NOT AT A LOSFER WORDS
“ I have several favorite Iron Maiden songs, of course, but one song that has always resonated with me and does now more than ever is ‘Wasted Years’ from Somewhere in Time. Any touring musician can find some kind of recognition within the lyrics of that song, and it’s just a fantastically crafted track.”
—TOBIAS FORGE (GHOST)
“The song that made me a believer was ‘Aces High,’ which is filled with moments you look forward to hearing. I love the dueling guitars and harmonics as well as the key changes in the chorus. The first time I heard it was from a VHS tape with Iron Maiden music videos I picked up at Tower Records. Hearing it live every night while we toured together was always surreal. These guys made it imperative for guys like me to duel, shred, gallop and put on shows worth remembering. I proudly wear my Maiden influence on my sleeve.”
—ZACKY VENGEANCE (AVENGED SEVENFOLD)
“If I had to choose a favorite song it’d be ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name,’ but I can’t say that song had any specific influence on my guitar playing. If we’re talking about influence, it would be the first song on the first album []. That’s the first song I ever heard in 1980 when I got that record. I was in a store in Queens, I believe it was called The Music Box. I was flipping through the rack looking at records and I saw that album cover. I had never heard of Iron Maiden. It wasn’t like there were magazines in the States reporting on New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands. So I saw that album cover with Eddie staring at me and I just knew it had to be good. [] There’s no way that record going to be great looking at that cover… Hearing those first chords of ‘Prowler’ on the guitar and that wah-sounding guitar comes in, the up-tempo and charging rhythm guitars… It was like the Ramones but some evil version. I had never
