Steve Harris. Did he play better during the 80s

odin70 · #1 06-30-2011, 06:21 PM

Listen to this!

YouTube - ‪Iron Maiden - Maiden England 1988 (Full Concert)‬&rlm;

Imo they sounded much better with just two guitars. Nicko was better and so was Arry.

Im embarrassed to admit that until now i thought he was singing Moonshine

**steddy2112** · #2 06-30-2011, 06:24 PM

Well they have like 4 guitar players now...lol

Harris IMO never lost any kind of touch or skill, but his role definitely is different now

GeezerDeacon69 · #3 06-30-2011, 06:36 PM

I think Steve is just as good as he ever was. The problem, in my opinion, is the addition of the third guitarist; he certainly doesn't add anything to the band and Adrian Smith and Dave Murray need no help.

**jmattbassplaya** · #4 06-30-2011, 06:40 PM

I think they lost their touch either after Caught Somewhere in Time or Seventh Son. The only album I liked all the way or most the way through after either of those two was Brave New World which, IMHO, is their best album next to The Number of the Beast.

odin70 · #5 06-30-2011, 06:45 PM

They are stil good, but i think they are a bit more laidback nowdays. Steve was more agressive when he was younger (and not that rich) I agree with you Geezer, Steve sounded better with two guitars.

Youngspanion · #6 06-30-2011, 06:49 PM

Song writing was so much fresher too. No one was doing that at the time. I can appreciate their loyalty to Janick but I'd like to hear them without also.

xUptheIronsx · #7 07-02-2011, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

Song writing was so much fresher too. No one was doing that at the time. I can appreciate their loyalty to Janick but I'd like to hear them without also.

I agree with this...the song writing is what has changed...I also sort of lost them around Fear of the Dark. Brave New World was refreshing, but everything else was just not holding my interest, which sucks cause behind Geddy and Rush, Maiden was a huge influence on my whole life...they still are, but I always think "What would (the 70's/80's) Steve Harris do

lfbassguy · #8 07-04-2011, 01:29 AM

i lost them after they got janick. i saw the fisrt tour they did with him, i think it was the no pray for the dying, (maybe not), and i did not think he really fit the band. any way about steve, i just think he has gotten older. he still has it, just probably writes and plays a little different as he's ages. i know my playing changes throughout the years.

Session1969 · #9 07-04-2011, 01:41 AM

I owe him alot in terms of how those songs built my dexterity. It's funny, I play mostly reggae and dance music these days but when I get compliments I think back to the band and bassist whose songs made me good.

rtslinger · #10 07-06-2011, 06:39 AM

I think Steve is playing as well as he did back in the 80's but, as was mention the addition of extra guitars (not needed) has changed where the bass fits into the music before it was all about him holding up the song and now the writing has him in a more classic let's say bass role of laying down the foundation. Which isn't a bad thing but, not something we die hard Steve Harris followers are used to from his style of writing .

Electrophonic · #11 07-16-2011, 02:00 AM

No. But as have been said here, there's a bit of a different role with three guitars. The mix is also a bit different.

That said, I watched him closely on this current tour and was blown away like I have been for 30 years coming now. The basslines, technique, intensity, composition of songs are simpy brilliant. BUT in the sound of three guitars it can be difficult to hear him as clearly as we did in the '80s. (Plus, Martin Birch as a producer were a bit better in bringing his bass sounds forwards on those records. In my opinion.)

UnfortunateTony · #12 07-16-2011, 04:07 AM

I think Steve and the original band are just as good, but the new guy (as many have said) is pointless. But hey, if they like him, who are we to judge?

GeneralElectric · #13 07-16-2011, 04:26 AM

I always thought that Steve was a better bass player before Bruce Dickenson joined up. However I heard one of the 'transitional' songs which was a B side (can't remember the name off the top of my head) where it was Steve's old style playing and the (then) new singer. Parts of it sounded great, but whenever he tried to do something cool it'd sound like crap. Bruce takes up too much sonic space for his old style to work. Janick Gers has a similar effect I'm guessing.

I really love Maiden and he was my first influence. I liked everything they did up to about 7th Son, and then a few random tracks after that. When Brave New World came out I was blown away and thought it was awesome. Paschendale was a cool track but pretty much everything after that has been kinda stale and so-so. I heard bits of the latest album and it sounded awful.

Datsgor · #14 07-16-2011, 11:25 PM

To answewr the question: Yes, yes he did.

GizmoTheOne · #15 07-17-2011, 01:49 AM

Of course he's as good a musician as he ever was.

However, he and his band (can't remember the name, what is it?? haha joke) are getting old.

I mean, physically, they're not as consistent as they were before, they still can play MOST OF their old parts (not all), and most of it still sounds decent. But the fact is, as said before, they are not refreshing, always the same old stuff in each and every song, it becomes predictable and boring after a while.

Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's just a wind of change. You know, when a band writes very similar songs for over 20-30 years, it's likely some of the passion and interest for it might go away.

kuuri · #16 07-17-2011, 02:07 AM

every album from Iron maiden has a good song ( or more then 1 ).. but Dance of death

Hate that album :P