by Former Iron Maiden guitarist Dennis Stratton recently shared his thoughts on the band’s current performances and his ongoing relationship with the members. He spoke on the Slowhands Rock Talk Show.
Stratton discussed his continued friendship with Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris. He also reflected on recent shows he attended.
“I speak to Steve all the time, mostly about shit West Ham football. He has been a West Ham supporter with a life full of misery,” Stratton said. “But yeah, I was with Steve in Finland a couple of weeks ago, and Simon [Dawson, new Iron Maiden drummer], who’s doing a fantastic job. Love Simon. I saw the show with the crazy Finns. And then we came back. I had a week at home. I was playing in the UK in London, and then we went to the London stadium, met up with them again, and had something to eat and drink.”
The guitarist was particularly impressed by the band’s performance at the London stadium.
“But the show at the London stadium, I was blown away. The sound was just unbelievable. I’ve been to many Donningtons, many Reading festivals and concerts at the O2, but for a metal band, every rock band [that played] at the London stadium, [they] never had a sound like it,” he continued. “The separation of the guitars was perfect. The power chords, the way they run on the guitars, they were singing, and Bruce’s voice was sounding great.”
Stratton’s positive comments about his former band carry particular weight given his unique position in Iron Maiden’s history.
Brave Words reported that Dennis Stratton was a guitarist in Iron Maiden during their early phase. He played on their self-titled debut album released in 1980, which became a classic and helped launch the band’s career. The album was recorded quickly with all songs mostly written before his arrival. He contributed harmony guitars with Dave Murray.
Stratton left Iron Maiden after a brief tenure primarily due to musical differences and band dynamics during their 1980 tour with Kiss. He was the only member to feature on just one studio album. He was fired amid tensions about the band’s direction and internal control issues. Various sources noted that Stratton also expressed discomfort with touring alongside singer Paul Di’Anno due to Di’Anno’s heavy drinking and behavior on stage.
Despite his short time with the band and the circumstances of his departure over four decades ago, Stratton has maintained a positive relationship with his former bandmates. Ultimate Guitar highlighted that the guitarist has made recent public comments praising the band’s current sound. This indicates that any past tensions have long since been resolved.
Stratton’s comments highlight both his enduring connection with his former bandmates and his appreciation for Iron Maiden’s continued musical excellence decades after his departure from the band.
