The Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 2001 as an all-female

tribute act A tribute act, tribute band or tribute group is a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act. Tribute acts include individual performers who mimic the songs and style of an artist, such as Elvi ...

to English heavy metal band

Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harr ...

. The band currently consists of drummer

Linda McDonald Linda McDonald is an American musician best known as the drummer of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens (billed as the "World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden"). In addition, she was a member of the Ozzy Osbourne tribute band T ...

, bassist

Wanda Ortiz Wanda Ortiz is an American musician best known as the bassist of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens (billed as the "World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden"). Biography Wanda Ortiz first learned to play the bass at the age of ni ...

, lead vocalist Kirsten Rosenberg and guitarists Courtney Cox and Nikki Stringfield.

History

The Iron Maidens were originally formed in June 2001 by lead vocalist Jenny Warren and bassist Melanie Sisneros, formerly of the Iron Maiden tribute band ''Wrathchild''. drummer

and guitarist Josephine Draven, both formerly of Phantom Blue, and guitarist Sara Marsh, joined Warren and Sisneros shortly afterward to form the band's first lineup. Sisneros left the band in 2002 to pursue other interests and was replaced by

. In 2003, the band started work on their debut album. The project was delayed when Warren gave notice of her departure from the band to focus more on her personal and child's needs. After Warren's departure, new vocalist

Aja Kim Aja Kim is an American singer and songwriter. Biography Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Aja Kim first came to public attention when she collaborated with rock and roll saxophonist, Clarence Clemon ...

made her debut in the band and helped complete the album (''

World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden ''The Iron Maidens: World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden'' is the debut album by American all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens. The album features selected tracks originally performed by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. Michael Ke ...

''), which was released in June 2005. After the album's release, Draven left the band. In February 2007, Heather Baker joined to replace Draven. In May, the band released its second album '' Route 666'', which features a guest appearance by

Motörhead Motörhead () were an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by Lemmy (lead vocals, bass), Larry Wallis (guitar) and Lucas Fox (drums). Lemmy was also the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band are often considered a prec ...

guitarist Phil Campbell. In summer 2008, Heather Baker and Aja Kim left the band to pursue solo careers. The two were replaced by guitarist Courtney Cox and vocalist Kirsten Rosenberg (formerly of the

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean t ...

-based cover band HighWire). In January 2010, Marsh, who was ill, was taken off some of the Japanese tour shows and did not rejoin the band. Baker rejoined the band to temporarily fill in Marsh's spot for a handful of shows. Nikki Stringfield and the Iron Maidens

In August 2010, The Iron Maidens released a DVD of their Japan tour titled '' Metal Gathering Tour Live in Japan 2010''. Upon Marsh's departure from the band, former members Elizabeth Schall and Heather Baker would return briefly to fill in the vacant Murray position (2009–2010). For tours 2010–2014, the role of Dave Murray would be shared between artists Nili Brosh, Nita Strauss, and Nikki Stringfield. In 2014,the band approached Nikki Stringfield to become a permanent member in the Murray position. Nita Strauss (Ibanez), Courtney Cox (Caparison) and Nikki Stringfield (Schecter) are the first female artists to have their own signature guitar with their associated guitar companies. In June 2014, Nita Strauss was hired to replace Orianthi as Alice Cooper's touring guitarist for the remaining 2014 tour dates. She has toured with Alice Cooper since that time. On September 8, 2015, the group announced that long-time guest guitarist Nikki Stringfield had been officially added as a permanent member of the band. Rosenberg and Stringfield appeared as contestants on the August 3, 2017, episode of the music game show ''

Beat Shazam ''Beat Shazam'' is an American television musical game show which premiered on Fox on May 25, 2017. The show is hosted by Jamie Foxx, who is also an executive producer on the show along with Jeff Apploff (who created the show with Wes Kauble). O ...

''.

Members

;Current members *

("Nikki McBurrain") –

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair of matching drumsticks ...

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are ...

(2001-present) *

("Steph Harris") –

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

, backing vocals (2002-present) * Kirsten Rosenberg ("Bruce Chickinson") –

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...

(2008-present) * Courtney Cox ("Adriana Smith") –

guitars The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...

, backing vocals (2008-present) * Nikki Stringfield ("Davina Murray") – guitars, backing vocals (2012-present) Former members / fill-in members * Melanie Sisneros ("Steve Heiress") – bass (2001–2002) * Jenny Warren ("Bruce Chickinson") – lead vocals (2001–2003) * Jojo Draven ("Adrienne Smith") – guitars (2001–2005) * Sara Marsh ("Mini Murray") – guitars (2001–2010) *

("Bruce Lee Chickinson") – lead vocals (2003–2008) *

Elizabeth Schall Elizabeth Schall is a female American singer, songwriter and guitarist, and founder of the death metal band Dreaming Dead and grindcore band Cretin. Prior to that, she was a guitarist of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens and the d ...

("Adrianne Smith" and "Deena Murray") – guitars (2005–2006) * Heather Baker ("Dee Murray" and "Adrienne Smith") – guitars (2007–2008, 2010) * Nili Brosh ("Mega Murray") – guitars (2010–2013) *

Nita Strauss Nita Strauss (born December 7, 1986) is an American rock musician. She is currently Demi Lovato's touring guitarist and was a former touring guitarist for Alice Cooper from 2014 to 2022 and has a successful career as a solo artist. Strauss was t ...

("Mega Murray") – guitars (2011–2015) Timeline

Discography

Albums

*''

'' (2005) *'' Route 666'' (2007) *'' The Root of All Evil'' (2008)

Videos

*'' Metal Gathering Tour Live in Japan 2010'' (2010)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Iron Maidens Heavy metal musical groups from California Iron Maiden (band) All-female tribute bands Musical groups from Los Angeles Musical groups established in 2001 Musical quintets 2001 establishments in California Women in metal