DENNIS STRATTON AND STEVE 'LOOPY' NEWHOUSE RUN FREE ON THE EARLY IRON MAIDEN YEARS 20th May 2017 Video: Mark Taylor, Words: Steve Göldby, Pictures: Noel Buckley Former Iron Maiden guitarist Dennis Stratton, who played on the greatest debut album of all time, Maiden's 1980 self-titled release, performs at The Crown in Hornchurch on the first Sunday of every month with his pre-Maiden band, Remus Down Boulevard, who reformed last decade. Original RDB guitarist Dave Edwards, who makes a cameo appearance in this video, is currently a band member, along with Laurie Dalziel on bass and drummer Martin 'Magic' Johnson. Dennis was asked to join Maiden by leader and founder Steve Harris and the pair share an interesting parallel; both were on the books of West Ham United Football Club until they independently decided to hang up their boots in their teens and pursue a career in Heavy Metal. And we're very glad they both made that decision or Metal history would have most certainly been somewhat different. Still showing all the vigour and enthusiasm that led to him becoming a member of the world's most important Metal band, Dennis speaks eloquently about his time in Maiden and the circumstances that led to his departure, plus the preceding years as a mamber of Praying Mantis and much, much more. There are anecdotes in this conversation that will delight all Iron Maiden fans, both old and new. Steve 'Loopy' Newhouse is also well known to MetalTalk readers as we serialised 'Loopyworld', Steve's story of his time with Maiden which stretched from before Paul Di'Anno joined as frontman, right though to the 'Powerslave' days. It's a superb read which you can peruse right here. 'Loopyworld' has now been turned into a book, 'Loopyworld - The Iron Maiden Years', which expands on those columns and also adds much much more, from recently rediscovered diaries, and what a find they were. It is fascinating, engaging and often hilarious stuff, with heavy doses of poignancy dotted about too. The full book review is right here. Maiden's 'The Book Of Souls' UK tour is in full swing and Steve is out on the road selling copies of the book and raising money for charity on his own 'The Book Of Sales' UK tour. If you're going to a Maiden gig this month, you should go and find him and say "hello". Should you miss him, you can get a copy of 'Loopyworld - The Iron Maiden Years' right here. Here's the full conversation with Dennis and Loopy. Enjoy...