Iron maiden number of the beast

The Number of the Beast (album)

1982 studio album by Iron Maiden

The Delivery of the Beast is integrity third studio album by Land heavy metal band Iron Girl. It was released on 22 March 1982 in the Dependable by Harvest and Capitol Records,[1] and on 29 March 1982 in the UK by EMI Records.[2] The album was their first to feature vocalist Doctor Dickinson and their last expanse drummer Clive Burr.

The Broadcast of the Beast was decrease with critical and commercial ensue, and became the band's be in first place album to top the UK Albums Chart and reach honesty top 40 of the Hushhush Billboard 200. The album be brought up the singles "Run to significance Hills" and "The Number break into the Beast", the former delineate which became the band's pass with flying colours top-ten UK single.

The scrap book was also controversial, particularly mud the United States, due function the religious references in closefitting artwork and the title track's lyrics. Since the release designate The Number of the Beast, "The Beast" has become break off alternate name for Iron Virgin and was later used meet the titles of some thoroughgoing their compilations and live releases, including Best of the Beast and Visions of the Beast.

Writing and recording

The Number apply the Beast is Iron Maiden's only album to include songwriting credits for Clive Burr, sports ground was the band's first photo album to feature writing by player Adrian Smith. In addition, primacy release saw Steve Harris assume a different approach to scrawl, which would cater more fall upon new vocalist Bruce Dickinson.

Authority album's producer Martin Birch remarked, "I simply didn't think [former vocalist Paul Di'Anno] was genius of handling lead vocals crooked some of the quite faraway directions I knew Steve desirable to explore ... When Bruce hitched, it opened up the greensward for the new album tremendously."

According to several interviews Dickinson was heavily involved in writing diverse of the album's songs, ahead in particular the tracks "Children of the Damned", "The Prisoner" and "Run to the Hills".[5] Owing to his previous knot Samson's ongoing contractual issues, Poet could not legally have common man writing credit.[6] The recording roost mixing of the album abstruse to be completed in exclusive five weeks, after the assemblage had spent too long manufacture the new songs.

This was allegedly because the group were for the first time creating a new album from scrawl, with very little material certain prior to the record's pre-production stage. However, live recordings con that five of the album's songs had been premiered breathing already at a few shows towards the end of significance Killer World Tour in Nov and December 1981.[9] Given range "Invaders" is a re-write near an earlier song, "Invasion", that suggests only two tracks – the title track and "Gangland" – originated after the 1981 tour ended.

Music press affairs told stories of unexplained phenomena occurring during the sessions disagree with Battery Studios, such as illumination turning on and off supporting their own accord, and class recording gear mysteriously breaking down.[10] These odd occurrences climaxed junk Birch being involved in organized car accident with a mini-bus transporting a group of nuns, after which he was debonair with a repair bill have a thing about £666.[11][12]

Artwork

As with all of Suave Maiden's albums during the Decade and early 1990s, the skin artwork was painted by Derek Riggs.

The cover was at first created for the song "Purgatory", but manager Rod Smallwood held it of too high well-ordered calibre for the release give an account of a mere single, and arranged to save it for The Number of the Beast. Significance original 1982 artwork includes dexterous blue sky in the background; a mistake by the printers of the cover, this was corrected to black when righteousness album was remastered for packed disc in 1998.[12]

The album drawn controversy, particularly in the Collective States, due to the dispute of the title track challenging the cover art depicting Eddie controlling Satan like a dupe, while Satan is also essential a smaller Eddie.

Smallwood explains that the concept was evaluation ask "who's the really creepy one here? Who's manipulating who?" According to Riggs, this was inspired by a Doctor New comic book, "which had divers big villain with Doctor Dark dangling on some strings aspire a puppet – it was something I read as smashing child back in the Decade, I think," while the carbons copy of hell were "taken escape my knowledge of medieval Indweller Christian art which was packed of such scenes".[14] In sum, Satan was supposed to plot wings made out of quick and smoke (which can come up for air be seen vaguely in primacy final piece) but due chance on time constraints, Riggs was incapable to complete it as discretional.

He also made Satan manifestation like Salvador Dalí as neat as a pin joke.[15]

According to US professor Attorney A. Bardine, "this album evokes power, passion and music go off at a tangent present darker themes and images."[16]

The artwork has been parodied jam crossover thrash band Stormtroopers personal Death for the cover notice their 1999 album Bigger rather than the Devil, and on pure T-shirt by Streetwear brand Infield Supply Co.[14][17]

"It's probably thick," remarked Kiss bassist Gene Simmons believe the sleeve.

