# Dave Murray (musician)
**Dave Murray** (David Michael Murray, born 1956) is an English guitarist and a member of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden since 1976, apart from a short break in 1977, and one of only two musicians, with bassist [Steve Harris](https://www.edgepedia.org/steve-harris-musician), to have performed on every one of the band's albums.[1](https://holychurchofrock.org/artists/dave-murray/) • [2](https://www.nts.live/artists/61251-dave-murray)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | David Michael Murray, born 1956 in Edmonton, London, England[3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artist.php?id=109) |
| Iron Maiden tenure | Guitars, 1976–1977 and 1978–present; invited to join in mid-1976 by vocalist Dennis Wilcock[3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artist.php?id=109) • [4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dave-murray-mn0000591169) |
| Albums | With Steve Harris, one of only two members to appear on every Iron Maiden album[2](https://www.nts.live/artists/61251-dave-murray) |
| First writing credit | A sole songwriting credit for track 7 on the 1980 debut album[3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artist.php?id=109) |
| Playing style | Legato lead playing built on hammer-ons and pull-offs, with frequent use of the neck pickup[5](https://jamplay.com/articles/5-guides/84-style-study-dave-murray) |
| Signature gear | A black 1957-era Fender Stratocaster formerly owned by Paul Kossoff of Free, his primary studio and live instrument for much of the 1980s and the basis of his Fender signature model[6](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/iron-maiden-debut-album) |
| Recognition | Ranked #83 with Adrian Smith in Rolling Stone's 2023 list of the 250 greatest guitarists; Iron Maiden is a 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee[7](https://www.theprp.com/2023/10/13/news/rolling-stone-share-their-choices-for-he-250-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time/) • [8](https://news.livenationentertainment.com/news/iron-maiden-make-surprise-return-to-north-america-in-2027) |
## Early life and path to Iron Maiden
Murray was born in [Edmonton, London](https://www.edgepedia.org/edmonton-london), and grew up on the move, shuttling across the greater London area and studying, by his own count, in more than a dozen schools while his disabled father and part-time cleaner mother tried to make a living.[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dave-murray-mn0000591169) At age 15 he heard [Jimi Hendrix](https://www.edgepedia.org/jimi-hendrix)'s "Voodoo Chile" on the radio, gave up earlier ambitions of playing professional football or cricket, and took up the guitar, leaving school the following year to practice obsessively.[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dave-murray-mn0000591169) In a 1983 interview he recalled being totally impressed by the Hendrix tune and going out to buy a cheap guitar.[9](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/interview-iron-maidens-adrian-smith-and-dave-murray-their-first-guitar-world-feature-1983)
A succession of short-lived amateur bands followed, including Electric Gas, Legend, the Stuff, Evil Ways, and, most significantly, Stone Free, his first serious ensemble, which featured another guitarist and close friend, [Adrian Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/adrian-smith-musician).[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dave-murray-mn0000591169) In mid-1976 another friend, vocalist Dennis Wilcock, invited him to join the fledgling Iron Maiden, which Steve Harris had formed only months earlier, on Christmas Day, 1975.[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dave-murray-mn0000591169) Harris had recruited Murray from a local band called the Secret.[9](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/interview-iron-maidens-adrian-smith-and-dave-murray-their-first-guitar-world-feature-1983)
**Early exit and return.** Metal Archives lists his Iron Maiden tenure as guitars, 1976–1977 and 1978–present.[3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artist.php?id=109) MusicRadar summarizes the same record: he originally joined and then left in 1976, and has been a cornerstone of the band since 1978.[10](https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/in-pictures-iron-maiden-guitarist-dave-murrays-guitars-631157) By late 1978, with vocalist [Paul Di'Anno](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-dianno), guitarist Murray, and drummer Doug Sampson firmly in place, the band recorded the four-track demo released as *The Soundhouse Tapes*, which attracted manager Rod Smallwood, who landed the band a deal with EMI.[11](https://www.loudersound.com/features/iron-maiden-story-behind-soundhouse-tapes-ep-1979) • [6](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/iron-maiden-debut-album)
## Role in Iron Maiden
In the long history of Iron Maiden, only two men have appeared on every one of the band's albums: Steve Harris and Dave Murray.[12](https://www.loudersound.com/features/iron-maiden-the-band-that-refuses-to-die) On the 1980 debut album his sole songwriting credit was track 7.[3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artist.php?id=109) *Senjutsu* (2021) was the first Iron Maiden album since the mid-1980s without a writing credit for him.[1](https://holychurchofrock.org/artists/dave-murray/)
