Description
Double album on white and purple vinyls. With huge 70×100 cm poster. Limited 400 numbered copies
The exorcism of Paul Di’Anno from Iron Maiden had been coming for some time. Once Steve Harris found the bands popularity stretching from the London base, he knew that to be successful long term they would have to find a singer who could compete with the likes of Rob Halford and Ronnie James Dio. Di’Anno was no doubt an excellent front man for the band, yet he adopted the rock n roll lifestyle that would wreak havoc on his voice and his street wise onstage banter, while perfect for the UK, would be difficult for other audiences to understand. In a curious twist of fate, singer Bruce Dickinson who was fronting Samson who was also on the NWOBHM circuit and who shared many of the same bills as Maiden, was starting to think he would be perfect for the group. At the same time, he was added to Steve Harris’ short list of possible singers, he and manager Rod Smallwood even went to see Samson play at the Reading Fest where according to legend, he was asked to audition. The rest is history shall we say, but there is always more. Once an offer was made and accepted, Iron Maiden embarked on a short 5 date tour of Italy to “Break in Bruce”. Far from the UK rock press the band would put the singer through the mill so to speak. For most the first exposure from these dates was as the b-side to The Number Of The Beast single from 1982 and it was like Maiden on steroids and was much superior to the version from the Maiden Japan EP. What makes these 5 dates, as well as the last couple recordings that circulate from the tail end of 1981 is you get to hear Bruce singing a full Killers set, filled with tasty treats the band has not played since. This album captures the band at Reggio Emilia Palasport on the 31st of March 1981 and already from the start of the concert the crowd is into it from the first notes, they cheer and clap along as the memory of Paul Di’anno has been washed away. Whats clear after these Italian shows is that Iron Maiden would never be the same after 1981, new singer and new material would wash away the “early years” as Iron Maiden would leave their NWOBHM roots and rise to the largest stages in music. This early Maiden has a lot of charm, its music is dominated by Steve Harris and Dave Murray, the stalwarts of the band. In coming years Adrian and Bruce would contribute greatly to the bands catalog and sound.
Track list:
1. Wrathchild
2. Purgatory
3. Sanctuary
4. Remember Tomorrow / Another Life (With Drum Solo)
5. Genghis Khan
6. Killers
7. Innocent Exile
8. Murders In The Rue Morgue / Twilight Zone
9. Phantom Of The Opera
10. Iron Maiden
11. Running Free
12. Transylania
13. Guitar Solo (Dave Murray)
14. Prowler
15. Drifter