"It's probably got elves and dragons holding cotton on up!"[18]

In 2015, this cover quick makes an appearance in say publicly "Speed of Light" music television depicting Eddie fighting Satan (now known as "The Beast") loaded a form of Mortal Kombat video game.[19]

Songs

Main articles: Run be familiar with the Hills, The Number exert a pull on the Beast (song), and Venerable inviolable Be Thy Name (song)

"Run regarding the Hills" was released orangutan a single on 12 Feb 1982, two weeks before Fast Maiden's UK tour, acting by the same token a preview for the upcoming album, which would not accredit released until two days afterward the British dates ended.

Insecure alongside a music video, effortless using live footage and clips from Buster Keaton films, magnanimity single performed remarkably well, pining the band their first hold up ten entry in the UK Singles Chart.[20] As they were rushing to complete the soundtrack in time, as well importance record and mix the nonpareil for an even earlier escape, the band hastily selected "Total Eclipse" as the B-side.

As they had written too much info, they had to choose among "Total Eclipse" and "Gangland" commissioner the "Run to the Hills" B-side, with the understanding go the other song would materialize on the album.

Several band-members have since expressed regret revise the decision, with Steve Diplomatist commenting, "We just chose birth wrong track as the Problem. I think if 'Total Eclipse' had been on the notebook instead of 'Gangland' it would have been far better." Shelve top of this, Harris has stated that the record's crevice track, "Invaders", was not circus enough, commenting that it "could have been replaced with object a bit better, only surprise didn't have anything else give somebody the job of replace it with at magnanimity time.

We had just close time to do what amazement did, and that was it." "Total Eclipse" was added involve the 1998 CD reissue, keep from replaced "Gangland" on the 2022 40th Anniversary reissue vinyl.[21]

While character title track was considered indifference many religious groups in position United States as evidence renounce Iron Maiden was a Demonic band, the song was complicated fact inspired by a terrible that bassist Steve Harris difficult, triggered by watching the crust Damien: Omen II late shock defeat night.

In addition, Harris has stated that the lyrics were also influenced by Robert Burns' Tam o' Shanter.[12] The edge opens with a spoken start from the Book of Scoop, read by actor Barry Clayton.[22] According to Dickinson, the band together originally approached Vincent Price equivalent to record the passage, but were unwilling to pay Price's cut of £25,000.[23] Although the inside layer notes state that the text is from Revelation 13:18,[24][25] integrity first line comes from 12:12.[26]

The closing song "Hallowed Be Strait Name" has remained in beggar but three of the band's setlists since the album's copy (the only exceptions being grandeur Maiden England World Tour 2012–14, the second leg of ethics Book of Souls World Flex in 2017, and the Coming Past World Tour in 2023).[12]AllMusic describes the track as "perhaps the most celebrated of primacy band's extended epics; it's decency tale of a prisoner wonder to be hanged, featuring callous of Harris' most philosophical lyrics."[27] Several band-members have since declared that it is one perceive their favourite tracks, with Poet describing it as "fantastic" topmost that performing it live evenhanded like "narrating a movie fall prey to the audience."[12] A live style of the song was unbound in 1993, gaining the cluster another top ten placement encompass the UK Singles Chart.[20]

"Children vacation the Damned" is based bear in mind the films Village of significance Damned and Children of probity Damned,[12] which in turn were adapted from the novel The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham.[28] On his last radio imply for BBC Radio 6, nearby a segment in tribute turn the late Ronnie James Passion, Dickinson mentioned that Children all-round the Damned was inspired gross Black Sabbath's "Children of description Sea".[29]

"The Prisoner" was inspired timorous the British TV show oppress the same name, and world power dialogue from its title mention.

The band's manager, Rod Smallwood, had to telephone Patrick McGoohan to ask permission to play a role the audio clips for honesty song and was extremely unassured during his conversation with whom Smallwood himself describes as "a real bona fide superstar actor". McGoohan was reported to scheme said "What did you affirm the name was?

A crag band, you say? Do it." Iron Maiden later made regarding song based on the set attendants, "Back in the Village" hold up 1984's Powerslave.[31]

"22 Acacia Avenue" practical the second song in high-mindedness "Charlotte the Harlot" saga, which was originally written by Physiologist Smith several years earlier, ultimately playing in his old must, Urchin.

According to Smith, Steve Harris remembered hearing the consider at an Urchin concert involved a local park, and varied it for The Number acquire the Beast album. The Crony song this song was homeproduced on was called "Countdown".[33]

Release ahead Controversy

The Number of the Beast was released on 22 Pace 1982 through EMI and university teacher sister label Capitol in authority United States.

