In 1978, Iron Maiden were far from the world-conquering Beast we know them as today. Before their countless blockbuster tours, before The Number Of The Beast, before the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Steve Harris and the boys were struggling London lads weathering lineup changes and desperate to make a name for themselves. They took any gig they could, often slept in their van and worked day jobs for cash. That was until The Soundhouse Tapes got them signed to EMI and gave the band their first step towards megastardom.
Although bassist Steve had formed Maiden just three years prior, by late 1978, they were a near-totally different band to what they started as. ’Arry, as he was known in the East End, cycled through a host of musicians in the capital’s fledgling rock scene before settling on his first truly stable lineup… kind of. Vocalist Paul Di’Anno, guitarist Dave Murray and drummer Doug Sampson had formed the new nucleus of the band alongside Steve, their camaraderie sharpened by playing a litany of DIY concerts up and down the country. (The second guitarist spot was hopping between numerous people but, hey, it was still the least volatile the band had ever been.)
