Interview by Simon Russell-White
It's appropriate to skip the fluff on this one, for goodness’ sake it's Steve Harris (Bass/ Keyboards) we're talking to here and the importance of his "other band" (insert laughter here) Iron Maiden needs no explanation and/or justification.
The focus tonight? The band he helped put back together piece by piece... Yes, I'm talking about the one and only British Lion.
After the band imploded in the 90s, the man himself couldn't bear the sight of knowing that British Lion would not be again, the reasoning he explained was simple. "The songs were just too good for it to stop". And the rest, as they say, is history.
For his bandmates - Richard Taylor (vocals), David Hawkins (guitar), Grahame Leslie (guitar), and Simon Dawson (drums) - this Australian tour is the first time the boys have ever even stood on Australian soil, let alone played here. Of course, Steve has been here a billion times, and assured me that he'd point the fellas in the right direction for any site seeing!
Now, we all know what sized arenas/stadiums "Maiden" has played, but as our conversation leaned into discussing British Lion playing more intimate venues, a sense of stepping back in time took hold. But not in the usual way, as Maiden skipped playing a lot of smaller venues due to their sudden rise to fame so in many respects for Steve he is playing venues for the first time all over the world!!
Now, if that doesn't grab you, then I don't know what will.
Enjoy listening to one of the Godfathers of the heavy metal game, ohh and go check out the almighty British Lion this August/September supported by Tony Moore’s Awake - a man that needs no introduction. A man that Steve has had a musical bond with since 1977.
All Hail!