50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 20:  Virtual XI

With special guest Jake (Not From State Farm)

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #113

2nd show of Friday August 7!  For Music & Mental Health II, click here.

 

The Blaze Bayley era ended as swiftly as it began.  Two studio albums and a handful of singles were all this lineup produced.  Here we appraise the final Iron Maiden album with Blaze at the microphone, the oft-misunderstood Virtual XI.

This episode will prove to be our most controversial to date.  Special guest Jake (Not From State Farm) does not hold back on certain topics, especially when it comes to fandom unwilling to accept the new lead singer.  As fans of this dark era of Iron Maiden, we will tell you what was great about this album, while hopefully taking a balanced approach.  Even so, some will not be happy with what we have to say.

Personal memories of Virtual XI are coupled with the facts and figures.  Unlike the X Factor, we do not have 14 original studio tracks to break down this time.  Iron Maiden took a leaner approach to songwriting and recording this time, but the two singles (“Angel and the Gambler”, and “Futureal”) did yield a small treasure trove of live versions, something that the previous singles did not.  As usual we will look at every single B-side, including the edit version of “Angel and the Gambler”.  We will also take a look at the limited edition lenticular cover art, while Harrison will go into detail on the accompanying tour.

Buckle up, metal heads.  Tonight we take no prisoners on 50 Years of Iron Maiden.

Friday August 8 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T.  Enjoy on YouTube.

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Past episodes:

• Episode one:  1975-1980
• Episode 2:  Iron Maiden & “Women In Uniform”
• Episode 3:  Killers
• Episode 4:  Maiden Japan, Live + One!!, Live at the Rainbow
• Episode 5:  The Number of the Beast
• Episode 6:  Beast Over Hammersmith
• Episode 7:  Piece of Mind
• Episode 8:  Let’s Talk Iron Maiden Drummers with Glen “Archie” Gamble
• Bonus Episode:  Run For Your Lives Tour Set Speculation
• Bonus Episode:  Maiden Grail acquired
• Episode 9:  Powerslave
• Episode 10:  Live After Death
• Episode 11:  Somewhere in Time
• Episode 12:  Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
• Bonus Episode & Critical post-show chat:  The First Ten Years Box Set
• Episode 13:  Maiden England ’88
• Bonus Episode:  Run For Your Lives Tour Setlist Analysis
• Episode 14:  No Prayer for the Dying
• Bonus Episode:  Hallowed By Their Name Unboxed
• Episode 15:  Fear of the Dark
• Bonus Episode:  Collections! Stories! Maiden on Vinyl, Bottlecaps & More!
  
• Episode 16: Live At Donington & A Real Live Dead One
• Episode 17:  Raising Hell – Bruce’s “Final” Show
• Episode 18:  The X Factor
• Bonus Episode:   The Coolest Iron Maiden Cassette You’ve Ever Seen
• Episode 19:  Best of the Beast / Virus
• Episode 20:  Virtual XI
• Bonus Episode:  The Best of Blaze
• Episode 21:  Ed Hunter
• Episode 22:  Brave New World

Handy YouTube Playlist:

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