The Iron Maidens

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The Iron Maidens
(From L to R): Sara Marsh, Aja Kim, Linda McDonald, Wanda Ortiz, Heather Baker
(From L to R): Sara Marsh, Aja Kim, Linda McDonald, Wanda Ortiz, Heather Baker
Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genre(s) Heavy Metal
Tribute
Years active 2001 – present
Label(s) DRZ Records
Powerslave Records
Associated acts Iron Maiden
Phantom Blue
The Little Dolls
The Afterlife
Bandit
Website www.theironmaidens.com
Members
Aja Kim (Bruce "Lee" Chickinson)
Linda McDonald (Nikki McBurrain)
Sara Marsh (Mini Murray)
Wanda Ortiz (Steph Harris)
Heather Baker (Adrienne Smith)
Former members
Elizabeth Schall (Adrianne Smith)
Melanie Sisneros (Steve Heiress)
Josephine Soegijanty (Adrienne Smith)
Jenny Warren (Bruce Chickinson)

The Iron Maidens are an all-female, Iron Maiden tribute band formed in Los Angeles, California, USA in 2001. They are the "World's Only Female Tribute To Iron Maiden".

Contents

[edit] Background

The Iron Maidens are an all-female tribute band to the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. Formed in Southern California in 2001, the band has appeared in venues across the USA, Canada, Japan, Spain, Korea, Mexico, Greece, Turkey and Guam. With a theatrical stage show that includes appearances by the Iron Maiden mascot, Eddie, the Grim Reaper and the Devil, the band performs material from most eras of Iron Maiden's career.

The Iron Maidens have opened for Kiss, Great White, Danzig, Cypress Hill, Snoop Dogg, Jackyl, Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO), Live, Nevermore, Nightwish and have been the recipients of awards that include best tribute band, as well as best in category (guitar, bass, drums, voice) at events such as The Rock City News Awards, The LA Music Awards, and The All Access Magazine Award Show. The band have been joined on stage by Alex Skolnick of Testament, Lemmy and Phil Campbell from Motörhead and Jeff Loomis of Nevermore.

In 2005, the Maidens released a full length tribute album that features cover artwork of the female version of Eddie, called Edwina, created by original Iron Maiden album cover artist, Derek Riggs. 2007 saw the release of Route 666, a 2 disc CD/DVD combination on their Japanese label Powerslave Records. The disc features 4 new studio tracks produced by Grammy award winning producer Bob Kulick and a live track of "The Trooper" with Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell on guest guitar. The DVD portion features live multi-camera angles of 8 songs plus 2 songs featuring Iron Maiden touring keyboardist (and Steve Harris' bass guitar technician) Michael Kenney playing keyboards. 2008 brings The Root of All Evil, a 4 song EP on their Japanese label Powerslave Records.

The band was originally formed in June 2001 by Jenny Warren and Melanie Sisneros, both formerly of the obscure co-ed southern California Iron Maiden tribute band, Wrathchild. Members Sara Marsh (formerly of Bandit), Linda McDonald and Josephine Soegijanty (both formerly of Phantom Blue) joined Warren and Sisneros shortly afterwards to form The Iron Maidens' first lineup.

On late August 2002, Sisneros performed her last show with the Maidens before leaving the band to pursue other music projects (including a Megadeth tribute band called Hangar 18, an all-female AC/DC tribute band called Whole Lotta Rosies, and an original metal band called Crescent Shield). Less then a month later, Wanda Ortiz made her debut as the band's new bassist.[1] Warren gave notice of her departure on November 2003, but the band did not make it official until March 2004.[2] (Interestingly enough, Warren reunited with Sisneros and performed a one-off reunion show with Wrathchild shortly after her departure from the Maidens for the second Metal Jam, an annual Southern California show that raises funds for autism charities, primarily Autism Speaks (formerly Cure Autism Now!.)[3] On May of that year, new vocalist Aja Kim made her debut in the band. Soegijanty (who now goes by the name Jojo Draven) left the band in 2005 to continue her career in the film/production business.[4] Elizabeth Schall (who currently plays with the metal band Dreaming Dead) joined in 2005, but was released from the band on October 2006.[5] For a few shows, Michelle Meldrum - Linda McDonald's former bandmate in Phantom Blue - filled in as a substitute guitarist. On February 2007, Heather Baker (who also runs a side project band called The Afterlife) joined the Maidens and has performed with them ever since.

