I’ve been on a massive Iron Maiden kick for the last few days. So much so that I came very close to making a damn fool of myself on the train on the way home today; it was well-nigh impossible to keep from headbanging and singing along with my iPod – which I don’t think would have gone down all that well It became patently obvious why Maiden is such a heavy metal icon. I thought therefore I’d present for easy reference a few of the reasons why.

Enjoy. And Bang that head that does not bang. \m/

The first Maiden song I ever heard was Run to the Hills:

That won’t play embedded but I’ve left it in because it was the first thing of them I saw. Here’s a live version:

As a wee sidetrack, I think in the same TV programme they showed this from Kruiz, making it a most excellent show:

A real classic of course is Number of the Beast:

A bit of Samuel Taylor Coleridge:

and part 2:

One of my favourite Iron Maiden songs has always been (and still is) Revelations:

And the best way to learn history – Alexander the Great:

The Trooper is fantastic – classic Maiden gallop and harmonies:

Another favourite is Children of the Damned (song starts at about 2:30):

And getting all Egyptian with Powerslave:

There are many many more, but there’s a taster. Now if you don’t already have a bunch of Maiden cds, go now. Run, don’t walk.

Up the Irons!