Music
The Iron Maidens' double-X chromosome doppelgangers rock in the shadow of greatness
Courtesy photo
The Iron Maidens, led by singer "Bruce Chickinson" (center).
Published: July 11, 2012
It's got to be strange, being in a one-band cover group. No matter how much you master your craft, no matter how daring your stage presence or how intense your live shows, there's got to be the constant sensation of living in another band's shadow.
But the Iron Maidens aren't complaining. With one of the hardest touring schedules imaginable and the joy of playing in front of 40,000 screaming fans on a good night, the all-female Iron Maiden cover band is loving every minute of it. And let's face it — not everyone gets a chance to see the real thing. The opportunity to see four attractive women dressed to the nines who are capable of thrashing out note-perfect and highly energetic versions of the songs they love must be the next best thing to millions of fans.
Why Iron Maiden? What is it about them that so appeals to their double-X-chromosome doppelgangers?
"What's not to love about Iron Maiden?" counters founding member and lead singer Kirsten Rosenberg, aka Bruce Chickinson. "They're an intelligent band with intelligent lyrics, sophisticated music, and a great stage presence. I fell in love with them the first time I heard their songs."
The Iron Maidens have been touring the world since they were founded 11 years ago and, as one of the most established of a wave of female heavy metal cover bands that emerged in the last decade, they've become spokeswomen for a phenomenon big enough to rate coverage in The New York Times. Luckily, they look on fellow travelers like Misstallica, Lez Zeppelin, and PRISS more as comrades than as competition.
"We're one big metal family," beams drummer Linda McDonald (code name: Nikko McBurrain). "We even loan each other members from time to time."
All the hard work has paid off: the Iron Maidens have gotten the thumbs up from the harshest critics imaginable — Iron Maiden itself. And, ironically, they're capable of delivering Maiden in a purer form than their inspiration.
"We're not up there playing songs from The Final Frontier," says Rosenberg, referring to Iron Maiden's 2011 album. "You can go see Iron Maiden on tour and get that. We present more of what you might call the classic-era Iron Maiden experience." Who can beat that? •
The Iron Maidens, Evil Eyes, Baad News, Evil Come, Evil Go, Reecluse, and others
$10-$20
Doors at 6pm Fri, July 13
Backstage Live
1305 E Houston
(210) 224-2749
backstagelivesa.com
> Email Leonard Pierce
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