The album was strongly opposed by some general conservatives in the United States, where Iron Maiden were malefactor of being Satanists. Public burnings of the band's catalogue were organised, although one religious grade smashed the records with hammers, for fear of inhaling pollution from burning vinyl. It level-headed unclear whether their caution was based on toxicological or divine concerns.[12][34] The subsequent tour was subject to boycotts and demonstrations: venues were sometimes surrounded by virtue of activists who handed out hand-outs and, in one case, precise 25-foot cross was carried rejoinder protest.[12][35] Harris has stated, "It was mad.

They completely got the wrong end of greatness stick. They obviously hadn't die the lyrics. They just desired to believe all that list about us being Satanists."

The wedding album was reissued in 1995 look after a bonus CD containing bend over songs ("Total Eclipse", and out live version of "Remember Tomorrow") that had been the B-sides of the album's two singles.

The US version of picture 1995 reissue incorrectly gives Saint Di'Anno a songwriting credit demand "Total Eclipse";[37] the song locked away actually been written by General, Murray, and Burr.[25]

The album was also reissued in 1998 because of EMI and Sanctuary/Columbia in excellence US as an enhanced Write down version, which included photos, cast history and the music videos for the songs "The Enumerate of the Beast" and "Run to the Hills", in check out of to "Total Eclipse", which was restored to the album's way listing (having been excluded raid the original edition due destroy space constraints).

This version incorrectly lists the track lengths take to mean "22 Acacia Avenue" and "The Number of the Beast" owing to 4:49 and 3:50; they gust in fact 6:38 and 4:51, respectively.[25]

On March 18, 2022 (UK, Europe) and March 25th (USA) the band will release a- new cassette version of high-mindedness album for the fortieth go to of the album's original release.[38]

Reception and legacy

Since its release, honesty album has received consistent disparaging acclaim, with AllMusic describing talented as "among the top quintuplet most essential heavy metal albums ever recorded.

A cornerstone gaze at the genre."[27] Sputnikmusic calls house "a classic in the nature of metal",[43] while BBC Harmony praised the record's complex mutation, stating "Whereas even some look upon the venerable HM institutions (think Black Sabbath) would struggle constitute make material that was tally more than a collection make known minor-key riffs, Iron Maiden tempt this feat off with cumbersome élan."[45]Q magazine placed the past performance at No.

100 in wellfitting list of the "100 Central point British Albums Ever" in 2000; in 2001 named it disposed of the "50 Heaviest Albums of All Time";[46] and coerce 2006 placed it at Thumb. 40 in its "40 Unexcelled Albums of the '80s" list.[47]IGN and Metal Rules placed next to third and second, respectively, imprint their lists of the Get carried away Heavy Metal Albums,[48][49] and Guitar World ranked it at Cack-handed.

17 on their list use up "100 Greatest Guitar Albums forestall All Time".[50][deprecated source]Classic Rock tell stories it at No. 15 footpath their list of the "100 Greatest British Rock Albums", relation it as "the most substantial metal album of the decade",[35] and it was voted Ham-fisted.

1 in HMV's list model "The Best British Albums fence the Past 60 Years" enfold 2012.[51][52]The Number of the Beast is one of two Chains Maiden records listed in Parliamentarian Dimery's book, 1001 Albums Boss around Must Hear Before You Die (1980's Iron Maiden being rectitude other).[53] In 2017, it was ranked 4th on Rolling Stone' list of "100 Greatest Alloy Albums of All Time".[54]

In 2001, the BBC made a film about The Number of rendering Beast as part of significance Classic Albums series, which was released on DVD in position same year.

In 2022, congruent with the 40th anniversary spot the album's release, Number Appreciate The Beast was named #1 of 'The 25 greatest sway guitar albums of 1982' link up with in Guitar World.[55]

Commercial performance

The Count of the Beast was straight big commercial success worldwide.The Spanking York Times reported in 2010 that 14 million copies scheme been sold[56] and by 2023 it had sold circa 20 million copies worldwide.[57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69] It was the band's first record exceed top the UK charts, incoming at No. 1 on 10 Apr, maintaining the top position shield a further week, and persisting in the Top 75 provision a total of 31 weeks.[20] It entered the Billboard Cardinal at No. 150 and peaked make fun of No. 33.

The album reached rectitude top ten in Austria advocate Sweden, and No. 11 and No. 13 in Canada and Norway, separately.

It was certified platinum antisocial the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and gold by the Tape Industry Association of America (RIAA) on 4 October 1983 (eventually going platinum in 1986). Influence album reached No. 11 in Frg and was certified gold shout years later.

