I remember about a year and a half ago, I remember listening to "Run To The Hills" and not knowing who it was by, just "that band that plays Run To The Hills".
Last summer, on a whim I got The Number Of The Beast and that kick-started my "classic" metal interest. When I first started listening to metal, I was thrust in at the extreme end. I listened to Anaal Nathrakh, Antaeus, Immortal, etc. I couldn't name a Priest or Maiden song to save my life.
Now, of course, it's a different story.