British Lion

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Band Timeline

2012

Formation and Debut Album Release

British Lion was formed by Steve Harris, the bassist of Iron Maiden, as a band to play smaller venues and explore shorter hard rock songs with varied bass styles. Originally, the project started with Harris mentoring guitarist Grahame Leslie and vocalist Richard Taylor from the early 1990s. In 2012, Harris released "British Lion," initially marketed as a solo album featuring the other members as backing musicians. The sound was influenced by classic British rock from the 1970s and incorporated styles Harris couldn’t explore with Iron Maiden. This debut album marked the public beginning of British Lion as a musical entity with a distinct style different from Iron Maiden’s heavy metal.

2013

Transition to a Self-Contained Band

Following the debut album, British Lion transitioned from being seen as just Harris’s solo project to a fully recognized band. Steve Harris, Richard Taylor, David Hawkins, and other members began writing songs collaboratively, reflecting a band dynamic rather than a solo artist with session musicians. The focus on small club tours allowed Harris to reconnect with intimate live performance settings he enjoyed in Iron Maiden’s earlier years. This re-positioning helped British Lion gain a clearer identity as a hard rock band separate from Harris’s Iron Maiden fame.

2020

Release of Second Album The Burning

After years of developing their collaborative songwriting, British Lion released their sophomore album, "The Burning," in January 2020. This album further cemented the band’s style within the hard rock genre, displaying strong songwriting from Harris, Taylor, and Hawkins. The release was well received within rock circles and brought renewed attention to the band. "The Burning" demonstrated British Lion’s evolution into a mature and distinct band with growing fans beyond Iron Maiden’s audience. It was praised by critics and fans and was named Album of the Year by Paul Stenning for BraveWords, underscoring its significance in the hard rock scene.

2024

Simon Dawson Joins Iron Maiden as Touring Drummer

In 2024, Simon Dawson, the drummer for British Lion, became the touring drummer for Iron Maiden following the retirement of their longtime drummer Nicko McBrain. This development strengthened the ties between British Lion and Iron Maiden, highlighting the overlap in personnel and musical collaboration. Dawson’s transition to Iron Maiden’s touring lineup also signified British Lion's role as a platform for Iron Maiden members and affiliates to explore different musical avenues while maintaining close links to one of heavy metal’s most enduring bands.

Albums

The Burning

11 tracks

2020

Sponsor content

Members

Current

Name

Begin

Occupation

Graeme Leslie

2012

Richard Taylor

N/A

Story of British Lion

British Lion: A Hard Rock Side Project with a Heavyweight Legacy

British Lion, a fiery hard rock band, emerged from the creative mind of Steve Harris, the legendary bassist of Iron Maiden. Driven by a desire to explore a different musical landscape, Harris formed the band as a platform for concise, hard-hitting songs and a chance to experiment with diverse bass styles.

This wasn't your typical stadium rock experience. British Lion thrived in smaller venues, harkening back to Iron Maiden's early days, where the energy was raw and the connection with the audience intense.

The band's lineup boasts an impressive roster: vocalist Richard Taylor, guitarists David Hawkins and Grahame Leslie, and drummer Simon Dawson. Harris's long-standing relationship with Leslie, dating back to the early 90s, solidified their musical bond. After years of mentoring Leslie and Taylor, Harris saw the potential for a collaborative project, ultimately leading to the formation of British Lion.

While Iron Maiden conquered arenas, British Lion carved their own path in clubs and theaters, embracing the intimacy of smaller spaces. Their debut album, simply titled "British Lion," was initially presented as a Steve Harris solo project. However, the project evolved into a fully-fledged band, with Harris, Taylor, and Hawkins taking the reins as songwriters.

Their second album, "The Burning," unleashed in January 2020, garnered significant acclaim, with esteemed music critic Paul Stenning of BraveWords declaring it "Album of the Year."

British Lion, a testament to Steve Harris's unwavering passion for music, continues to electrify audiences with their infectious energy and hard-hitting rock. This side project, born from a desire for musical exploration, has become a force to be reckoned with in the hard rock scene.