This is cool to hear. I bought their first album based on the cover alone. And was I pleasantly surprised when I played it. "Running Free", "Charlotte the Harlot", "Iron Maiden" and "Prowler" blew me away. It was guitar heaven.
Then Killers came out and I was locked in my room for 3 weeks trying to figure out their's and Judas Priest's licks from "Hell Bent for Leather", "Unleashed In The East" and "British Steel" albums on guitar. I mean "Another Life", "Drifter", "Wrathchild", and "Twilight Zone" the leads were just awesome.
Heavy Metal was soaring back then to new heights.
It literally soared to news heights, thanks to Maiden.
I have countless hours learning Iron Maiden songs, some by ear, plenty by guitar tab. I can play a full setlist and a half or two with all the songs I know. Add in half a song or a couple licks, and the number doubles easily.