IRON MAIDEN Guitarist: 'We've Always Done Things Our Own Way, Touring, Making Albums'

Joel Weiss of Creative Loafing recently conducted an interview with guitarist Dave Murray of British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Creative Loafing: After many years of being mostly ignored by the American media, what did the recent "Best Metal Performance" Grammy Award for "El Dorado" mean to you guys?

Dave: We got nominated a couple years back for "The Wicker Man". We've been aware of it, but it's not the thing that would make or break IRON MAIDEN. We've always done things our own way, touring, making albums. It's a very nice compliment to be acknowledged and to have this award — it's any band's dream to get awards. It's great to just exist as a band and play for an audience. We're very proud of it, we've been around for quite a while, obviously somebody's taken that we've been around for quite a while — maybe that nudged it in the right direction. Not sure who votes on that stuff. Ultimately, it's the IRON MAIDEN fans at the top of our priority. They come first.

Creative Loafing: Since the last lineup change when Bruce [Dickinson] and (guitarist Adrian Smith) rejoined, I think this has been the longest period in the band's history where the same lineup has played together. How has that affected the chemistry and songwriting?

Dave: This is it, really. This is how the band will exist in the future. I can't see there being any changes. Ultimately it's the perfect lineup because it does extend back to when Adrian was in the band for the first few albums. And obviously when Bruce was in the band, so this is obviously the strongest and most creative lineup MAIDEN has ever had. Everything kind of gels and glues together really well. As far as rehearsing and writing, everything fits into place nicely. We just sit down like we always do and work out songs. We wouldn't be changing anymore. This is it — I think we're kinda far along enough now to say. Also, it's my favorite lineup, and also most of the other guys. There's a chance for everyone to play and enjoy what they're doing.

Creative Loafing: "The Final Frontier" came out less than a year ago. Any talk about the next record?

Dave: A lot of the time you plan ahead, and things tend to get in the way. At the moment it's nice to focus on the here and now. We're on tour, we've got another later this summer, and then we'll all need a rest. Possibly there will be, but it's hard to say at the moment. It definitely won't be next year, anyway. My gut feeling is once we sit down, if everyone's up for it — that's the main thing — then we'll go for it.

Creative Loafing: How has [the Internet] impacted a band like IRON MAIDEN, which known for big rock shows? The degree of rehearsal you have to go through, and then setlists get published for every single show. How do you feel about that? Do you think it takes some of the surprise out of it for fans?

Dave: I know that the fans, because it's all up there — sometimes they're out there with cell phones and video and share it up on YouTube before we get back to the hotel. There's not a lot you can do about it. It's just the way things are. Yeah, it has taken the element of surprise out of it. If they want to found out exactly what songs we're playing and so forth. It's just a sign of the times. People want everything, because of e-mail and all, people want everything quick and fast. Now, now, now. You can't deny its existence or you'll get left behind. I think it balances out in the end though. There probably will be less CD sales or people in record stores, but at the same time they're downloading from iTunes — where you can download legally if you like. And people exchange their music catalogues quite freely across the Internet with their shared computers and everything. I think you just have to embrace it, and the only way to do that is go out there and play and tour and make albums. There's not a lot to do about it really.

Read the entire interview from Creative Loafing.