Band Biography
Piece of Maiden is a dutch Iron Maiden tribute band located in Leiden. The band is well-known for their passion of Iron Maiden.
The band was founded in March 2016, when Jeremy Geels and Dennis Kromhout decided it was time to follow up on their love for Iron Maiden and teamed up with 4 string picker "Steve" Harald Thierry and Marvin Erades. Not soon after the band was formed, vocalist veteran Michel Zandbergen joined the team to bring the most dynamic, energetic and diverse Iron Maiden experience possible.
After the first few shows in 2016, Piece of Maiden was asked to play as openings act for ex-maiden Vocalist Blaze Bayley and Thomas Zwijssen.
Every part of every song has been learned by isolating the guitar tracks from the studio track to ensure the real Iron Maiden feel, emotion and experience.
Current Line-up:
Vocals - Michel Zandbergen
Guitar - Jeremy Geels
Guitar - Marvin Erades
Bass - Harald Thierry
Drums- Dennis Kromhout
Personal Biography
Jeremy Geels
Guitarist / backing vocals
My old man used to play Iron Maiden and other rock music in his car, I really liked every song with killer guitar riffs, solo's and powerful singers (like Dio and Bruce from Maiden).
When I was twelve I got the chance to play guitar with my uncle, but the amp wasn't grounded. I got some really nasty shocks and I vowed to never play guitar again. That was until I was 19 years old and I really wanted to play again. This was because I was a huge Children of Bodom fan and of a fan of their insane neoclassical guitar riffs. I wanted to be able to make guitar riffs just like Iron Maiden and Children of Bodom, so I begged my uncle again and he gave me his guitar and amp.
I started learning Iron Maiden, but my dad and uncle told me I should begin with the basics. I refused, because I wanted to play metal. He made a bet: "If you can play Aces High from Iron Maiden within a month, including the solo, I will give you a thousand euro's". Ofcourse I started learning "Aces High" right away and I learned it pretty fast, including the guitarsolo. My dad was astonished when I played it for him and told me that he would pay up when the time was right.
After a year he bought me a Dean ML Lightning (shockingly ironic huh?) and when I joined my first band a Marshall JCM 800. He kept his end of his bargain. It was these days when I teamed up with Dennis Kromhout to express our love for Iron Maiden and decided to form Piece of Maiden. I started with Maiden and now I am bringing the joy of Maiden live.
I am proud of my achievements so far and of opinion that my musical career has only just begun with Piece of Maiden. These days I have mastered the hardest Yngwie Malmsteen songs and plan to make my own virtuoso music band (Fearwell). It's just in it's early babysteps.
My side projects are: Hellbender (Thrash Metal) and Fearwell (My own melodic, thrash metal project). My influences are:
Iron Maiden, Yngwie Malmsteen, Gary Moore, Children of Bodom, Kalmah, Death and Dimmu Borgir
Curious to my first Fearwell song? Our legendary singer Michel Zandbergen has performed the vocals and mixed my first track!
https://soundcloud.com/jeremygeels/jeremy-geels-well-of-fear
"Guitarists always say: "Remember, less is more". How can that be? How can less be more? More is more!"
"Don't worry, it's probably because it's the last evening of today."
"STeve" Harald Thierry
Bass
Somewhere back in time... in 1985 I received an audio tape from a friend with some songs from Iron Maiden. I immediately turned my ears to the playstyle and sound of the bass.
It didn't take long until I had every LP from Iron Maiden, including a bass guitar.
Up until now I still have these LP's in my possession en they will never leave my collection. I still enjoy the Steve Harris' musical journey. And play Iron Maiden every since.
I joined Piece of Maiden in March 2016 together with founders Jeremy Geels, Dennis Kromhout and Marvin Erades.
My noteable side project is: Iron Laiden another Iron Maiden tributeband. My most influencing band is Iron Maiden.
Michel Zandbergen
Vocals
You will find Michel's story here soon!
"I don't drink anymore, I don't drink any less either"
Dennis Kromhout
Drums
Growing up with many metal and death metal bands made my music taste pretty diverse. I’ve always known that I wanted to play an instrument and become part of a band like my dad did before me (he played guitar).
After starting drum lessons back in 2008 I started playing with every band I had the possibility with. It wasn’t always my preferred genre but I didn’t care, because it gave me a lot of experience. I played songs like "Sweet about me" by Gabriella Cilmi (yeah I know, it sucked).
In 2012 I got asked for an Iron Maiden tribute, it wasn’t as good as we are right now, but it showed me the best heavy metal band in the world. Strangely enough, I never listened to Maiden. I only knew like two songs. It was only a matter of time until it became my favorite band.
In 2015 Jeremy and I started looking for a more mature Iron Maiden tribute band. We got "Steve" Harald (the closest bass player to Steve Harris himself we know) and Marvin to team up with Michel Zandbergen and us to form Piece of Maiden.
My side projects are: Hellbender (Thrash Metal) and Fearwell (Melodic, thrash metal project).
My influences are:
Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Death, Gojira, Children of Bodom, Kalmah, Sepultura, Slayer, Lynyrd Skynyrd and man so many more.
Marvin Erades
Guitarist
You will find Marvin's story here soon!
