Steve Harris

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Steve Harris is an English bass player and songwriter, best known as the founder of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. He was born in Leytonstone, then still part of Essex, in 1956. As a boy he wanted to become a professional footballer and even trained at West Ham United. Then he discovered rock music, above all through The Beatles. He wanted to play drums, but had no room at home for a drum kit and therefore chose the bass guitar, which he taught himself to play. His first bass was a copy of a 1971 Fender Precision. He played in small bands, including Smiler, where his songs were found too complicated.

Music and breakthrough

In 1975 he founded Iron Maiden. The name comes from the film The Man in the Iron Mask. Until the contract with EMI in 1979 he worked as an architectural draughtsman and later as a street sweeper. He is the only one who has been in the band the whole time, and together with the guitarist Dave Murray he played on all the studio albums. In the early days he wrote almost all the music and lyrics. His lyrics often deal with mythology and history, and with books and films. Later came keyboards, backing vocals, co-production and the direction of live videos. With British Lion he made a hard rock side project, with the album British Lion from 2012.

Influence

For the history of pop his bass playing is the most important thing. He developed an influential style, the gallop, a fast, rolling bass pattern that can be heard on Run to the Hills and The Trooper. He also brought progressive changes of time signature and tempo into heavy metal. He is regarded as one of the best metal bass players ever.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 2012British Lion