Love Lines
A great bass-line in 96 words.
Iron Maiden, ‘Phantom Of The Opera’ (1980) One of those rare songs – a long, multi-sectioned composition that doesn’t outstay its welcome – Iron Maiden’s sumptuous ‘Phantom Of The Opera’ is, like all Maiden songs, a bassist’s dream. Bandleader and primary songwriter Steve Harris is a bass player of superb skill and panache, combining his love of Seventies prog and punk to form a sleek but melodic approach that was already fully evolved on Maiden’s first album. The bass solo – a simple I-IV-V that moves down a tone for two successive bars before moving back up and repeating – is a thing of sheer beauty.