West Ham – football team that Steve Harris, Iron Maiden, supports

West Ham is the football team that Steve Harris, from Iron Maiden, supports. The founder and bassist of one of the biggest heavy metal bands in history has always expressed his passion for the traditional English team.

Because of this strong connection between Harris and the Hammers, many Iron Maiden fans make it a point to visit West Ham’s stadium, London Stadium, in Stratford, East London.

Before forming the band, when he was 14, Harris trained for nine months at West Ham’s Football Academy.

The first time he attended a game at the stadium was on December 11, 1965:

“The first game I went to, I was nine, jumped on the bus with my mate and saw us beat Newcastle 4-3. That was it, I was hooked,” Harris told journalist Mark Webster.

In 2019, the band partnered with the club to launch a special Iron Maiden x West Ham jersey.

“It’s a dream come true to have the tie-up with West Ham for the Iron Maiden shirt. All around the world we get people in the audience with West Ham stuff, and from what I was told a lot of fans from overseas were going to the games and the club shop and saying they became West Ham fans through Maiden. So they realised the potential of having a tie-up and of course I was delighted”, Harris shared.

West Ham’s stadium, officially named London Stadium – Olympic Stadium, was built for the 2012 London Olympics and is located within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. In addition to football matches, the stadium also hosts major rock and heavy metal concerts.

Guided tours are available to explore the backstage and history of this iconic English stadium.

This is one of the most popular spots for fans looking to follow an Iron Maiden tour in London.

London Rock Route

London, England, is one of the birthplaces of rock and has seen the rise of many bands that are part of music history, such as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Clash, Pink Floyd, Queen, Iron Maiden, and The Police.

If you’re planning a trip to London, consider taking a rock-themed tour through the British capital.

The Royal Albert Hall and the Forum Kentish Town, for example, are some of the historic venues perfect for more intimate concerts. If you prefer a pub with live music, The Marquis is a great choice. You can also visit the very first Hard Rock Cafe, which opened in June 1971.

Many artists and bands have chosen London as the backdrop for album covers that have become rock history, like David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, The Beatles‘ Abbey Road, and Oasis‘ (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?.

For record and CD collectors, it’s worth adding a stop at Rough Trade and Reckless Records to your itinerary – two iconic stores in the city. There are also amazing shops for instruments and merchandise.

To plan your rock-inspired trip to London (or to other cities and countries around the world), check out all the guides we’ve already published here at TRAVEL 2 CONCERT!