Murray's fluid, smooth lead work supplied one side of the dual-guitar style that came to characterize Iron Maiden, initially alongside Dennis Stratton and most notably with Adrian Smith, his childhood friend.[1](https://holychurchofrock.org/artists/dave-murray/) Rolling Stone's list notes that Iron Maiden's speed and harmony techniques were pioneered by Murray and Stratton on the band's self-titled debut and later perfected by Murray and Smith beginning with 1981's *[Killers](https://www.edgepedia.org/killers-iron-maiden-album)* and the band's classic 1980s albums.[13](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/250-greatest-guitarists-all-time-51028/adrian-smith-and-dave-murray-51197/) Smith has described how the two grew up playing together, literally from age 15, before each went his own way and later reunited in the band.[14](https://elpais.com/cultura/2026-05-14/iron-maiden-aun-heavies-que-no-se-doblegan-y-hoy-mas-grandes-que-nunca.html)
Since the return of [Bruce Dickinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruce-dickinson) and Adrian Smith in 1999, Iron Maiden has been a six-piece with three guitarists, Smith, Murray, and [Janick Gers](https://www.edgepedia.org/janick-gers), whom the band calls "the three amigos".[15](https://www.ironmaiden.com/the-band/) As of the fiftieth-anniversary [Run for Your Lives World Tour](https://www.edgepedia.org/run-for-your-lives-world-tour), Murray remains one of the band's three guitarists.[1](https://holychurchofrock.org/artists/dave-murray/)
## Playing style
Murray's lead playing has been mainly legato-based, and his sound and style can be distinguished from Janick Gers' and Adrian Smith's styles mostly by his frequent use of the neck pickup.[5](https://jamplay.com/articles/5-guides/84-style-study-dave-murray) Gers describes the contrast directly: "Dave has got a very legato sound to his playing, a much smoother style," while Smith is very rhythmic with a more spikey, rock-and-roll sound, and Gers himself brings a ragged, aggressive, edgy sound.[16](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/iron-maiden-senjutsu) Murray says, "Personally, I like to try to be melodic but with a little fire and energy," and notes that the three guitarists have three really distinctive and different guitar sounds, so even in unison or harmony the playing still sounds different.[17](https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/iron-maiden-out-of-thin-air) • [18](https://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=93&sid=fc14d2fb54d0ee80f21886fdeca62054&t=49257)
His approach to soloing has often been spontaneous. "On our first few albums I used to just go in and knock off most of the solos from the top of my head by listening to the chord pattern," he said in a 1988 interview, adding that he later aimed for a more melodic, worked-out approach in the studio.[19](https://www.guitarworld.com/gw-archive/steve-harris-and-dave-murray-iron-maiden-open-1988-guitar-world-interview) On some tracks, he has said, the solos are basically a free-fall over written melodies.[20](https://www.vintageguitar.com/39763/amp/)
## Gear
Murray plays mostly [Fender Stratocaster](https://www.edgepedia.org/fender-stratocaster) guitars, but has used Gibson, Jackson, Ibanez, ESP, and Dean as well.[3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artist.php?id=109) The black Strat with a maple neck that he bought in 1976 had a history: it had previously belonged to Free guitarist [Paul Kossoff](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-kossoff), became his primary studio and live instrument for much of the 1980s, and is the basis of his current Signature Series Stratocaster.[6](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/iron-maiden-debut-album) On the debut album his amps were Marshall 100-watt heads with an MXR Phase 90, an MXR Distortion+, and a wah pedal between them.[6](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/iron-maiden-debut-album)
