Ok ok, So I just sent a HUGE email to a friend of mine, attempting to persaude him why he should give Iron Maiden a listen. Here is my argument.... This is very Long. 

 They are British?! And Bruce Dickinson is called "The most Charming man in metal".  and he is 52! Wow and still does what he does! Thats my dads age!


Its not just all "heavy meta"l crap with them. The majority of there songs actually discuss politics, History, and there opinions on the world today (the newest album) - such as the influence of the media.
The reason I like them very much is they dont sing about pointless crap such as what you find in the music of today (Rap, R&B, Pop) In fact most of it is interesting and based on historical truth.
For example.


The songs.. "War related"


Aces High- Is all about the battle of Britain, and the hardship that the British people faced and the influence of Churchill.


The Trooper- This song is based on an actual event and the Alfred Lord Tennyson poem called the "charge of the light brigade".
During the crimean war (1853-1856) about 670 british cavalrymen charged russian artillery positions through what became known as the valley of death (balaclava, crimea).
The troopers (cavalry soldiers) were torn apart by the Russians.


Paschendale- Based on the battle of Paschendale- a horrific WWI battle also known as "The Third Battle of Ypres" on October 12-26 1917. In this battle, there were many casualties - the Germans lost approximately 250,000 men, while the British forces lost about 300,000, including 36,500 Australians; 90,000 British and Australian bodies were never identified, and 42,000 were never recovered


The Longest Day- .This is about D-Day or the Normandy landings, similarities are also drawn with Gallipoli. It really speaks of the horrors and the sacrifices the soldiers made. They are "taking bullets for the people who sent them there."
It's as if the politicians who send the soldiers to war are using them as a renewable resource, replacing them with new ones as they get killed.


"Politics"


Where the wild wind Blows- Basically, it's about something that is all too real in modern society - the sensationalization of disaster. The BP oil spill is the worst in U.S. history, so it gets daily coverage; the seafood business is down a lot more than expected because of the false assumption that all Gulf seafood is tainted by oil. It also looks at how society and the media views things- "Have you heard what they said on the news today?Have you heard what is coming to us all?"


El Dorado- It is very cynical about the economic situation that's been happening for the past few years. It seemed a bit like a perfect storm; people were borrowing money like crazy. I thought, 'This is really going to screw people up' and sure enough, the majority of the world is in economic trouble. And that's what El Dorado is about, it's about selling somebody the myth that 'The streets are paved with gold' and them asking, 'Where do I sign up?'."


2 Minutes to Midnight- Is about the threat of the Cold war on the world, as it could cause a nuclear winter, which would have made it dark for years (hence "midnight is all night"). The actual line "2 minutes to midnight" is saying how close it was to happening, "midnight" represents the Cold war. Actually, the "2 minutes" refers to an actual system the U.S. used to determine how close they were to nuclear war, Midnight being the start of the nuclear holocaust.


Where eagles dare-  Is based on the movie "Where Eagles dare" is WWII spy-movie about a group of allied commandos operating under British intelligence in the winter of 1943-1944. Their mission involves parachuting into the snowy Alps behind enemy lines and infiltrate the otherwise unreachable caste know as “The Caste of the Eagles”. A complicated mission like this never goes completely as planned and the soldiers soon finds that the challenge has gone from extremely difficult to virtual impossible.


Be quick or be dead- Yeah, this song really does speak for it self. Be quick or be dead. All about living in today's cut-throat society, and how the rich people truly have all the power. Money is what makes our lives worth, but it also kills us. You've gotta be quick, or you'll be dead.


Hallowed be thy name- Discusses the ethics behind capital punishment, And looks into the possibility of people being executed without just cause, and how people reflect on death as they approach it.


"Religion"


The Sign of the Cross- This is about the inquisition, where catholics tortured and burned a tonne of "heretics" often when you pray to god for forgivness you have to admit you dont deserve access to heaven "Why the is God still protecting me Even when I don't deserve it" And when judgment day comes god will judge our souls, "Holding communion so the world be blessed
My creator, my God'll lay my soul to rest". This is one of my  favorite songs because it has such a powerful chorus... "The sign of the cross The name of the rose... a fire in the sky, The sign of the cross"


For the greater good of God- This is about how Religion has caused many wars and suffering over the years, but it is not the religion to blame but the leaders.  It shows how the beauty of faith has been perverted by certain leaders. Whether it be the Crusades, bin-Laden or countless other bloody acts in the name of religion, it is all contrary to what God would want from us.
"He gave his life for us
He fell upon the cross
To die for all of those
who never mourn his loss
It wasn't meant for us
to feel the pain again
Tell me why, tell me why"



"Historical Figures"


Alexander the Great- Well, obviously the song's about Alexander the Great. Brilliant song, especially seeing as it's surprsingly historically accurate. It's very difficult to write an accurate song about someone that actually existed.
How on earth did they get all that suprisingly true to its word infomation to rhyme? Its near impossible to get any infomation to rhyme. This is musical genius!



Some which suit your forte...


Rime of the ancient mariner- Based on the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge  "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner relates the supernatural events experienced by a mariner on a long sea voyage. The mariner stops a man who is on the way to a wedding ceremony, and begins to recite his story. The wedding guest's reaction turns from bemusement and impatience to fascination as the mariner's story progresses.
The mariner's tale begins with his ship leaving harbour. Despite initial good fortune, the ship is driven off course by a storm and, driven south, eventually reaches Antarctica. An albatross, traditionally a good omen, appears and leads them out of the threatening land of ice; even as the albatross is praised by the ship's crew, however, it is shot by the mariner with a crossbow, for reasons unknown. This crime arouses the wrath of supernatural spirits who then pursue the ship; the south wind which had initially led them from the land of ice now sends the ship into uncharted waters, where it is becalmed.


Ghost of the Navigator- This is based upon Odysseus from Homers Odyssey. And it discusses the feelings of being alone out at sea, and the appreciation for land, when you are surrounded by water and the longing for home.


As for the "music" being dreadful, its usually the instruments, and the lyrics that draws people to this music. In comparison to other bands who just blab on about nothing for 3.00 mins, when Iron Maiden can really play for 12.00 mins and get a message, historical and political information across. Thats musical talent.


I hope you take my argument into consideration :) and give them a try (it doesn't hurt to try!) . Sorry this is ridiculously long! Enjoy your long weekend.