Bruce Dickinson shared his thoughts on the first two Iron Maiden albums – 1980’s “Iron Maiden” and 1981’s “Killers” – both released before he joined the band and featuring Paul Di’Anno on vocals.

He said to Irish Times:

“[Bruce’s first studio appearance with the band, 1982’s] ‘The Number of the Beast’ was the album that really launched the band properly on the world stage.

The first two albums were very good, very successful.

“‘Killers,’ in particular, is a favorite of mine. The sound on that album really was the sound that should have been on the first Iron Maiden album.

“In fact, Martin Birch, who produced the ‘Killers’ album, Steve Harris wanted to use him for the first album, but they didn’t approach him because they thought he wouldn’t be interested.

“Steve has always regretted the production on the very first album. It is not up to the quality of ‘Killers.’

“Ironically people thought Iron Maiden was a bit of a punk band because it (the debut album) sounds sh*t. [Laughs]

“When ‘Killers’ came out, people thought Iron Maiden had come across all smooth and refined.

“We were never supposed to be a punk band. Steve hated punk. I didn’t hate punk, but, at the same time, it never did a great deal for me. I always thought it was strictly limited by their alleged lack of music ambition.”