'Something genuinely new for fans … essential reading.' – MetalTalk Podcast

'The fervour of a fan and the analysis of an expert critic ... digs deep into the music and its making with refreshing energy' – Record Collector

Beware the Beast: hard rock pioneers Iron Maiden boast numerous awards, countless No. 1 albums and singles worldwide, and over 130 million sales. And with 2025 marking fifty years since their founding, there is simply nobody like them.

With three generations of fans oiling the jaws of the war machine, Iron Maiden have roved across continents for fifty years, uniting fans worldwide under the twin banners of great music and unforgettable visuals. Between the talismanic talent of Bruce Dickinson, the genius songwriting of Steve Harris and the demonic undead gaze of Eddie, there is nowhere to hide from one of heavy metal’s last true behemoths.

This beautifully illustrated keepsake celebrates the epic, all-conquering albums and gets under the skin of a group of characters unlike any other. Using unseen photographs and new stories from over 80 original interviews, including with virtually all ex-band members, renowned music writer Joe Shooman has painted a truly kaleidoscopic, 360-degree portrait of Iron Maiden and their immortal music. Own it, read it and get ready to run for your lives.

Something genuinely new for fans … essential reading. * MetalTalk Podcast *
The fervour of a fan and the analysis of an expert critic ... digs deep into the music and its making with refreshing energy. There are loads of Maiden books, official and otherwise, so the author deploys the necessary due diligence to make his tome stand out * Record Collector *
Packed with photos and based on new interviews with those in the know...author Joe Shooman...provides a comprehensive overview of their music and profiles key personnel, including every former frontman of what he rightly describes as "the most successful heavy metal band in history" -- David Roy * Irish News *

Joe Shooman is a music journalist of long-standing (Mixmag, Metal Hammer Special Editions, Record Collector, Daily Star etc.) whose Bruce Dickinson biography has never been out of print since it was first released in 2007. An updated edition, entitled Maiden Voyage, has sold steadily since its 2015 release. His contacts and insight are second to none.