[deathpunk dan]

I concur with the earlier assessment that Iron Maiden were one of the great metal bands that turned into caricatures. Technically, they were part of something music geeks refer to as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. This was a late 70s - early 80s trend away from blues-based hard rock (think Zep, Deep Purple et al), with the speed and aggression of punk rock + a lot more musicality in general.

Iron Maiden's 1985 live album, documenting their '84 world tour, is great. Their studio albums up through that time are genre classics. Bruce Dickenson, fwiw, is not the original singer, and the earliest stuff has a slightly different feel.

A great band in their time that should not be (unfairly) lumped in w/hair bands. A great throwback to see nowadays.

PS Motorhead is better - though my Motorhead discography spans 76-81 and I've never listened to anything recorded after that.