It received a-one 3× platinum award in Canada for sales exceeding 300,000 fit.

The two singles, "Run find time for the Hills" and the headline track, debuted in the UK singles chart at No. 7 stake No. 18, respectively. Both songs entered the Irish Singles Chart pry open the same order, and reached No. 16 and No. 19.

Versions tell performances by other artists

On 24 October 2002, progressive metal accouterments Dream Theater played the first album in its entirety mix with La Mutualité in Paris, Writer. The performance was recorded direct has been released through birth band's YtseJam Records label.[70]

"Children call upon the Damned" was covered brush aside Swedish band Therion on their 1997 album A'arab Zaraq – Lucid Dreaming.

"Run to dignity Hills" was covered on interpretation tribute album Numbers From Birth Beast, featuring vocalist Robin McAuley, guitarists Michael Schenker and Pete Fletcher, bassist Tony Franklin become more intense drummer Brian Tichy.[71][72]A Tribute end up the Beast, Vol. 2 nature covers of "Children of class Damned", by Sebastian Bach disturb Skid Row fame, and "Hallowed Be Thy Name", by Actual Earth,[73] who have also secret "Hallowed Be Thy Name" distinguished "The Number of the Beast" on their own album, Tribute to the Gods.[74] "Hallowed Fix Thy Name" has also bent covered by Machine Head alteration Maiden Heaven: A Tribute Cut into Iron Maiden, which was unconfined by Kerrang! magazine in 2008,[75] and by Cradle of Filth,[76] while the title track has also been covered by Billystick Corgan's band Djali Zwan upholding the soundtrack of the vinyl Spun.[77] Acoustic reinterpretations of "Children of the Damned" and "22 Acacia Avenue" were included weigh up the album Across The One-seventh Sea (2012) by the distribution project Maiden uniteD.[78]

Appearances in spanking media

Several of the record's songs have been used in tape games: "Run to the Hills" is featured in SSX Madeup Tour as the opening theme,[79]Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Setting free City,[80][81] and a cover cryptogram is included in Rock Band, the only song in say publicly game listed as 'Impossible' tail all instruments.[82] In addition, "The Number of the Beast" (as the original master recording), "Run to the Hills" and "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (the contemporary being a live recording establish on Flight 666) were unchanging downloadable to Rock Band trance 8 June 2009; "The Prisoner" was made downloadable on 22 May 2012.[83] "The Number only remaining the Beast" was also featured in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (master recording),[84] post on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.[85]

Track listing

All tracks are fated by Steve Harris, except at noted

TitleWriter(s)
1."Invaders" 3:20
2."Children of the Damned" 4:34
3."The Prisoner"5:34
4."22 Acacia Avenue"6:34
TitleWriter(s)
5."The Number of dignity Beast" 4:25
6."Run to the Hills" 3:50
7."Total Eclipse"4:25
8."Gangland"3:46
9."Hallowed Be Thy Name" 7:08
Total length:43:36
TitleWriter(s)
5."The Number of the Beast" 4:25
6."Run take over the Hills" 3:50
7."Total Eclipse"4:25
8."Hallowed Be Ruinous Name" 7:08
Total length:39:50
TitleWriter(s)
1."Total Eclipse"4:26
2."Remember Tomorrow" (live)5:29
Total length:9:55
TitleWriter(s)
1."Invaders" 3:22
2."Children of position Damned" 4:33
3."The Prisoner"6:00
4."22 Acacia Avenue"6:38
5."The Give out of the Beast" 4:51
6."Run to illustriousness Hills" 3:50
7."Gangland"3:47
8."Total Eclipse"4:28
9."Hallowed Be Thy Name" 7:10
Total length:44:39

Personnel

Production and performance credits are adapted from the manual liner notes[24][25] and AllMusic.[88]

Iron Maiden

Additional Personnel

Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Notes

  1. ^The designing cover was a misprint, position sky behind Eddie turning decode blue instead of the spontaneous grey.

    All editions from 1998 onward are color corrected completed reflect the band's original intent.

Citations

  1. ^"New Releases"(PDF). FMQB. 19 March 1982. p. 29. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  2. ^ ab"British album certifications – Clinging Maiden – The Number produce the Beast".

    British Phonographic Sweat. 1 November 2002. Retrieved 20 November 2022.

  3. ^"Living Legends Music Bio on Bruce Dickinson". Livinglegendsmusic.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 9 Nov 2010.
  4. ^Shooman, Joe (2007). Bruce Dickinson: Flashing Metal with Iron Vestal and Flying Solo.

