There’re people out there, who actually have won the genetic lottery: they are the lucky ones, who are talented, smart, kind, good-looking and funny. The Iron Maidens‘ guitarist, Courtney Cox is actually one of those people and we had the opportunity to do a small chat prior to their very first Hungarian show.

“It’s sad that it’s raining. (laughs) We wanted to explore”  – said Courtney when I asked her if she’s had a chance to look around a bit in Budapest. The band was formed back in 2001 and The Iron Maidens is not only the world’s only female tribute to Iron Maiden but one of the most popular tribute bands ever to perform on stage – so it’s quite surprising that it was their first show in Budapest. The show was sold out pretty fast – and I wouldn’t say that it was a surprise. 

“It’s more like a relationship” – added Linda McDonald, co-founder of The Iron Maidens

“I think we can all say that we pinch ourselves every day that we even do what we do. Coz it just started like a little thing and I mean I can’t tell the story… We are just very humble and very fortunate and I think we’re just gonna continue on and just see where it leads” – Courtney added.

And what is the most challenging thing to play in a tribute band? “It’s music. There’s no difference between a cover band and tribute band, you are standing in front of a lot of people and you know, try to make a show. It’s a little more challenging than an average cover band, you know, we put our hearts into it and yeah, it’s fun… I guess it’s not a job for us, it’s a hobby, so we’re very fortunate.”

It’s quite a trivial question, but I was really curious about Courtney’s perspective that how does she see, why so many people are coming to their shows: to hear Iron Maiden songs or to see them perform live? “I think it’s both. You know, there are fans who have seen us before and there are new fans showed up who have never seen us… Where YouTube and social media are existing people now have an idea, so it’s just the pressure of the new era. (laughs)

Everyone seems happy after the shows. That’s why we are all doing this, it’s the smiling in the crowd and people singing, and sometimes we can’t even stop playing.” (smiles) 

And what was the first time when Courtney ever heard an Iron Maiden song? “I grew up with metal but maybe it wasn’t my first band which I was into. I was a freshman in high school and Dance of Death just came out, so it was 2003 and I was like ‘oh!’. And then my older brother was really into metal and that’s the reason I’m in the metal, actually, he started giving me albums.”

-Which Iron Maiden song fits you the most?

-Can I Play With Madness I guess… (laughs)

And here’s a fun fact: Bruce and Steve actually saw the girls playing in Mexico City, back in 2006. “Very cool guys, and we didn’t talk about Iron Maiden at all. Which is nice. (laughs)” – Linda added.

Courtney has been very busy in recent years, she had many side projects, and one of them was the legendary Femme Fatale. The singer, Lorraine was named as the new vocalist for another all-female band, Vixen and it meant that it’s over for the legendary hard rock band, so Femme Fatale has been disbanded for good after their show at Monsters of Rock Cruise this year. “We have more time to work on our solo records” – Courtney added it with a smile on her face then took a look at Nikki, who was also part of the group and she’s working on her own album too. “It’s still on a worksite. I mean we are both working on our separate solo records, and Nikki’s is coming out before mine. It’s a long time especially when you’re on the road for weeks or months. It’s in the works, it’s half done, so I’m excited about it.”

-Do you have any funny road stories?

-Oh, I do, but probably I shouldn’t share. Yeah, I’d pass that one because I don’t wanna end up in jail. (laughs) 

Did you know, that all of the Maidens girls are into sports? When they are on road, they all do HIIT workouts. Actually, Courtney had been really into athletics before she started playing guitar. “If I wasn’t a guitarist then probably I’d be a sports medicine or playing lacross somewhere” – she added.

-Are there any sports that you’re really into but you’re not brave enough to try it?

-I don’t know… I mean, lacross is pretty brutal. Badminton! (laughs) 

It’s not a secret, that Courtney is actually a mother of two… cats, Cheese and Pickle. And guess what Courtney is doing when the tour’s over? “Music and working out. And I just enjoying time with my significant other and my cats. It’s very boring. (laughs) But you know, we don’t really have that much time, since the minute we get home where we finally could do our laundry, it’s like… We read all the emails we got, so all of us try to use our time at home as much as we can, coz it’s a very precious thing.”

Don’t forget to check out the full gallery of  The Iron Maidens gig at Dürer Kert, Budapest.

 

Special thanks to Maryline Crucifier to make that interview happen.

Don’t forget to follow the official fanclub and street team for Courtney Cox on Instagram.

Interview: Afrodite Szeleczky
Photos: Péter Tepliczky

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