Written for Glynâs Mixed Music Bag #19, where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo singer beginning with the letter I or J.
Iron Maiden is an institution. Over the course of 48 years they have come to embody a spirit of fearless creative independence, ferocious dedication to their fans, and a cheerful indifference to their critics thatâs won them a following that spans every culture, generation, and time-zone. A story of gritty determination and courageous defiance of the naysayers, theirs has been an adventure like no other. Every one of their songs is a story and that for me, as a storyteller, is one of the key ingredients to their success. They are unique and different from every other heavy metal band with song lyrics covering such topics as history, literature, war, mythology, society and religion.
Iron Maiden has released 41 albums, including 17 studio albums, 13 live albums, four EPs and seven compilations. They have also released 47 singles and 20 video albums, and two video games. The band has played some 2,500 live shows and is still touring today. Iron Maiden has become one of the most influential and revered rock bands of all time.
On the evening of October 2, 1982, my husband Bill and I hired a babysitter for our boys and drove into Manhattan for what would be one of our final rock concerts. It had been a while. Now that we had kids, who knew when we would be able to have this experience again. We were all grown up with a different set of priorities but this was one event we could not miss. Performing that night at Madison Square Garden were two British groups Bill and I didnât have a chance to see B.K. (Before Kids). They were Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. And one of the songs Maiden performed that night was âThe Number Of The Beastâ.
Upon release in 1982, the song caused controversy in the United States where its religious subject matter caused outrage among religious groups. In spite of this, it remains one of the band’s more popular songs, reaching #18 in the UK singles charts on its original release, and #3 on two successive occasions in 1990 and 2005. It has been performed on almost all of their concert tours.
According to the song’s writer, bassist and band-founder Steve Harris, it was inspired by a nightmare he had after watching the film âDamien: Omen IIâ late at night, in addition to the poem âTam oâ Shanterâ by Robert Burns. The song opens with a spoken word passage which quotes Revelation 12:12 and Revelation 13:18. The track is known for its very long, high-pitched and guttural wail at the end of the intro, which AllMusic describes as “the most blood-curdling Dickinson scream on record“.
Live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, this is Iron Maiden with âNumber Of The Beastâ
Big thanks to Glyn for hosting Mixed Music Bag every week.
Thanks for stopping by and hanging with me today..
See you on the flip side. đ
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Can’t imagine how thrilling it would have been to be at that live show. They can rock it out for sure. I’m surprised the bass players strings didn’t melt. Dang!
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If I had one last heavy metal show to see, I’m glad it was them!
Thanks, Lisa!
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I saw then once and was almost deafened by their indredible performance!
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They are loud, Keith, but put on quite a show!
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seen them twice, they are a fantastic live band
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Really put on a great show. For them the fans always come first.
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Great choice Nancy. I saw Judas Priest in their very early days before they made it big but I wish I’d seen Iron Maiden when they got big! Paul Di’Anno was the lead singer (only on first album) before Bruce Dickinson took over. A guitar playing friend of mine was in ‘Killers’, which was a band fronted by Di’Anno after his Iron Maiden days.
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I’ve heard the name Paul Di’Anno but I don’t think I’ve ever heard him with Maiden. Bruce was destined to be their frontman; it’s a perfect match.
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(primal scream!!) Never heard before, but so amazing!!
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There are a few who can do the scream well but Ian Gillan from Deep Purple and Bruce Dickinson really get the rafters shaking!
Thanks Liz!
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yes indeed đ
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A group and a half đđđ
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Boy, are they ever!
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