List of Iron Maiden Band Members - Current Members

Current Members

Steve Harris

Active: 1975–present

Instruments: bass, backing vocals, studio keyboards (1998–present)

Release contributions: all Iron Maiden releases

Harris founded the band in December 1975 and is the group's only constant member.

Dave Murray

Active: 1976–1977, 1978–present

Instruments: lead and rhythm guitars

Release contributions: all Iron Maiden releases

After Steve Harris expressed his dissatisfaction with the abilities of then guitarists Dave Sullivan and Terry Rance, Murray auditioned for the band in late 1976 at the suggestion of then vocalist Dennis Wilcock. Following Rance and Sullivan's departure in December 1976, Murray joined the band for six months until he was sacked following an argument with Wilcock. Six months later, Wilcock left the band and Murray was immediately reinstated and has remained with the band ever since.

Adrian Smith

Active: 1980–1990, 1999–present

Instruments: lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals

Release contributions: all Iron Maiden releases from Killers (1981) to Maiden England (1989), then from Brave New World (2000) to present

The childhood friend of Dave Murray, Smith was originally asked to join the band in 1979 when the band were on the verge of signing with EMI but turned them down to continue with his own band, Urchin. A year later, Urchin split up and Smith joined Iron Maiden in November 1980. Smith agreed to leave Iron Maiden in 1990 as he did not approve of the direction the band were aiming for on their next album, No Prayer for the Dying. After a nine year absence, during which he formed his own band, Psycho Motel, and joined Bruce Dickinson's solo outfit, Smith was asked to rejoin Iron Maiden in 1999.

Bruce Dickinson

Active: 1981–1993, 1999–present

Instruments: lead vocals

Release contributions: all Iron Maiden releases from The Number of the Beast (1982) to Live at Donington (1993), then from Brave New World (2000) to present

Having admired the band from afar after first seeing them perform in 1980, Dickinson agreed to leave his band Samson to audition for Iron Maiden in September 1981 and was immediately hired. In 1993, after much deliberation, Dickinson decided to leave the band to focus on his solo career. Following a gap of six years, during which he released four solo albums, the band's manager, Rod Smallwood, convinced Dickinson to rejoin the band in January 1999.

Nicko McBrain

Active: 1982–present

Instruments: drums

Release contributions: all Iron Maiden releases from Piece of Mind (1983) to present

McBrain became friends with Iron Maiden when his previous band, Trust, supported them in 1981. When Clive Burr was sacked in late 1982, McBrain was immediately invited to join the group.

Janick Gers

Active: 1990–present

Instruments: lead and rhythm guitars

Release contributions: all Iron Maiden releases from No Prayer for the Dying (1990) to present

Upon Smith's departure from Iron Maiden in 1990, Gers, who was then a member of Dickinson's solo outfit, was asked to learn some of the band's songs for an audition held three days later, during which he was instantly hired. When Smith returned to Iron Maiden in 1999, Harris insisted that Gers remained in the group, creating their current three-guitar lineup.

• Steve Harris
  Bass

• Dave Murray
  Guitars

• Adrian Smith
  Guitars

• Bruce Dickinson
  Lead singer

• Nicko McBrain
  Drums

• Janick Gers
  Guitars

Iron Maiden performing at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa stadium, Costa Rica on 26 February 2008