Twenty-one years ago today, Iron Maiden gave metalheads everywhere the ultimate time machine — The History of Iron Maiden: Part 1 – The Early Days, released on this day in 2004. A two-DVD deep dive into the band’s chaotic, loud, and legendary early years, this release remains one of the most essential Maiden collections ever made. 🤘
This wasn’t your average “greatest hits” nostalgia trip — this was raw, sweaty, leather-clad history. From the pubs and clubs of London’s East End to the bursting stages of the Beast on the Road tour, The Early Days charts how Steve Harris and his ever-evolving crew built Iron Maiden from scratch. It’s a gritty portrait of a band that lived and breathed metal before the stadiums, the pyro, and the million-selling albums.
Fans were treated to a treasure trove of footage — Live at the Rainbow Theatre (1980), Beast Over Hammersmith (1982), Live at the Ruskin Arms (1980), and Live at the Marquee (1980) — plus rare interviews, TV performances, and behind-the-scenes stories that captured Maiden’s hunger to conquer the world. You can almost smell the sweat and beer from those early gigs!
For die-hards, it’s a reminder of just how hungry the band was back then — Paul Di’Anno snarling through the mic, Harris pounding that bass like a war drum, and Dave Murray shredding like the fate of metal itself depended on it. And, of course, Eddie — the undead legend — growing from sketchy club prop to full-blown horror-metal icon.
💿 Highlights from The Early Days
- Live at the Rainbow Theatre (1980)
- Beast Over Hammersmith (1982)
- Live at the Ruskin Arms (1980)
- Live at the Marquee (1980)
- The Early Years documentary
- Rare TV footage and interviews
This release wasn’t just about nostalgia — it was a celebration of grit, DIY spirit, and the unstoppable rise of one of the greatest metal bands in history. The History of Iron Maiden: Part 1 – The Early Days still stands as a definitive chronicle of how heavy metal found its voice — and its monster. ⚡
Up the Irons! 🩸
#IronMaiden #TheEarlyDays #NWOBHM #MetalHistory #EddieTheHead #TheRiffReport #OnThisDay #BritishMetal #KeepMetalAlive
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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