10 Greatest Metal Bassists Ever

Without Steve Harris, metal as a whole would be in a much different state than it is now. While Iron Maiden has had phenomenal players leave their mark on the band's discography, everyone knows that Harris practically gave birth to Maiden.

As the band came up the ranks, they came to define what became the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Even though all of Maiden's records have featured stellar guitar work and eventually the booming presence of Bruce Dickinson, the Maiden signature has always Harris's gallop.

The subtle triplet rhythm that leads the listener through harrowing tales of war and witchcraft is something that is unique to Maiden's sound. It's also a feat of superhuman agility, as the way Harris strikes the strings with his fingers for these long stretches would leave your average bassist with tendonitis.

Harris has also written the majority of Maiden's tracks, which have yielded staples of the metal genre from "Wasted Years" to "Run to the Hills." With Steve Harris as their beating heart, Iron Maiden have been able to keep up their consistent track record for pure metal perfection. Far from being just a bass player, Steve Harris deserves more than that. When you strip all the gimmickry away, Steve Harris is Iron Maiden.