Subjective tropes goes to the YMMV page. If you're going to put a trope, check if that trope has a YMMV header.
Tropes which apply to everyone
Cool Plane: They go on tours in a customized Boeing 757 called "Ed Force One", piloted by Bruce Dickinson himself (who works as a commercial pilot between rocking).
Digital Piracy Is Evil: Averted. The band couldn't give less of a flying rat's behind if you downloaded their music. In fact, they encourage downloading of their music, and have even gone so far as to state "We're not like Metallica".
In an interview with Steve Harris, when asked about bootlegs
"I have some... I collect them."
The band also asked fans attending the first leg of Somewhere Back in Time to send over any video footage they took during the concerts, as they were hoping to include it in their documentary Flight 666.
In the Give me Ed 'Til I'm Dead Tour, Bruce said this once:
"... if you wanna record this song and you wanna put it on a world wide web - on the internet, so all your friends could listen to it - as long as you buy the album in September - we don't give a fuck my friends!"
Distaff Counterpart: The all-female, California-based tribute band The Iron Maidens. Special mention should go to the lead singer, Bruce Chickinson.
Great Balls of Fire: In addition to pyrotechnics, their shows include elaborate setpieces, a guy dressed as Eddie, and sometimes Bruce in costume and/or mask.
Start My Own: The less known drummer Thunderstick has also made a couple solo efforts after quitting Samson.
Arguably, the true Face of the Band. He started as a creation of Derek Riggs for a punk band, which got rejected. Harris then picked him up, and the rest is history. Eddie has been part of the band since their very beginnings.
I shouldn't have to say this, but NO "THIS TROPER" EDITS, PLZ!!!
Or, if you consider the fact that the first two are one artist, the latter two another: recent one from the first artist, and the first◊ from the other.
Verbal Tic Name: He started as a head that hanged above the drum kit. When the band members mentioned it, the London accent made it sound like "'ead", which soon evolved into "Eddie".
Arguably Iron Maiden's most well-known member, Bruce Dickinson sung in several bands before singing in Samson, band which was part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal in the early eighties. In 1982, after Paul Di'Anno left the band, he was hired as the new singer. That same year, "The Number Of The Beast" came out, and the rest is known history. He has also a solo career, which comprises albums of Hard Rock, (Tattooed Millionaire) Grunge (Skunkworks) and Heavy Metal. (Accident of Birth, The Chemical Wedding and Tyranny Of Souls)
The man has done enough to be guaranteed an own page.
Adrian Smith - Guitar
One of Maiden's main composers, Adrian joined the band in 1981, coming from Urchin. He was responsible for many of Maiden's biggest hits, and the band took a big hit in 1990 with his departure. He then had some Hard Rock projects (A.S.A.P., Psycho Motel) and played with Bruce Dickinson in two of his solo albums (Accident Of Birth and The Chemical Wedding) before coming back to Maiden in 1999, along with Bruce.
Creative Differences: He was tired of Iron Maiden's heavy sound, so he went to do his own project. ("Adrian Smith And Project", also known as "A.S.A.P.")
He started in The Eighties playing in a band called White Spirit. Then, he played with several musicians such as Fish, Ian Gillan and groups and projects such as Gogmagog (where he played with Clive Burr and Paul Di'Anno, former members of Iron Maiden) and Bruce Dickinson's first solo album. It was in fact thanks to Bruce that he was hired for Iron Maiden, as replacement for the then exiting Adrian Smith. He never left the band since then, even when Adrian Smith came back in 1999.
Aerith and Bob: Inverted: Paul, Adrian, Dave, Michael, Steve... and Janick.
Sixth Ranger: After Dickinson and Smith returned to the band. Specially, Smith asked to Harris that Gers shouldn't leave the band in order for him to return.
Dave Murray - Guitar
The only member of the band, along with Steve Harris, which played in every album Iron Maiden recorded.
Creator Breakdown: The X Factorwas an album Darker and Edgier than even Fear of the Dark. A lot of it comes from Steve Harris's divorce and his dad passing away. "Blood Brothers", from Brave New World is said to be about said death.
Not Christian Rock: He said he's not religious, even if many songs deal with spirituality. But the band is far from being Satanist.
Record Producer: After Martin Birch's retirement, he took part of the producing duties since The X Factor.
Step Up to the Microphone: Immediately before Maiden's second ever gig, Paul Di'Anno was arrested outside the club they were due to perform in for carrying a concealed switchblade. Ron Smallwood, their prospective manager, ended up ordering Steve to sing on the basis that he was the only one who knew all of the lyrics.
Garfunkel: He can be seen as this, considering that all the other 5 members are prolific composers but he has only written one album track. But he compensates by being one of the best drummers in the business.
Stage Names: He picked up that nick because of his favourite puppet.
Studio Chatter: Nicko has one in each of the last three albums. Also, the "Listen With Nicko" tracks in the re-releases of The Eighties' singles.
Former members
Be aware that we're counting just those who recorded at least one album with the band. With that said...
Dennis Stratton - Guitar
Creative Differences: He left the band because, according to Steve Harris in the DVD The Early Days, he was composing stuff which wasn't fit for what Maiden was.
Name's the Same: He shares his "Paul" name with PaulDay, and Paul Bruce Dickinson, both former and current vocalists of Maiden.
Start My Own: He went on many solo projects as well. (Battlezone, Killers and the band Di'Anno) Sadly subverted in that the majority of Di'Anno's solo career is spent playing old Maiden songs, either live, re-recording them for "best of" compilations, or appearing on Iron Maiden tribute albums.
Littlest Cancer Patient: He left music due to multiple sclerosis. Maiden has since founded a research fund on that disease to help him.
Start My Own: After Maiden, he played on Trust (Nicko's former band) Gogmagog (along his former Maiden bandmate Paul Di'Anno) and several other projects.