[edit] Equipment and endorsements

The Iron Maidens use equipment and are endorsed by Paiste, Vic Firth, Drum Workshop, Digitech, Soldano, D'Addario, G&L, Dunlop Manufacturing, RotoSound, SIT strings, BBE Sound, GHS strings, Rocktron, Coffin Case, ENGL Amps and Monster Energy Drink.

[edit] Media appearances

The Iron Maidens and its members have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Guitar World, Metal Edge, Modern Drummer, Kerrang, Metal Hammer, LA Weekly, OC Weekly, Portland Tribune, The Orange County Register, ABC’s Livin’ Large TV Show, The National Enquirer, FHM, Maxim, Playboy, Rip, Aardshock, LA New Times, Chicago Local Live Magazine, two MTV videos, 54321 on Fox Sports Net, two Hard N' Heavy video Mag episodes, KCAL-TV (Los Angeles, CA) and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Members

[edit] Current members

[edit] Number of shows performed

  • Aja Kim – 170 shows as of 5/28/08
  • Sara Marsh – 244 shows as of 5/28/08
  • Heather Baker – 75 shows as of 5/28/08
  • Wanda Ortiz – 228 as of 5/28/08
  • Linda McDonald – 243 as of 5/28/08

[edit] CD/DVD appearances

  • Aja Kim – 4 CDs / 2 DVDs
  • Sara Marsh – 4 CDs / 2 DVDs
  • Heather Baker – 2 CD / 0 DVDs
  • Wanda Ortiz – 4 CDs / 2 DVDs
  • Linda McDonald – 4 CDs / 2 DVDs

[edit] Former members

  • Elizabeth Schall (Adrianne Smith) – Guitar; (48 total shows performed)(2005-2006)
  • Melanie Sisneros (Steve Heiress) – Bass Guitar; (15 total shows performed)(2001-2002)
  • Josephine Soegijanty (Adrienne Smith) – Guitar; (115 total shows performed)(2001-2005)
  • Jenny Warren (Bruce Chickinson) – Vocals; (73 total shows performed)(2001-2003)

[edit] Former member's CD/DVD appearances

  • Elizabeth Schall – 0 CDs / 0 DVDs
  • Melanie Sisneros – 0 CDs / 0 DVDs
  • Josephine Soegijanty – 2 CDs / 2 DVDs
  • Jenny Warren – 0 CDs / 0 DVDs

[edit] Line-Ups

Year Vocals Guitars Bass Drums
2007 – present Aja Kim Sara Marsh Heather Baker Wanda Ortiz Linda McDonald
2005 – 2006 Aja Kim Sara Marsh Elizabeth Schall Wanda Ortiz Linda McDonald
2004 – 2005 Aja Kim Sara Marsh Josephine Soegijanty Wanda Ortiz Linda McDonald
2002 – 2003 Jenny Warren Sara Marsh Josephine Soegijanty Wanda Ortiz Linda McDonald
2001 – 2002 Jenny Warren Sara Marsh Josephine Soegijanty Melanie Sisneros Linda McDonald

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Iron Maidens - Show History
  2. ^ Blabbermouth.net - The Iron Maidens Part Ways with Bruce Chickinson, Vow to Carry On
  3. ^ Blabbermouth.net - MetalJam 2004 to Benefit the Cure Autism Now! Foundation
  4. ^ The Iron Maidens Forums - Rust Festival 2005
  5. ^ The Iron Maidens Forums - Cane's

[edit] External links