the thread that should not be

[SickAura]

Here's how I see it...

General Public: Lemmy - unless you're a Maiden or Metal fan you wouldn't know who Harris is. Most people have heard of Lemmy even if they don't know or care about the music - and because other people revere him - they will too
Musicians in general: Tie - easily arguable for either - just depends on personal preference really.
Bassists: My avatar says it all...

 

[Nev375]

To me this is kind of like asking who is more revered between Pauly Shore and Carrot Top.

 

[bassstrangler]

Steve Harris. I have no love whatsoever for Lemmy, no disrespect just no love. I have a feeling some huge Harris fans like myself might feel the same way. Two completely different styles also. Harris is a beast. Lemme was more of an animal.

 

[bassstrangler]

To me this is kind of like asking who is more revered between Pauly Shore and Carrot Top.

What? Carrot Top of course!

 

[danosix]

Except he was honest.
And awesome.

I'm curious... did you just dis Mother Theresa?
That's harsh.

 

[bassstrangler]

Here's how I see it...

General Public: Lemmy - unless you're a Maiden or Metal fan you wouldn't know who Harris is. Most people have heard of Lemmy even if they don't know or care about the music - and because other people revere him - they will too
Musicians in general: Tie - easily arguable for either - just depends on personal preference really.
Bassists: My avatar says it all...

I'm not sure most of the general public know who either of them are. Maybe Lemmy just because he died recently.

 

[lamarjones]

You think Maiden was a bigger influence on music?! Sorry, I have to whole-heartedly disagree. While Steve is great, Maiden's style of metal was born AND died in the 80's. Motorhead's style started in the 70's (is responsible for Iron Maiden, Metallica, and the rest) and never quit. Watching Sam Dunn's documentaries and "Lemmy" you see many people reference Motorhead as an influence, but I can't recall too many bands citing Maiden.

Tons of people cite Maiden, and their attendance at amphitheaters the past few years beg to differ with your assessment.

I know a lot of players who got to meet Lemmy, and thus got to drink with Lemmy. He was great with fans, pretty big thing.

Editing here to some other stuff, keep in mind Live After Death is certified platinum in the US. You'll have a tough time arguing that it wasn't an epic concert just cause you found one poll about epic concerts.

 

[static0verdrive]

(snip) Metallica is the biggest Heavy Metal band in history.

Metallica : Record wise, yes. Legacy wise? Probably not.

Not trying to start an argument, just tossing in my two cents.

@Wolfenstein666 I realize you aren't trying to start an argument so I apologize for jumping on this (it's not a personal attack or anything!!) and technically it's off-topic, I just thought that was odd... I feel record sales helps create the legacy to a small degree. I mean, to be a LEGACY the kids also have to know who you are too IMHO. That easily leaves Maiden largely back in the 80's with those who remember for the most part. Or bass players (but maybe only bass players who remember the 80's). When Maiden came last year, it was mostly 35-55 years old with big hair. When Metallica came, the ages were more like 15-55. Other than countries that don't find Dickinson's vocals super cheesy in the modern age of metal, I don't think you'll see nearly as many kids with Maiden shirts on compared to Metallica shirts. (When it comes to the kids though, there are about as many Slipknot shirts as Metallica shirts ... no accounting for taste.)

10 Most Epic Rock Concerts of All Time - Metallica 2, Maiden 0.

Find me the Maiden equivalent to "Beatallica" lol

Sorry - again, this is OT. I don't have a horse in this race btw... I just find that fans are rarely objective in discussions like this, and I truly believe that Maiden will always be considered a group that helped create the modern metal genre to those who follow the history, but Metallica is and long will be remembered by those who listen to metal without even looking into where it came from. That, IMO, is closer to a legacy (vs just being an influence).

 

[SickAura]

I'm not sure most of the general public know who either of them are. Maybe Lemmy just because he died recently.

