Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden is clearly one of the most recognizable and successful groups to emerge from the NWOBHM scene that came into being in the late seventies, as well as one of the most influential metal bands of all time, with an infinite number of 80's (and later) bands owing to their style.

The band's early years is where the best Maiden albums come from, with most feeling that either Killers, Number Of The Beast, or Piece Of Mind are the band's best (personal vote: Killers). If there's a criticism to be made, it would be that their later years have been spent stagnating musically (particularly around the time that Blaze Bayley was at the mic, though the stagnation was hardly his fault), resulting in a dip in popularity in the late nineties.

But with Bruce Dickinson returning in 2000 on Brave New World, Iron Maiden proved they still have plenty of life left in them

Bruce Dickinson
vocals   (see also Samson, Bruce Dickinson)
Dave Murray
guitars  
Adrian Smith
guitars   (see also Bruce Dickinson)
Janick Gers
guitars   (see also Bruce Dickinson, White Spirit)
Steve Harris
bass  
Nicko McBrain
drums   (see also Trust)

Former members
Paul Di'Anno
vocals   (see also Praying Mantis, Killers)
Blaze Bayley
vocals   (see also Blaze)
Dennis Stratton
guitars   (see also Praying Mantis)
Clive Burr
drums   (see also Elixir, Praying Mantis, Trust)