Founder of the long-running heavy metal outfit Iron Maiden, bassist/songwriter Steve Harris was born in London in March 1957. A soccer player in his youth, he abandoned his sporting career to pursue musical aspirations, forming Iron Maiden in 1976. Harris composed much of Maiden's material, drawing upon mythology and the occult to write the band's hard rock epics. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson's 1981 addition further solidified the band's position at the forefront of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Although busy with Iron Maiden, Harris gradually recorded his first solo album, British Lion, which arrived in 2012. With vocals provided by Richard Taylor, alongside guitarists Graham Leslie and David Hawkins, the record was heavily influenced by '70s rock artists such as the Who and UFO. ~ Jason Ankeny