BRITISH LION - UK

British Lion – 2012 – EMI/Universal
The Burning – 2020 - Parlophone

British Lion image
  
 
Members
Vocals
British Lion>>RICHARD TAYLOR

Guitar
British Lion>>GRAHAME LESLIE – Inner Sanctum>>DAVID HAWKINS


Bass
Influence, Gypsy’s Kiss, Smiler>>STEVE HARRIS

Drum
Airrace, Deep Switch, Dearly Beheaded, Iron Maiden>>SIMON DAWSON>>Iron Maiden


Keyboard
DAVID HAWKINS




History & Biography
This side-project of Steve Harris was formed in 2012. A single and an album were issued in the same year by Iron Maiden’s label, EMI. Richard Taylor and Grahame Leslie were in a band called British Lion and had wanted Harris to manage the band and produce an album for them, but the group fell apart before they could proceed. The band was conducting ten concerts in Europe beginning July 8th 2014 in Norwich, England and ending at the annual International Motorcycle Convention at the Moto Clube De Faro, Portugal on Saturday, July 19th. British Lion announced a tour of Canada in November 2018. The band and openers Coney Hatch were conducting a Canadian mini-tour this month. British Lion features Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris. Lee Aaron guitarist Sean Kelly is touring with Coney Hatch. Steve Harris' British Lion had an album called The Burning in January 2020.

British Lion withdrew from the U.K. tour with The Darkness in November 2021 citing "completely unacceptable" tour protocols. In the meantime, the band had a video for the song Bible Black. The band, and openers Airforce, were touring the UK in November and December instead. Iron Maiden and British Lion, both featuring bassist Steve Harris, performed in Finland at Rockfest on June 3rd 2022. Air Force, Coney Hatch and British Lion announced a tour of the UK for January 2023. The two last bands had toured Canada together in 2018. Hatch subsequently backed out without explanation. British Lion had a live video for the song Legend.

British Lion was touring Europe between May and July 2023. Openers included Airforce, Stray and Darktribe. The act was also appearing at Hellfest and Sweden Rock Festival. The band was booked for Monsters Of Rock Cruise in 2024. The band also added smaller gigs at The Booking Hall in Dover in support of a smaller venue as the venue was up for sale, a gig at the Cart & Horses venue in Stratford, London where Iron Maiden played its early gigs and also concerts in Spain and Portugal. British Lion was touring Australia and New Zealand in the summer of 2024 before returning to Japan for the first time in six years with shows in Osaka and Tokyo before returning to the U.S.A. for West Coast gigs including appearing at Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles on October 7th and Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, California. British Lion announces a tour of South American to end 2024. Former Maiden member Tony Moore was opening. When iron Maiden drummer Michael "Nicko" McBrain retired from touring on December 7th, 2025, Dawson was hired to become Iron Maiden's new man on the drum stool.


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British Lion