The History of Iron Maiden – Part 1: The Early Days
The History of Iron Maiden – Part 1: The Early Days is a DVD video by Iron Maiden, released in 2004. It features the first part of "The History of Iron Maiden" series, a 90-minute documentary which describes their beginnings in London's East End in 1975 through to the "Piece of Mind" album and tour in 1983. The set also features a large collection of rare videos and concert footage, as well as interviews with former members such as Paul Di'Anno, Clive Burr, Dennis Stratton, Dave Sullivan, Terry Rance , Doug Sampson, Ron Matthews, Terry Wapram and Bob Sawyer. The DVD won a 2004 "Metal Edge" Readers' Choice Award for Home Video/DVD of the Year. The second part of the "History of Iron Maiden" series was later included on the "Live After Death" DVD release in 2008, while a third instalment was released as part of the "Maiden England '88" DVD in 2013. Critical reception. "The Early Days" was met with critical acclaim, with AllMusic describing it as "A masterpiece." "Classic Rock" gave the DVD 5 out of 5, calling the live footage "fascinating," while stating that "the tales  of Maiden's early birth pains are utterly compelling." "Kerrang!" also gave it full marks, describing the feature documentary as "a brilliantly realised and completely absorbing ride from the downtrodden boozers of East London to the heady heights of a Number One album and massive world tours" and the concerts as "magnificently rendered to DVD," overall deeming the release "Awesome and unmissable." Personnel. Production and performance credits are adapted from the DVD liner notes.