Dispatches from the Creation Wars

For my money, Iron Maiden is the ultimate heavy metal band. They’ve got the total package of brilliant musicianship – two great guitarists and a fantastic rhythm section – and Bruce Dickinson’s soaring vocals. Unlike a lot of heavy metal bands, their songs are actually literate as well, many of them drawing on literary and mythological themes. Plus, you’ve just gotta love their mascot, Eddie. A few choice clips below the fold.

Here’s the video for Wasted Years:

Here’s a live performance of The Trooper that shows the full range of the band and the fact that they can pull off their complex songs live (and that Dickinson’s air raid siren voice is not a studio creation). This really shows you just how tight this band is:

Here’s another live clip, Fear of the Dark:

This is the classic video for The Number of the Beast:

Here’s a two parter of their epic musical version of Coleridge’s Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. This is really their magnum opus in my opinion. A brilliant rendition of the famous poem set to music, about 13 minutes long. Unfortunately, it can’t be embedded from Youtube, so you’ll have to follow the links to see it:

Part one
Part two

Comments

#1 jba
May 26, 2007

Maiden is one of the best live bands, period. I have a dvd boxed set of theirs that has all the videos and tons of live footage. Awesome stuff. And thanks for not posting any of the Blaze Bailey crap, he really couldnt fill Bruces shoes IMHO.
#2 Miguelito
May 26, 2007

I’ve seen Maiden twice and have to say that, in my opinion, are the best live act by far. The tempo never lets up ever and their shows are long.
#3 Ferrous Patella
May 26, 2007

Two words:

Spinal

Tap
#4 Mike Correia
May 26, 2007

Just to clarify, Iron Maiden have had three guitarists in the band since 1999.
#5 valhar2000
May 26, 2007

My favourate song is “Hallowed be thy Name”. That song is just pure concentrated delight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJDdJoBTwYE
#6 FishyFred
May 26, 2007

Bruce Dickinson’s vocal cords should be studied by doctors so that his voice may one day be replicated. It’s ridiculous.
#7 Harq al-Ada
May 26, 2007

Maiden eased my transition into metalheaddom. If I had started with death metal with its harsh vocals I might have been turned off.
#8 Harq al-Ada
May 26, 2007

Which isn’t to say I don’t still love their music for itself.
#9 MightyLambchop
May 27, 2007

Ed, finally some music I can get behind!
My first concert was Iron Maiden at the Long Beach Arena in ’88.
They also helped me push my history grade from a B+ to an A in high school.
Educational and entertaining!
#10 Jurjen S.
May 27, 2007

Maiden used to be a little harsh for my tastes, but after living with a roommate who was into Rage Against The Machine and Nine Inch Nails, I realized that Maiden’s material is actually downright melodic by comparison. So yeah, I got into Maiden only at age 28, which isn’t entirely normal in my book, but hey.
#11 Jerk
May 28, 2007

All their songs sound the same.
#12 386sx
May 28, 2007

You guys ain’t seen nothing until you’ve seen Wishmaster – Nightwish – Misheard lyrics.

I agree with Jerk on this one. Iron Maiden are musical demagogues and they are patently absurd.

Not!
#13 386sx
May 28, 2007

Okay this is the original: Wishmaster – The Misheard Lyrics

That other one up there was a copy. Sorry Kewen!