[You Don't Know What It's Like!] Friday, August 12, 2011 5:39:30 PM
I think Maiden got the upper hand on Priest round about 1986 when they released the "Somewhere In Time" album, which (IMO) was the superior guitar synth experiment to "Turbo".
Maiden then consolidated this with the very successful concept album which was "Seventh Son", while Priest tried to regain lost ground with "Ram It Down".
By 1990 Priest had managed to regain the upper hand (& how) with the phenomenal "Painkiller" album, while Maiden seemed to be running out of ideas with "No Prayer For The Dying" (the first album without Adrian Smith on guitar).
Then tragedy strikes Priest with Rob leaving, but all is not lost as Bruce then decides to leave Maiden - so things are equal again.
Both bands release inferior works during this mid to late 1990's period, but the real difference is when Rob & Bruce decide to return.
Maiden get a good running start with "Brave New World" coming out in 2000, a good five years before Priest's "Angel Of Retribution" (which itself comes out two years after Rob's return, and also Maiden's 2nd reunion album "Dance Of Death").
Then again in 2006 Maiden release one of their most successful albums ever in "A Matter Of Life & Death", while two years after that Priest put out the luke warm recieved concept "Nostradamus" and don't even tour it properly.
Priest now seem to be losing fans, while Maiden are playing to around 25% more fans with each tour.
2010 comes & Maiden release "The Final Frontier", while Priest announce that their next "Epitaph" tour (with no album in support) will be their last (world tour), and to make matters even worse in 2011 annouce that this will be without K.K. Downing as well.
Priest ruled the 70's. Shared the 80's. Got lost in the 90's & have been left standing ever since.
