Iron Maiden bassist and founder Steve Harris will be taking his other band British Lion out on the road in January 2024.
The 16-date tour opens with a very special show at the Cart & Horses pub in London on Thursday 4th January where Iron Maiden played many of their embryonic concerts.
British Lion’s trek then visits Milton Keynes, Bradford, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Carlisle, Colchester, Margate, Merthyr Tydfil, Frome, Bournemouth, Isle of Wight, Gravesend and Southend before concluding at Hastings Black Box on Tuesday 23rd January.
Special guest at all dates will be Tony Moore’s Awake (one man show). Tony Moore was a fleeting keyboardist with Iron Maiden way back in 1977.
Tickets to the vast majority of the shows are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now. For all the dates, head to British Lion’s official website.
Commenting on British Lion’s January jaunt, Steve Harris says: “We’re all excited to announce an extensive tour of the UK in January, kicking off with a special warm up show at the Cart and Horses in London.
“Tony Moore’s Awake (one man show) will be our very special guest for the tour. Tony was, of course, in Iron Maiden back in 1977 so it is great to have him on the bill.
“2024 will also see us make our third appearance on The Monsters Of Rock Cruise in March. We can’t wait to see you all out on the road!”Paul Day
Bassist and sole constant band member Steve Harris founded Iron Maiden on Christmas Day 1975 after he exited his previous group Smiler for ventures new.
Harris took the band’s moniker from the medieval iron maiden torture device after watching the 1939 movie The Man in the Iron Mask.
Alongside Harris, the first incarnation of Iron Maiden featured vocalist , guitarists Terry Rance and Dave Sullivan, and drummer Ron Matthews.
The band made their live debut at St Nick’s Hall in Poplar on 1st May 1976 and soon took up a residency at the Cart & Horses Pub in Maryland, Stratford, which rightfully calls itself The Birthplace of Iron Maiden.
Iron Maiden underwent numerous line-up changes throughout the late 70s with singer Paul Day the first to get axed in favour of Dennis Wilcock who mimicked his favourite band by wearing make-up and using fake blood during performances.
Other members throughout this period included drummers Barry Purkis and Doug Sampson, keyboardist Tony Moore, and guitarists Bob Sawyer and Terry Wapram.
Current Iron Maiden axeman Dave Murray joined Iron Maiden in 1976 but was sacked a year later following an argument with Wilcock.
When Wilcock left 1978, Murray was reinstated to the band and has remained a constant member of Iron Maiden ever since.
Paul Di’Anno was recruited as vocalist in November 1978 and shortly before New Year, Iron Maiden recorded the three-track EP ‘The Soundhouse Tapes’, which was limited to 5,000 copies and is now a highly sought-after collector’s item.
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