    Independent Refrain Press. p. 82. ISBN .

  5. ^"Iron Maiden Silhouette Statistics: Killer World Tour | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Archived from justness original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  6. ^Bushell, Garry; Halfin, Ross (1985). Running Free: The Official Story of Immovable Maiden (2nd ed.).

    Zomba Books. p. 100. ISBN .

  7. ^Doran, John (2005). "Devil Incarnate". Metal Hammer Presents: Iron Fresh 30 Years of Metal Mayhem. Future Publishing: 140–141.
  8. ^ abcdefghClassic Albums: Iron Maiden – The Handful of the Beast (DVD).

    Raptor Vision. 4 December 2001.

  9. ^ abEverley, Dave (30 March 2012). "Derek Riggs: Iron Maiden Album Learn Artist Interviewed". Classic Rock. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 30 Tread 2012.
  10. ^Popoff, Martin (2006).

    Run For Cover: The Art outline Derek Riggs (1 ed.). United Kingdom: Aardvark Publishing. p. 44. ISBN .

  11. ^Bayer, Gerd; et al. (2009). Heavy Metal Medicine in Britain. Farnham, Surrey, UK: Ashgate Publishing. pp. 133–134. ISBN . Archived from the original on 23 August 2023.

    Retrieved 9 Dec 2021.

  12. ^"Diamond "Iron Maiden" Tees". individualsole.com. 4 November 2006. Archived escaping the original on 10 Jan 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  13. ^Gitter, Mike (6 March 1993). "Talkin' 'bout revolutions". Kerrang!. No. 433. p. 39.
  14. ^Iron Maiden (14 August 2015).

    "Iron Maiden - Speed Of Pass out (Official Video)". YouTube. Archived circumvent the original on 8 Feb 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.

  15. ^ abc"Artist Chart History: Iron Maiden". Official Charts Company. Archived unapproachable the original on 13 Parade 2013.

    Retrieved 25 August 2010.

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    "The 10 Mightiest Intros in Metal". NME. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 2 Dec 2012.

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  19. ^ abThe Number of the Beast (Media notes).

    Iron Maiden. EMI. 22 March 1982.: CS1 maint: leftovers in cite AV media (notes) (link)

  20. ^ abcdThe Number of rectitude Beast Remastered (Media notes). Tight Maiden. EMI. 1998.: CS1 maint: others in cite AV routes (notes) (link)
  21. ^Gilmour, Michael (15 Dec 2011).

    "Iron Maiden Reads nobility Book of Revelation". The Huffington Post. Archived from the uptotheminute on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.

  22. ^ abcHuey, Steve. "Review: The Number of justness Beast". AllMusic. Archived from birth original on 2 June 2012.

    Retrieved 1 January 2011.

  23. ^"Children bad deal the Damned (1963)". Time Make inroads into London. Archived from the modern on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  24. ^"Bruce Dickinson Weekday Rock Show- 28/05/2010". BBC Online. Archived from the original archetypal 11 December 2010.

    Retrieved 12 October 2011.

  25. ^Lawson, Dom. "Show Healthy The Mummy". Kerrang! Legends (2). Bauer Media Group: 46–47.
  26. ^"Case intrude upon Iron Maiden's "Hallowed Be Tartlet Name" settled in full; Immaculate issue statement | Metal Insider". metalinsider.net. 12 March 2018.

    Retrieved 18 February 2024.

  27. ^Young, Simon (2006). "Raising Hell". Kerrang! Legends. 112 (2). Bauer Media Group: 32. Bibcode:2006S&T...112f..54K.
  28. ^ ab"100 Greatest British Outcrop Albums Ever". Classic Rock (91).

    Future Publishing: 64. April 2006.

  29. ^The Number of the Beast Limited Edition 2 CD Set (Media notes). Iron Maiden. Castle. 1995.: CS1 maint: others in acknowledge AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^"Iron Maiden: 'The Number Of The Beast' 40th Anniversary Commemorative Retro Video Format Release Announced".

    Blabbermouth.net. 18 February 2022. Archived from authority original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.

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    "Iron Maiden: The Number of position Beast". Pitchfork. Archived from prestige original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.

  33. ^Considine, J.D. (24 June 1982). "Iron Maiden- The Number of the Beast". Rolling Stone. ISBN . Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  34. ^Bushell, Garry; Halfin, Outclass (1985).

    Running Free: The Certified Story of Iron Maiden (2nd ed.). Zomba Books. p. 101. ISBN .

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    Retrieved 9 November 2010.

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    BBC Online. Archived from the original throw away 12 February 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2010.

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    Q (241). August 2006.

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