THE EX-FACTOR
Between 1975 and 1980, Maiden got through five guitarists, three drummers, two vocalists and a keyboard player. We track down some of those missing in action…
PAUL MARIO DAY Vocals, 1975-76
“I worked close to where Steve Harris lived. One day I saw him the street, and asked whether he was looking for a singer. This was at the end of Gypsy’s Kiss, and they had a singer at the time. But shortly after he said he’d give me a try. My first gig was at a church hall in front of about 10 or 20 people.
But we quickly got a residency at the Cart & Horses every Thursday. We mostly did original material, songs that would end up on the first two Maiden albums. But we’d also do the occasional cover. The band’s sound was already in place. I wasn’t an experienced frontman, and that eventually counted against me. They wanted me to be more showbiz, and I didn’t know how. I also wanted to spend more time with my girlfriend, and couldn’t get time off work for gigs. So they finally got rid of me. I emigrated to Australia in 1986. I keep my hand in, by singing with a covers band at weekends.”
TONY MOORE Keyboards/synthesiser, 1977
“I answered an ad in Melody Maker. Maiden were looking for a keyboard player who could also play synth. I was living in Bristol, but drove to East London for my audition at Scarf Studios in Mile End. It was very relaxed, and they offered me the job. For a while I lived with Steve at his grandmother’s place. He and I spent ages talking about music, and his passion for the band impressed me. He was convinced they would be one of the biggest bands in the world. We rehearsed for months. They already had the songs on the debut album pretty much written, plus a couple from the second one. I only did one gig with them, at The Bridge House in Canning Town. It was obvious then that what I did wasn’t right for them. They needed two guitarists, and there was no room for a synth. I left soon afterwards. These days, I look after aspiring artists at
The Bedford in South London. One band I’m working with has Jake Smallwood as their singer – his dad is Rod.”
BOB SAWYER Guitar, December 1976 – spring 1977
“I was never auditioned by the band, I was straight in. Our first gig was for a function in a pub. Everyone was in tuxedos and ballgowns. Talk about being out of place. But they loved us. We then got a residency at the Cart & Horses in East London. Our set consisted mainly of songs that would eventually appear on the first Maiden album, plus a cover of Montrose’s I Got The Fire and an original called High Road In Time, which sounded like Trapeze. I did 50 gigs with Maiden, mostly in East London, which was our stronghold. Singer Dennis Wilcock was controlling the band at the time, and his ego was huge. He didn’t like me, and one day showed up at my house with one of our roadies, dropped off my gear and said I was out. He did the same with Dave! I’m now in a blues/jazz band called Firebird Seven. I’ve also written a book about my time in the music business.”
PAUL CAIRNS Guitar, 1978-79
“Iron Maiden wanted a second guitarist to work with Dave Murray. I answered an ad in
Melody Maker. On the day I turned up, there were eight guitarists before me, and this was the third or fourth day of auditions. Dave and I were equals, and rehearsed together a lot at Steve’s grandmother’s house. We both liked the
Thin Lizzy harmony guitar style, and that’s what we wanted to get into Maiden. I did less than 10 shows with them, and almost all of these were in East London. We regarded anything even in West London as a foreign gig! I played on all the tracks featured on
The Soundhouse Tapes, but never got credited for this. I was fired in spring ’79 because they claimed I wasn’t cutting it onstage.
But then I had only just come out of hospital. After a gig at the Cart & Horses, I was told they were replacing me. I reckon the band were looking for an excuse to get rid of me. Right now I’m in a country rock duo with a female singer.”
DENNIS STRATTON Guitar, 1979-80
“I was in a band called Remus Down Boulevard. Both Steve Harris and Dave Murray used to come and see us play at
The Bridge House [rock venue in East London]. When Maiden were looking for a second guitarist I sent them my details but never heard back. By chance, I bumped into Steve’s girlfriend on the bus and she told me they were anxious to get hold of me. I gave her my address, and the next day Rod Smallwood sent me a telegram asking me to call him. They gave me a cassette of a few songs with one guitar. I added some harmony ideas, and they offered me the gig. Maiden’s fanbase around the UK was massive, and there was a real rush to get the debut album out. Rod wanted to keep the five of us together as a gang, but I was married with a child and wanted to spend time with my family. This, combined with the fact that I seemed to get on better than anyone else with some members of Judas Priest and Kiss when we supported them, eventually led to them firing me in October 1980. These days, I play with Maiden tribute bands all over the world.”
“I GOT ON BETTER WITH JUDAS PRIEST AND KISS WHEN WE SUPPORTED THEM”
DENNIS STRATTON