Aquarian Family

Linda McDonald

Linda McDonald is the drummer for Phantom Blue and The Iron Maidens. She is the drummer/co-founder of the all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue from 1987 - 2001 and a founding member of The Iron Maidens - the World’s Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden. Genres - Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Tribute Associated Acts: The Iron Maidens, Phantom Blue, Carina Alfie, Meldrum, and various cover and tribute bands Of Irish and Japanese descent, Linda was inspired to take up drums after listening to her brother's copy of Iron Maiden's Maiden Japan live EP. She took up piano first as a child then dabbled with acoustic guitar and violin early on, but it was drumming that she connected with the most in her late teens that gained her loyal focus instantly. She took some private lessons, attended the Musician's Institute in Hollywood the Summer after graduating High School, followed by some college music courses and also Drum set, harmony and theory and ear training at the Dick Grove School of Music in the San Fernando Valley. Once she joined her first band, playing music live hooked her and she never looked back. Linda became a founding member of Phantom Blue - the first and only all female band to be signed to Mike Varney's shred label Shrapnel Records with Marty Friedman producing their self-titled debut album, followed by their second release on Geffen Records, “Built to Perform”, produced by the legendary Max Norman. The band toured Europe extensively for many years and released independent eps through 2001. After Phantom Blue, Linda joined an all-female tribute band to Iron Maiden called The Iron Maidens, and has been touring around the world with them for many years, celebrating their 25th anniversary in October 2026. Influences include: Simon Phillips, John Bonham, Alex Van Halen, Phil Collins, Mike Johnston, Deen Castronovo, Clive Burr, Thomas Lang, and anyone who holds a pair of sticks and plays. Linda is a longtime endorser of Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, DW Drums, pedals and hardware, Humes and Berg cases and Aquarian Drum Heads.