Happy birthday, Steve Harris

Posted on March 12 2015 by Candy Rock

Categories: #Hard Rock, #Heavy Metal, #1956, #March

Steve Harris, bassist and founding member of Iron Maiden - Photo: John McMurtrie/EMI

Happy birthday, Steve Harris...
Born Stephen Percy Harris on March 12 1956 in Leytonstone, Essex, England, Steve Harris is a musician and songwriter mostly known as the founder, bassist and main songwriter of Iron Maiden.
As a child, Steve aspired to be a professional footballer. However, when he started to get interested in music, in his early teens, he changed his mind and started to focus on music. He was influenced by bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple...
Originally, he wanted to play the drums, yet he eventually bought a bass as he didn't have enough space in his house for a drum kit.
He bought his first bass, a Fender Precision model, in 1971. Ten months later, he joined his first band, Influence (later known as Gypsy's Kiss). The band split after a few gigs.
In February 1974, Steve auditioned for Smiler. At the same moment, he commenced writing his own songs. He eventually left Smiler because they thought his material was too complicated and din't want to play it.
In 1975, on Christmas Day, he founded Iron Maiden (original lineup: Paul Day (lead vocals), Terry Rance (guitars), Dave Sullivan (guitars), Steve Harris (bass, backing vocals), Ron "Rebel" Matthews (drums)).
Steve worked as an architectural draughtsman, and then as a street sweeper until Iron Maiden signed their contract with EMI in 1979. The same year, they released their debut EP, The Soundhouse Tapes (lineup: Paul Di'Anno (lead vocals), Dave Murray (guitar), Paul Cairns (guitar), Steve Harris (bass), Doug Sampson (drums)).
The band released its first album, Iron Maiden, on April 14 1980 (lineup: Paul Di'Anno (lead vocals), Dave Murray (guitar), Dennis Stratton (guitar, backing vocals), Steve Harris (bass, backing vocals), Clive Burr (drums)).
The same year, Iron Maiden supported Kiss on the European leg of the Unmasked Tour.
The band had its first UK Albums Chart No. 1 record in 1982 with the album The Number of the Beast (lineup: Bruce Dickinson (lead vocals), Dave Murray (guitar), Adrian Smith (guitar), Steve Harris (bass), Clive Burr (drums)).
The same year, Nicko McBrain, from Trust, joined Iron Maiden to replace Clive Burr who had been fired.
It's in 1988 that Steve started to play the keyboards on some Iron Maiden songs. The first album featuring synthesizers was Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988).
On August 20 1988, at Donington Park, Iron Maiden headlined the Monsters of Rock festival. The festival also featured artists as David Lee Roth, Guns N' Roses, Megadeth, Helloween, Kiss...
In 1990, after conflicts with Steve regarding the style of the band, Adrian Smith left Iron Maiden and was replaced by Janick Gers.
In 1999, afterwards Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith returned in Iron Maiden, the band released the album Brave New World (lineup: Bruce Dickinson (lead vocals), Dave Murray (guitar), Adrian Smith (guitar), Janick Gers (guitar), Steve Harris (bass, keyboards), Nicko McBrain (drums)).
Steve released British Lion, his first solo album, in September 2012. He had originally wrote the album in the early 90s.
Steve is the Iron Maiden's principal lyricist and composer, and has been since the band's creation.
Dave Murray and Steve are the longest-standing members of Iron Maiden, and the only ones to have performed on all their releases.
To conclude, we wish a happy birthday and years of rock to Steve Harris!

Steve Harris, Iron Maiden (Paraguay, 2013) - credit: Rocío Céspedes

Steve Harris, Iron Maiden - photo by Mark Coatsworth/flickr

[french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, Steve Harris ...
Né Stephen Percy Harris le 12 mars 1956 à Leytonstone, Essex, Angleterre, Steve Harris est un musicien et auteur-compositeur mieux connu en tant que fondateur, bassiste et principal auteur-compositeur d'Iron Maiden.
Enfant, Steve veut être footballer professionnel. Cependant, quand, adolescent, il commence à s'intéresser à la musique, il change d'avis afin de pouvoir se concentrer sur la musique. Il est influencé par des groupes comme Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple...
A la base, il veut jouer de la batterie mais il s'achète une basse car il n'y avait pas assez de place chez lui pour un kit de batterie.
Il achète sa première basse, une Fender Precision model, en 1971. Dix mois plus tard, il rejoint son premier groupe, Influence (plus tard connu sous le nom de Gypsy's Kiss). Le groupe se sépare après quelques concerts.
En février 1974, Steve auditionne pour Smiler. C'est aussi à ce moment qu'il commence à écrire ses propres chansons. Finalement, il quitte Smiler car les autres membres du groupe trouvent ses chansons trop compliquées et refusent de les jouer.
En 1975, le jour de Noël, il fonde Iron Maiden (lineup original : Paul Day (chant), Terry Rance (guitares), Dave Sullivan (guitares), Steve Harris (basse, choeur), Ron "Rebel" Matthews (batterie)).
Steve travaille dans l'architecture, en tant que dessinateur, puis il devient conducteur de balayeuse de voirie jusqu'à ce qu'Iron Maiden signe leur contrat avec EMI en 1979. La même année, ils sortent leur premier EP, The Soundhouse Tapes (lineup: Paul Di'Anno (chant), Dave Murray (guitare), Paul Cairns (guitare), Steve Harris (basse), Doug Sampson (batterie)).
Le groupe sort son premier album, Iron Maiden, le 14 avril 1980 (lineup: Paul Di'Anno (chant), Dave Murray (guitare), Dennis Stratton (guitare, choeur), Steve Harris (basse, choeur), Clive Burr (batterie)).
La même année, ils font la première partie de Kiss sur la partie européenne de la tournée Unmasked Tour.
Le groupe a son premier album numéro 1 au Royaume-Uni en 1982 avec l'album The Number of the Beast (lineup : Bruce Dickinson (chant), Dave Murray (guitare), Adrian Smith (guitare), Steve Harris (basse), Clive Burr (batterie)).
La même année, Nicko McBrain de Trust rejoint Iron Maiden pour remplacer Clive Burr qui a été viré.
C'est en 1988 que Steve commence à jouer du clavier sur certaines chansons d'Iron Maiden. Le premier album à contenir des synthétiseurs est Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988).
Le 20 août 1988, à Donington Park, Iron Maiden fait la tête d'affiche du festival Monsters of Rock. Des artistes tels que David Lee Roth, Guns N' Roses, Megadeth, Helloween, ou encore Kiss participent aussi au festival.
En 1990, après des conflits avec Steve concernant le style du groupe, Adrian Smith quitte Iron Maiden et est remplacé par Janick Gers.
En 1999, après que Bruce Dickinson et Adrian Smith soient retournés dans Iron Maiden, le groupe sort l'album Brave New World (lineup : Bruce Dickinson (chant), Dave Murray (guitare), Adrian Smith (guitare), Janick Gers (guitare), Steve Harris (basse, claviers), Nicko McBrain (batterie)).
Steve sort son premier album solo, British Lion, en septembre 2012. Il a cependant écrit cet album au début des années 90.
Steve est le principal compositeur et parolier d'Iron Maiden et l'a été depuis la création du groupe.
Dave Murray et Steve sont les membres du groupe à en avoir fait partie le plus longtemps, et sont les seuls à avoir joué sur tout les albums du groupe.
Pour conclure, nous souhaitons un heureux anniversaire et des années de rock à Steve Harris !]