Part 34 of my series of Iron Maiden reviews!
IRON MAIDEN – “The Number of the Beast” (2005 CD/vinyl single)
I’ve decided, much like my idol Martin Popoff, to stick pretty much to audio releases when it comes to this series of Maiden reviews. To get into video just opens a big can of worms that I don’t think I can handle. However worth mentioning is the excellent Maiden DVD The Early Days.
A two-disc set, The Early Days combines an excellent documentary with lots of rare early Maiden footage featuring Di’Anno and Dickinson. Live At The Rainbow, Beast Over Hammersmith (audio available on Eddie’s Archive), Live In Dortmund, and Live at the Ruskin Arms are all a part of this, as well as some videos and Top of the Pops performances. The documentary chronicles the early days and features interviews with ex members Paul Di’Anno, Clive Burr, Dennis Stratton, Dave Sullivan, Terry Rance, Doug Sampson, Ron “Rebel” Matthews, Terry Wapram and Bob Sawyer. There are very few members missing from this documentary; most notably singers Paul Day and Den Wilcock, and drummer Thunderstick.
The following year, Maiden re-released “The Number of the Beast” as a CD single, with an advertisement promoting The Early Days on the back. Therefore I’ve decided to consider this single as promotional to The Early Days, which also contains the video for “Beast”.
The tracklisting is as follows:
- “The Number of the Beast” (original version)
- “The Number of the Beast” (live at Brixton ’02)
- “Hallowed Be That Name” (live at Brixton ’02)
plus videos:
- “The Number of the Beast” (Camp Chaos version — essentially has added animations)
- “The Number of the Beast” (live at Brixton ’02)
I also have a red vinyl 7″ single with a lovely poster. This one just contains the two versions of “Beast”.
These live tracks being ’02, they featuring the six-man lineup of Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson, Dave Murray, Janick Gers, Adrian Smith, and Nicko McBrain.
So what can I say as far as an actual review goes? Well, it’s Maiden live in ’02, two of their all time best tracks. “Hallowed” in particular smokes with fiery solos by Dave and Janick. Janick simply burns up the fretboard with the kind of speedy fingerwork that the fans love him for. Bruce is in top voice.
As a nice little extra bonus single for the fans, I have no complaints.
5/5 stars
mikeladano.com 
This is also awesome! Man, you define “fan” of this band, just having this stuff in your house. Also, I need to spend more time on wiki – I had no idea there were quite that many former members of Maiden. Betcha they all feel dumb for leaving now! And “Thunderstick?” Hahaha that’s what SHE said!
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Look up a picture of Thunderstick if you can find one. Interesting fella.
The coloured vinyls are pretty aren’t they?
Glad you enjoy/appreciate. The beauty of the ‘net is that I don’t need to wait for somebody to come over to show off my collection anymore!
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Grrr… want full video of Hammersmith. Lighting be damned.
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