With his 70th birthday approaching in March 2026, Iron Maiden bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris remains as driven as ever. In a new feature with Sam Law of Kerrang! magazine, the heavy metal icon made it clear that he has no immediate plans to hang up his bass guitar, though he acknowledges the reality of aging in such a physically demanding genre.
“I’m not thinking about retirement,” Harris told the publication. “But we all know that it’s coming at some point when you’ll be forced into it by one thing or another. I still stay fit, playing football and tennis and things, but you never know what’s coming round the corner. That’s why you’ve got to make the most of this while you can, going out enjoy every gig for the sake of it. I’ve been saying that for the last 10 years, but it’s truer now than ever.”
Harris is currently in the midst of a UK club tour with his side project, British Lion. He revealed that maintaining a relentless schedule is partly a coping mechanism against the passage of time.
“I’m scared to stop in a way, scared to slow down,” Harris confessed. “But playing shows like these does bring that old feeling back. They’re very similar in many regards. It’s about that feeling of trying to be out there fighting for the band, trying to get as many people in as possible, proving yourself every night to try and get exactly where it is that you want to be.”
While Harris remains defiant, his bandmate, guitarist Dave Murray, recently offered a slightly more pragmatic view on the band’s future. Speaking to Music Radar earlier this year during the launch of the “Run For Your Lives” world tour, Murray emphasized that the band is determined not to overstay their welcome.
“To me, there’s nothing worse than seeing a band you like on stage and they look like they shouldn’t really be there doing it,” Murray said. “We’re nearly hitting the seventies mark now, but I think we will all know when it would be time. It would be a mutual decision.”
Murray stressed the importance of ending their legacy with their reputation intact.
“I think there’s a time and a place to bail out with dignity and grace — as opposed to dragging it out,” Murray added. “If you can leave it at that high level, and then bow out gracefully, I think it would be satisfying for us. And not just flog a dead horse, when you’re doing it for the wrong reasons.”
The band has already navigated significant change recently. A year ago, longtime drummer Nicko McBrain officially retired from touring, playing his final concert with the group at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil, in December 2024. While the 73-year-old musician has stepped back from the rigors of the road, he remains connected to the band for special projects.
