“If someone says they don’t like something, that makes me embrace it even more”: Steve Harris defends Iron Maiden’s No Prayer For The Dying album – and names the one radical thing he’d change about if
Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris has defended the band’s 1990 album No Prayer For The Dying, arguing that it is much stronger than its reputation suggests. The album is often viewed less favourably than several of the band’s most celebrated records, but Harris’s comments underline the gap between critical or fan consensus and an artist’s own view of their work.
Released as Iron Maiden’s eighth studio album, No Prayer For The Dying is contrasted with albums including The Number Of The Beast, Powerslave, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son and A Matter Of Life And Death. Harris spoke to Metal Hammer for a feature reassessing metal albums widely regarded as poor, and said he particularly embraces music when others say they dislike it; he also identified one major change he would make to the record.
- Steve Harris strongly defends Iron Maiden’s No Prayer For The Dying.
- The 1990 album remains less celebrated than several Maiden classics.
- Harris says criticism can make him value music more.