DETROIT - The British Heavy Metal band Iron Maiden set the standard for loud, fast and ear-splitting rock music. The new classic album DVD series created a documentary for their "Number of the Beast" album. It is filled with stories from the band members, tour managers, and recording engineers. The 1982 album went platinum and created raving fans all around the world. The album is famous for introducing its new singer Bruce Dickenson who replaced Paul DiAnno.
Bruce added a higher range of vocal tones and took the Iron Maiden brand to a whole other level. DiAnno in comparison was considered a working-class geezer while Dickenson added an almost operatic quality. Dickenson's contribution brought a surge of new creativity to the songwriting. The theme of the album was "The Beast" from the Book of Revelation. The songs reflected heavy spiritual concepts. Guitarist Steve Harris relates that the genesis of the concept derived from a nightmare he experienced.
Before adding Bruce to the band England only had three bands that played this type of music. Saxxon, Motorhead, Samson were the other metal bands who comprised the scene. These bands were getting all the press at the time and had a small but growing community of fans. The fanbase was disinterested in Punk Rock but preferred hard rock with speed. In 1980 British Heavy Metal was only a provincial phenomenon. It would take the creation of new albums and love for touring to change the consciousness of the hard rock world.
Bruce Dickenson was the lead singer for Samson and had been impressed with Iron Maiden. He had aspired to sing for them and build the brand into something bigger. Bruce got his chance one night while discussing music with the bandmates after a show. The songwriting took a stronger literary tone with the addition of Dickenson. The song "The Prisoner" was inspired by the British television show with Patrick McGoohan. Bruce had life long self-identity with isolation and used it as a creative source of inspiration.
Iron Maiden fans will love the stories of this documentary. While on tour the band managed to slam the tour bus violently into a van full of nuns on some lonely country road. The next day the band sent their vehicle into the repair shop to get fixed and the bill came to 666 British pounds. There is insight into the band's high concept album cover artwork. Artist Derek Riggs was inspired by Purgatory and portrays the bands illustrated mascot Eddie dangling a marionette that could represent the recording industry. But who is controlling who? Is the record company controlling the band or is it the other way around? Riggs also shares the original painting for the album had a stormy grey sky. EMI messed up the print job when producing the record cover artwork and the result is a bright blue sky and the rest is history.
Iron Maiden took this album on tour opening for Loverboy, Foreigner and Ted Nugent. Their reception in America was well received and even kicked off some controversy. The band got some backlash from conservative Christian kids who included "Number of the Beast" in a televised bonfire. Bruce Dickenson recalls a man who showed up at the concert parking lot with a large crucifix. The album continued to attract heavy criticism from pastors, parents and right-wing conservatives. The band's manager mentions that this only helped their legacy and brought them to the forefront of publicity. They have continued to inspire a new generation of Heavy Metal bands around the world. The album generated 14 Million sales worldwide.
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