. I'm just warning you now. I haven't had a lot of sleep in the last week, and I'm liable to throw a spoke at any moment, so NO MORE HATEFUL SPEAK ABOUT IRON MAIDEN, GODDAMMIT, I'M NOT FUCKING KIDDING!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 00:57 (twenty-two years ago)

*doodlydoodlydoodlydoodly*

"Hi Dad!"

"Heya Charlotte, how's my favorite daughter today?"

"Oh fi...ew, what's THIS crap you're listening to?"

On the opposite coast, Ned looked up and wondered at the sound of the dim cry of rage that seemed to tug at his ears.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 01:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Iron Maiden - they're a bit shit aren't they?

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 01:53 (twenty-two years ago)

after catching the videos for "Run To The Hills" and another song on VH1 classics over the weekend, I'm tempted to suggest that the answer to the question at hand lies in the quality of those promotional clips, but then, JP and the Leps made some questionable videos that were all over MTV.

― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh my God, JP are the ultimate dodgy metal video band. Watching JP clips is better than Cheech & Chong.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 02:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I can recite Beavis & Butthead's reactions the "Breakin' The Law" video verbatim.

― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 02:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Do it! Do it!

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 02:12 (twenty-two years ago)

hahaha colin I was JUST ABOUT to post that EXACT SAME POST

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 30 March 2004 02:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Ahahaha classic.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 30 March 2004 02:17 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

Listening to the greatest-hits comp Edward the Great* tonight, I am reminded that Iron Maiden is completely fucking awesome.

*even though a non-D'ianno-includin' greatest hits is a sad thing which should have been a double-disc, one of the D'ianno years & one of the Dickenson years and I wouldn't even have complained if they'd've called it "D & D" 'cause it would have been such a great record

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 03:06 (twenty years ago)

nb that could be Di'anno and probably is, I am very sleepy

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 03:07 (twenty years ago)

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