Think about the last time you saw an unknown band open up for a huge band. Unfortunately, the reality is that that band may have had to pay the headliner to open for them. On the flip side of that situation is Iron Maiden, whose bassist Steve Harris says that he would never ask a smaller band to pay them to open.
In an interview with Metal Journal (transcribed by Blabbermouth), Harris says bands who partake in that practice annoy him, and that he feels as though he's giving back by just letting a band get paid to play.
"Well, because we can. I mean, we have an opportunity… Anybody who's in a position Maiden is, or whatever, or any band that can potentially take another band on tour, I think you can help other people, and it doesn't take much effort to do that.
"The thing that annoys me is that I hate it when people charge bands to play with them. I hate that. I've never done that, ever done that with Maiden, and I never will do it, with Maiden or British Lion, because, to me, it's just wrong. A band should get at least some expenses [covered] to play a gig, and they shouldn't have to pay anybody to play, and I've always been really against that. And I've always really just tried to help people out. I think it's really good.
"I feel like I've had a fantastic life and career with music, and I've worked very hard, but maybe I've had a bit of luck along the way. I don't know, but the at the end of the day, it's nice to give something back. And I kind of feel like that with British Lion as well, because even the guys in the band, in British Lion, they're all talented guys, they really deserve some sort of recognition, and up 'till now they really haven't had that. And they're getting a little bit of recognition now, and it's quite rightly so. And I love that."
So if Iron Maiden asks you to open for them, fear not! You won't be broke. Also, you'll be opening for Iron Maiden, which is awesome.
