Prepare to confront the beast within as we delve into one of heavy metal's most iconic and controversial videos.
The Song
"The Number of the Beast" is the title track from Iron Maiden's third studio album, released in 1982. Penned solely by bassist Steve Harris, the song is a powerful and dramatic piece widely considered a classic of the heavy metal genre. It opens with a spoken word introduction, famously taken from the Bible's Book of Revelation, before launching into its signature galloping rhythm and soaring vocals. The lyrics explore themes of nightmares, fear, and a terrifying encounter with demonic forces, which led to significant controversy upon its release.
The Artist
Iron Maiden is an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist Steve Harris. By the time "The Number of the Beast" was released, the band had cemented their classic lineup, featuring Bruce Dickinson on vocals, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith on guitars, Steve Harris on bass, and Clive Burr on drums. This era marked a significant turning point for the band, as it was their first album with Dickinson, whose powerful vocal range greatly expanded their sound and commercial appeal.
Chart Performance
Upon its release in 1982, "The Number of the Beast" had a notable impact on the charts, particularly in the UK. The single itself reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. The album of the same name was even more successful, debuting at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart, a landmark achievement for a heavy metal band at the time. This success helped propel Iron Maiden into international stardom, solidifying their position as one of the leading bands in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.
Cultural Impact
The video for "The Number of the Beast", along with the song itself, sparked immense controversy, particularly in the United States. Religious groups protested the band, accusing them of being Satanic due to the song's title, lyrical content, and imagery in the album artwork, which depicted the band's mascot Eddie controlling the Devil. This led to album burnings and boycotts, inadvertently giving Iron Maiden significant publicity. Despite or perhaps because of the controversy, the song and video became iconic, deeply embedding themselves in heavy metal culture and influencing countless bands that followed.
Fun Facts
- The famous spoken-word intro, "Woe to you, oh Earth and sea, for the Devil sends the beast with wrath, because he knows the time is short... Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is Six hundred and sixty six," was originally meant to be read by horror legend Vincent Price. However, Price demanded too high a fee, so an uncredited actor named Barry Clayton recorded it instead.
- The music video prominently features footage from various old horror films, including Nosferatu (1922) and Godzilla (1954), edited together with shots of the band performing.
- The album's producer, Martin Birch, reportedly refused to work on any album titled "The Number of the Beast" until the band persuaded him. He apparently suffered a minor car accident with a truck whose repair bill was coincidentally £666.
- Despite the controversy, Steve Harris has always maintained that the song is not pro-Satanic, but rather a narrative exploring a nightmare experience and the concept of good versus evil.
- This was the first Iron Maiden album and single to feature Bruce Dickinson on vocals, a move that many credit with significantly elevating the band's sound and mainstream appeal.Prepare to confront the beast within as we delve into one of heavy metal's most iconic and controversial videos.
The Song
"The Number of the Beast" is the fiery title track from Iron Maiden's seminal third studio album, released on March 22, 1982, in the US and March 29, 1982, in the UK. Primarily penned by bassist Steve Harris, the song is a dramatic and intense heavy metal classic. It famously begins with a spoken-word intro from the Book of Revelation, setting a ominous tone before erupting into its signature galloping rhythm and powerful vocals. The lyrics delve into themes of nightmares and a terrifying encounter with demonic rituals, which ignited significant controversy upon its release.
The Artist
Iron Maiden is an English heavy metal band founded in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The album "The Number of the Beast" marked a pivotal moment for the band as it was their first to feature vocalist Bruce Dickinson, replacing Paul Di'Anno. The lineup for this era included Bruce Dickinson on vocals, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith on guitars, Steve Harris on bass, and Clive Burr on drums. Dickinson's wide vocal range and dramatic flair were instrumental in refining the band's sound and expanding their global appeal, establishing them as one of heavy metal's most important bands.
Chart Performance
"The Number of the Beast" made a significant impact on charts worldwide. The single itself reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart upon its original release. The album of the same name was a massive commercial success, becoming the band's first record to top the UK Albums Chart, debuting at number 1 and remaining in the top 75 for 31 weeks. In the United States, the album entered the Billboard 200 at number 150 and climbed to number 33. By 2023, the album had sold approximately 20 million copies worldwide.
Cultural Impact
Both the song and its accompanying music video generated considerable controversy, particularly in the United States. Religious groups protested Iron Maiden, accusing them of Satanism due to the song's title, lyrics, and the album's artwork, which depicted the band's mascot Eddie controlling the Devil. This led to organized album burnings and protests during their 1982 tour, inadvertently providing the band with extensive publicity. Despite, or perhaps because of, the uproar, "The Number of the Beast" became an iconic staple in heavy metal culture, solidifying Iron Maiden's status as a dominant force in the genre and influencing countless subsequent bands.
Fun Facts
- The famous spoken-word introduction was intended to be read by horror actor Vincent Price, but he demanded too high a fee. Instead, it was recorded by an uncredited actor named Barry Clayton.
- The music video incorporates unsettling clips from classic horror films like Nosferatu (1922) and Godzilla (1954), intercut with footage of the band performing.
- During the album's recording, producer Martin Birch was involved in a car accident with a minibus, reportedly carrying nuns. The repair bill for his vehicle mysteriously came to £666, which Birch found so disturbing he insisted the garage change it to £667.
- Bruce Dickinson's powerful, high-pitched scream at the end of the song's intro was reportedly a result of frustration, as producer Martin Birch made him sing the part repeatedly for hours.
- Due to contractual obligations with his previous band Samson, Bruce Dickinson could not legally receive songwriting credits on "The Number of the Beast" album, although he made "moral contributions."
- Steve Harris clarified that the song is not an endorsement of Satanism, but rather a narrative derived from a nightmare he had after watching the film Damien: Omen II.