For years, bass players have been the targets of tired jokes suggesting they’re the forgotten members of a rock band. But in the case of Iron Maiden, it’s impossible to imagine the band’s sound—or its success—without the singular vision of bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris.
According to longtime guitarist Dave Murray, having a bassist at the creative helm is actually one of the band’s greatest strengths. Speaking to MusicRadar in a recent interview, Murray reflected on how Harris’ unique musical perspective has continually challenged and expanded the band’s progressive-leaning metal sound.
“I think when Steve writes a song, there’s an identity to it. And it’s probably something a guitar player wouldn’t write, some of the melodies and the time changes. That’s great because it pushes you and stretches you as a player.”
Murray, who has been a member of Iron Maiden since 1976, is no stranger to songwriting himself, with credits on tracks like “Charlotte the Harlot,” “Judas Be My Guide,” and “Rainmaker.” Yet he has always embraced a more supportive role within the group, a dynamic he says suits him well.
“You do need someone upfront, and Steve‘s had that from the very beginning. Personally, I prefer to just be part of the team. I’m fine being laid back. It takes a lot to annoy me, because to me it’s a waste of time. I don’t need to have that anger.”
That even-keeled approach, Murray adds, finds a natural outlet through his playing: “And a lot of this stuff you can kind of channel through playing. Playing is like a form of self-therapy. So I don’t need anger management. I just enjoy playing the music.”
As Iron Maiden celebrates its 50th anniversary with the current Run for Your Lives tour, Murray took a moment to reflect on the personal sacrifices that come with life on the road. While he acknowledges there have been trade-offs, he remains grateful for how he’s managed to balance family life with his decades-long musical career.
“You try and keep that bond going with your kids, but obviously sometimes there are sacrifices to be made when you’re pursuing this thing that you really enjoy doing. But with this 50th anniversary, it’s nice to take it all in and go, ‘Yeah, I’ve actually been able to juggle family and been able to do this without anything suffering.’”
