Iron Maidens

Minikiss rocks hard — proving that size just doesn't matter. Watch video »

If there's an Elvis in heaven, he'd want "Thai Elvis" paying him tribute. Watch video »

Tribute bands: They’re unreal — from Led Zepplica to ACDShe. Watch video »

All-female tributes to all-guy bands are just plain hot. Check the vids Iron Maidens uploaded to Underground if you need proof. Even if you don't need proof check them. I mean, five awesome female musicians rocking "Number of the Beast" live, onstage, beside Beelzebub himself — you don't have to be a metalhead to live for that. Though the Maidens are L.A.-based, they play all over the place (check their schedule), so children of the damned everywhere can catch them live. This wrathchild has yet to have the pleasure, though I did track them down for a little email jam.

Brad: Why a tribute band?

Maidens: We did it for fun, during downtime with a couple of the girls' original bands. We started jamming Maiden tunes and noticed a ton of people looking through the rehearsal door window. We thought, "Hey, let's just do a show for fun." Our first show sold out and it's been a rocket ride ever since. We sort of opened doors for females who wanted to play good music, even if it was male-dominated. The tribute scene, especially the all-female, gender-bender tributes to male bands, really took off and became the Uber-hot thing, so tributes provide a lot of work and take you to places and countries you may never go with an original project.

Brad: Of all the bands you could have chosen, why Iron Maiden? Why not Heart or the Go-Gos? Why a guy band?

Maidens: We are all big fans of Iron Maiden and love their music, energy and sound. While both (Heart and the Go-Gos) have a place in music, it was the complexity and intricacies of Iron Maiden music that intrigued us. It's not easy music to play or perform correctly. That was a whole challenge in itself. (Maiden) were the ones playing that style of metal music that combines twin guitar attack with complex harmonies and melodies interwoven through a hard, aggressive, energy-driven metal style. We would have been playing that if Iron Maiden happened to be all female or unisex. Just turns out that they are all male.

Brad: Are you Maidens all dyed-in-the-wool metalheads?

Maidens: All die-hard metalheads—but we love all types of music, as well. From Barry Manilow to Tower of Power. Good music is good music. Metal is just a whole lot more fun for us to play! Everyone in the band has vast musical tastes and interests. Our tastes range from rock to blues, hip-hop to rap, easy listening/soft jazz to classical. It's all there between the five of us.

Brad: Are any of you in original bands?

Maidens: We have all been in original bands. Linda, the drummer, was in Phantom Blue, which was on Geffen records, among others. Aja toured and did an album with Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band. Sara and Heather have had original bands that have toured the U.S. and done quite well. We've been knocking around original tunes here and there with the Maidens, so you never know what might happen.

Brad: How often do the Maidens play out?

Maidens: Just about every weekend and a day or two during the week. We also do about three or four tours a year. We've toured from L.A. to N.Y., Alaska, Japan, Korea, Guam, Mexico, Canada.

Brad: So do you make your livings being Iron Maidens?

Maidens: We do quite well. We all make our living through music — playing, recording, teaching, gigging. The Maidens take up the bulk of our time, but when we are not doing that, we all work in music. Some of us do a lot of studio work. Linda, our drummer, just did the bulk of the drums on her ex-Phantom Blue bandmate's album "Meldrum." Aja does a lot of jingles and session work. Wanda plays with the South Coast Symphony in the principal bass chair. Sara and Heather are both writing material for solo releases in the near future. Others will sit in with other bands or do funk and blues gigs at bars and other venues. A couple girls give music lessons. If it has to do with music, someone in the band is doing it somewhere.

Brad: Barbershop quartets?

Maidens: Not yet, but if they pay well, you never know. Maiden done barbershop style ... ummmm ... interesting!

Brad: Do you have dedicated fans?

Maidens: Oh yes. Some have been to over 60 or 70 shows. Iron Maiden fans are the most loyal and dedicated in the world!

Brad: What about groupies?

Maidens: Now you know that ladies never kiss and tell :)

Brad: Any surprises on the way from the Maidens?

Maidens: Yes! We are always adding new and different songs to the set so you will never see the same show twice. We'll be opening for KISS (yes—the real KISS) on July 25 in San Diego. We have a new Japanese EP/DVD release coming out May 23 through Powerslave Records! It includes four studio tracks and one live track with Phil Campbell of Motorhead joining us on "The Trooper." Plus there's footage of the band performing eight songs live in concert! You can pick it up at our online store or at any of our live shows.

We'd like to send a big "thank you" out to all the Iron Maiden fans who support Maiden and metal music and allow us to keep doing what we love doing — which is paying tribute to the GREATEST heavy metal band of all time, IRON MAIDEN!