Although Iron Maiden are a heavy metal band, and their works show influences of Thin Lizzy and Deep Purple, their initial music had punk overtones. The bands changed twelve times in the 1970s and wanted to form a permanent line-up of members. Dennis Wilcock, a Kiss fan who used fire, make-up and fake blood during live performances, substituted original vocalist Paul Day.

Iron Maiden's debut release in 1980, Iron Maiden, made number 4 in the UK Albums Chart in its first week of release. Since then the band became one of the successful leading groups of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. They performed the opening for Kiss on their 1980 Unmasked tour, as well as opening chooses dates for Judas Priest. Along with the title track, the album consists other early hits such as "Running Free", "Transylvania", "Phantom of the Opera", and "Sanctuary".

The next year they released their second album, titled Killers. This new album comprised several tracks that had been composed prior to the release of the debut album, but were regarded surplus. Only two new tracks were originally written for the album, "Prodigal Son", and "Murders in the Rue Morgue". Their fast and furious album, "Wrathchild" was a favorite among fans. The band also wrote songs with literary implications, "Murders in the Rue Morgue" is based on the story by Edgar Allan Poe.

In 1982, drummer Clive Burr left the band because of personal and tour schedule troubles. Nicko McBrain, formerly with Trust, substituted him. Subsequently, in 1983, the band released Piece of Mind. The album is all over regarded a fan-favorite and contains "The Trooper" and "Flight of Icarus", which had proven hits as singles. Songs influenced by literary works included "Where Eagles Dare", "To Tame A Land" and "The Trooper", which was an inspiration based on Tennyson's poem Charge of the Light Brigade.

In November 2006, Iron Maiden and manager Rod Smallwood declared breaking their 27 year old ties with Sanctuary Music. And started their new company named Phantom Music Management. Recently in 2006, Iron Maiden released A Matter of Life and Death. While the album is being a success, war and religion are repetitive themes in the lyrics throughout. The release of this hit was followed by a tour to North America and Europe. During this tour they played the album in its totality, a first for the band. In 2007, the band affirmed many major festival appearances throughout the world for the year to form the second leg of the A Matter of Life and Death tour. These comprise performances at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival, Eddfest, Download Festival, and Heineken.

Discography • Iron Maiden (1980) • Killers (1981) • The Number of the Beast (1982) • Piece of Mind (1983) • Powerslave (1984) • Somewhere in Time (1986) • Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988) • No Prayer for the Dying (1990) • Fear of the Dark (1992) • The X Factor (1995) • Virtual XI (1998) • Brave New World (2000) • Dance of Death (2003)