More people would know Lemmy than Harris

 

[static0verdrive]

Tons of people cite Maiden, and their attendance at amphitheaters the past few years beg to differ with your assessment.

You're right I'm sure there are more bands influenced by them than I first thought. The attendance thing I personally kinda lump into the same reason as why the radio is playing all kinds of 80's crap now (not metal, I'm talking anything from the 80's now) - the people who grew up loving it are finally old enough to either be running the radio show or have the money to go to the shows (and drag their kids in plenty of cases). In any case you're right - Maiden has been playing larger shows than Motorhead. But with respect to the OP, I'm not convinced that means more of the public knows who Steve is vs Lemmy. Icon and all...

 

[bassstrangler]

More people would know Lemmy than Harris

I'm prone to disagree, but it doesn't really matter. In my opinion Steve Harris smokes Lemmy as a player. I knew who Steve Harris was when I was 11. Lemmy didn't become a common name to me until much later like 18. I'm 44, and Motorhead isn't an influence on my playing but Harris was and is. I knew about Motorhead but couldn't tell you one thing about their names. I and many people I knew then and now knew who Steve Harris is.

 

[lamarjones]

You're right I'm sure there are more bands influenced by them than I first thought. The attendance thing I personally kinda lump into the same reason as why the radio is playing all kinds of 80's crap now (not metal, I'm talking anything from the 80's now) - the people who grew up loving it are finally old enough to either be running the radio show or have the money to go to the shows (and drag their kids in plenty of cases). In any case you're right - Maiden has been playing larger shows than Motorhead. But with respect to the OP, I'm not convinced that means more of the public knows who Steve is vs Lemmy. Icon and all...

I totally think Lemmy is more of an icon, no questions there.

I went to my first Maiden concert three years ago. The amount of kids who knew all the words was crazy. It's because, like you are alluding, if you aren't into the pop machine, you do have to go search for music. Iron Maiden is absolutely one of the major bands people hear and check out on their search if they choose to dive into metal.

Either you make the argument for numbers/sales/attendance, or you make the argument against it. Don't do both, and realize that is why Iron Maiden is a historically gigantic band.

I would totally say that most people can't get their personal feelings out of the way when talking about this. OP and most people know that a frontman is a whole different story in terms of what the public knows. Harris is a here up here, but not the general public at all.

 

[static0verdrive]

I'm prone to disagree, but it doesn't really matter. In my opinion Steve Harris smokes Lemmy as a player. I knew who Steve Harris was when I was 11. Lemmy didn't become a common name to me until much later like 18. I'm 44, and Motorhead isn't an influence on my playing but Harris was and is. I knew about Motorhead but couldn't tell you one thing about their names. I and many people I knew then and now knew who Steve Harris is.

It's so funny how much of this discussion hinges on personal experience. My high school had 2 Maiden murals (no Motorhead) and I'd heard Maiden but not Motorhead... but I knew who Lemmy was but had never heard of Harris. I'm 35. I'd be curious to hear more from anyone outside the 35-55 age range weigh in here.

 

[bassstrangler]

You're right I'm sure there are more bands influenced by them than I first thought. The attendance thing I personally kinda lump into the same reason as why the radio is playing all kinds of 80's crap now (not metal, I'm talking anything from the 80's now) - the people who grew up loving it are finally old enough to either be running the radio show or have the money to go to the shows (and drag their kids in plenty of cases). In any case you're right - Maiden has been playing larger shows than Motorhead. But with respect to the OP, I'm not convinced that means more of the public knows who Steve is vs Lemmy. Icon and all...

Motorhead was warming up for Maiden when I saw them 10 years ago or so. 80's crap is what I'm made of sir! Are you a youngster of the 90s?

 

[static0verdrive]

Motorhead was warming up for Maiden when I saw them 10 years ago or so. 80's crap is what I'm made of sir! Are you a youngster of the 90s?

Guilty yeah I'm 35. I heard and know all the 80's stuff - the radio was always on at home.

