Metal legends Iron Maiden are in consideration for nomination for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Not that they really care about the honor, but metal fans would love to see another iconic band get their long overdue recognition.
Bassist Steve Harris gave a recent interview to Classic Rock Magazine, and unfortunately it doesn’t paint a lengthy picture for Iron Maiden sticking around far into the future.
Harris said the band is currently enjoying touring the world so much now “maybe because we know that we’re coming towards the end.”
He continued: “Who knows for sure? At the moment we want to tour as much as we can. But even if we did semi-retire [from playing live], we could still make albums. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
“I always thought that it would be nice to make fifteen albums, which we’ve surpassed. It’s all downhill from here, isn’t it? [Laughs.] But each of us is still enjoying it – possibly more than ever – maybe because we know that we’re coming towards the end. We try not to think too much about that, but so long as everyone still enjoys what we do we’ll keep on going as long as we can.”
Harris, who turned 67 this month, talked about the band’s rigorous touring schedule.
“It makes me think: ‘Let’s get out there and do stuff while I still can,” he said. “People ask me how I still do what I do. The truth is that I don’t even think about that. The time will come when I will no longer be able to. I don’t even want to consider that.”
It’s a sad realization that many of hard rock and heavy metal’s most iconic bands are nearing retirement. Ozzy Osbourne call it quits from touring earlier this year. AC/DC has members in their ’70s. Metallica’s James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich will also both turn 60 later this year.
Harris addressed if Maiden might be more interested in doing shorter songs like “Run To The Hills” in the future. He said right now he’s more into the lenghty, prog-metal side of Maiden.
“I tend to meander off,” he said. “But part of the direction of (the band’s most recent album) ‘Senjutsu’ was me thinking: ‘If this is to be our last album, then I want to use some of the bigger ideas that I’ve got.'”
