Any 80’s rock/hair/metal series has to include thrash metal. If it doesn’t, well, it is then a series with a gaping hole making it completely unworthy. Fact. Right?!
To get this thing started, I want to be clear that the first band would not be considered thrash but later-thrashers have stated that they were a huge influence on them.
Enter Iron Maiden.
How many of you reading this and who rode mountain bikes in the 80s-into-the-90s had Iron Maiden in the tape deck of the car and blaring out the speakers as you drove to the trailhead? How about in your Walkman?
It might be the “best” live metal album ever produced. Put it on and let yourself be transported into a world of actual intelligent lyricism and then escape into the beautiful soundscape of real human musicians and Bruce’s melodic and operatic vocal abilities.
You can watch the entire “album” of concert footage here:
This is mountain biking music of the early days. Don’t believe me? Ask Dave Wiens. He told me so, once upon a (R)time (of the Ancient Mariner).
Favorite songs of mine?
Run to the Hills was released as a video on MTV and like a lot of people, I thought: this is the truth. I was 8 years old and somehow that song/video sank deep into my being and I’ve never lost sight of it. Thank you, Iron Maiden.
I’m going to add Wasted Years. Why? Listen the lyrics. Is there anything else we need to know?
Present tense. Learn. Keep living.
Who did Maiden influence in the thrash metal days of the 1980s?
Hello, Metallica and Megadeth.
Yes, they share history that isn’t so positive. Dave’s still bitter, I think. Nevertheless, we ended up with two bands that released what some say are “perfect” albums in the year … 1986.
Somehow my parents never said I couldn’t listen to such music, as long as I closed the bedroom door, despite that the music could still be heard throughout our small house. When I first listened to Master I could not believe the energy that came through the jambox.
Again, how many of you … of course you listened to this during your 80s mountain biking days … and probably still do today.
Stream the entire album here:
Now go ride!
Part 2 of the thrash metal musings coming of next, starting with Megadeth.
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I was 11 when I went for a sleepover at my uncle’s and took my first hit and rocked-out to Black Sabath’s Paranoid ✌🏽❤️🤟🏽
I saw Maiden on the Somewhere in Time tour. They're still a great band.