Loved Metallica and G'n'R at a young age, moved onto Nirvana like the rest of the sheep in late '91 / '92. Onto Pearl Jam and Soundgarden from there. I still throw on Metallica from time to time and I saw them twice ('12 and '14) but most metal I listen to now is Motorhead, Slayer, Lamb of God, and a little Mastodon.

Edit: When I say 80's crap, I don't mean metal so much. Just about the rest (not counting the underground stuff and R.E.M. et al) like all the one-hit wonders and Madonna etc.

 

[Wolfenstein666]

It's so funny how much of this discussion hinges on personal experience. My high school had 2 Maiden murals (no Motorhead) and I'd heard Maiden but not Motorhead... but I knew who Lemmy was but had never heard of Harris. I'm 35. I'd be curious to hear more from anyone outside the 35-55 age range weigh in here.

I'm 24, born in '91. Found my first Metallica album in 6th grade. Got into Iron Maiden the following year. Discovered Motorhead after watching a skate video with (We are) The Roadcrew on it.

Started playing bass a few years later. Steve Harris shaped my sound. I saw him play with his fingers on a video and immediately went and threw all my picks away. I didn't really 'discover' Lemmy until a being a couple years into my bass journey. I was struck by how he played but it really made no impact on my own sound. Certainly unique, but I wasn't awe inspired with him the way I was with Harris.

I'm fortunate because the guys in my band are music junkies, and we all have similar tastes but have preferences that are different enough to keep the conversation interesting. The consensus (and keep in mind this 'consensus' is among 4 guys in a garage that have had too much to drink) is that Iron Maiden has been one of the main contributing factors to influencing musicians and creating the 'metal icon' image. The other ones that we've discussed being that huge are Metallica and Black Sabbath.

 

[lamarjones]

Loved Metallica and G'n'R at a young age, moved onto Nirvana like the rest of the sheep in late '91 / '92. Onto Pearl Jam and Soundgarden from there. I still throw on Metallica from time to time and I saw them twice ('12 and '14) but most metal I listen to now is Motorhead, Slayer, Lamb of God, and a little Mastodon.

Ha, similar playlists!! I'm curious to see where Brann ends up in history!

 

[SickAura]

I'm prone to disagree, but it doesn't really matter. In my opinion Steve Harris smokes Lemmy as a player. I knew who Steve Harris was when I was 11. Lemmy didn't become a common name to me until much later like 18. I'm 44, and Motorhead isn't an influence on my playing but Harris was and is. I knew about Motorhead but couldn't tell you one thing about their names. I and many people I knew then and now knew who Steve Harris is.

See point 3 in my original post and look at my Avatar

I am totally surprised you are a musician and bass player and fan of metal and didn't know who Lemmy was until you were 18

Focus group of one....my wife is a major music fan - all genres. She totally knows who Lemmy is/was without me prompting her and has respect even though she doesn't like the music and would be hard pressed to name even one song including Ace of Spades.

She had no idea who Steve Harris was until we watched an Iron Maiden documentary and I explained him to her. The was AFTER she went to a Maiden concert with me.

I believe this to be typical

 

[wintremute]

I guess times have changed. I forgot all about Maiden after Seventh Son.

Listen to the latest, Book of Souls. It's really good. I think it's the best since Seventh Son.

 

[bassstrangler]

So you're saying you don't talk about Rock & Roll amongst your friends & colleagues?




To me, "revered" is not asking "you personally", but a broader sense. I guess I'm the only one who thinks that way.
I didn't ask, "who is YOUR favorite?".




I was bored?




That's not what I asked.

And earlier I stated Harris. Then I gave my opinion on who was better as a player. Yes I'm biased. To answer your question again, Harris. To give my opinion again, Harris. To give more of an opinion, not Lemmy.

More revered, Harris. Not Lemmy. To you, probably Lemmy. To me Harris. The poll states Harris.