Fender has released Dave Murray Stratocaster signature models, first announced alongside a Steve Harris Precision Bass, and for the band's 50th anniversary his super-clean, sharp white Custom Shop Strat was reissued as a Masterbuilt model built by Fender Masterbuilder Andy Hicks.[21](https://www.ironmaiden.com/fenders-new-iron-maiden-signature-guitars/) • [22](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/fender-masterbuilder-andy-hicks-on-building-a-strat-for-dave-murray)
## Recognition
Rolling Stone's 2023 list of the 250 greatest guitarists gave the pair of Adrian Smith and Dave Murray a single shared entry at #83, among the symbiotic pairs in which many great guitarists realized their genius.[7](https://www.theprp.com/2023/10/13/news/rolling-stone-share-their-choices-for-he-250-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time/) • [13](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/250-greatest-guitarists-all-time-51028/adrian-smith-and-dave-murray-51197/) Iron Maiden is a 2026 inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.[8](https://news.livenationentertainment.com/news/iron-maiden-make-surprise-return-to-north-america-in-2027)
## References
1. [Dave Murray: Life, Iron Maiden, Guitar Style & Legacy, Holy Church of Rock](https://holychurchofrock.org/artists/dave-murray/)
2. [Dave Murray, NTS](https://www.nts.live/artists/61251-dave-murray)
3. [Dave Murray, Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives](https://www.metal-archives.com/artist.php?id=109)
4. [Dave Murray, Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dave-murray-mn0000591169)
5. [Style Study – Dave Murray, JamPlay](https://jamplay.com/articles/5-guides/84-style-study-dave-murray)
6. [How Iron Maiden forged their debut album, Guitar World](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/iron-maiden-debut-album)
7. [Rolling Stone Share Their Choices For 'The 250 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time', Theprp.com](https://www.theprp.com/2023/10/13/news/rolling-stone-share-their-choices-for-he-250-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time/)
8. [Iron Maiden Make Surprise Return to North America in 2027, Live Nation Entertainment](https://news.livenationentertainment.com/news/iron-maiden-make-surprise-return-to-north-america-in-2027)
9. [Iron Maiden's Adrian Smith and Dave Murray, Their First Guitar World Feature from 1983](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/interview-iron-maidens-adrian-smith-and-dave-murray-their-first-guitar-world-feature-1983)
10. [In pictures: Iron Maiden guitarist Dave Murray's guitars, MusicRadar](https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/in-pictures-iron-maiden-guitarist-dave-murrays-guitars-631157)
11. [How Iron Maiden made the scrappy four-track EP which launched their career, Louder](https://www.loudersound.com/features/iron-maiden-story-behind-soundhouse-tapes-ep-1979)
12. [Iron Maiden: The Band That Refuses To Die, Louder](https://www.loudersound.com/features/iron-maiden-the-band-that-refuses-to-die)
13. [Adrian Smith and Dave Murray, Rolling Stone Australia](https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/250-greatest-guitarists-all-time-51028/adrian-smith-and-dave-murray-51197/)
14. [Iron Maiden: aún 'heavies' sin doblegarse y hoy más grandes que nunca, El País](https://elpais.com/cultura/2026-05-14/iron-maiden-aun-heavies-que-no-se-doblegan-y-hoy-mas-grandes-que-nunca.html)
15. [The Band, Iron Maiden official website](https://www.ironmaiden.com/the-band/)
16. [Iron Maiden guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith & Janick Gers on their guitar strategy, Guitar World](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/iron-maiden-senjutsu)
17. [Iron Maiden: Out of Thin Air, Premier Guitar](https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/iron-maiden-out-of-thin-air)
18. [GuitarPlayer interview with Iron Maiden, MelodicRock forums](https://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=93&sid=fc14d2fb54d0ee80f21886fdeca62054&t=49257)
19. [Steve Harris and Dave Murray of Iron Maiden Open Up in 1988 Guitar World Interview](https://www.guitarworld.com/gw-archive/steve-harris-and-dave-murray-iron-maiden-open-1988-guitar-world-interview)
20. [Dave Murray, Vintage Guitar magazine](https://www.vintageguitar.com/39763/amp/)
21. [Fender's New Iron Maiden Signature Guitars, Iron Maiden official website](https://www.ironmaiden.com/fenders-new-iron-maiden-signature-guitars/)
22. [Fender Masterbuilder Andy Hicks on building a Strat for Dave Murray, Guitar World](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/fender-masterbuilder-andy-hicks-on-building-a-strat-for-dave-murray)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Heavy metal › Heavy metal rhythm sections and instrumentalists › Heavy metal guitarists*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license