The Trooper

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This article is about the song by Iron Maiden. For the professional wrestler, see Del Wilkes. For the regimental statue of the Rhodesian Light Infantry, see Rhodesian Light Infantry. For the 1934 American film, see Fighting Trooper.
"The Trooper"
Single by Iron Maiden
from the album Piece of Mind
B-side 1983 single
"Cross-Eyed Mary"
Released 20 June 1983
15 August 2005
Format 7" and 12" vinyl
CD single
Recorded 1983
24 November 2003
Genre Heavy metal
Length 4:10
4:12
Label EMI
Writer(s) Steve Harris
Producer Martin Birch
Iron Maiden singles chronology
"Flight of Icarus"
(1983)		 "The Trooper"
(1983)		 "2 Minutes to Midnight"
(1984)
"The Number of the Beast"
(2005)
"The Trooper (live)"
(2005)
"The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg"
(2006)

"The Trooper" is Iron Maiden's ninth single, released on 20 June 1983, and the second from their 1983 album Piece of Mind. It was one of only a few songs to get much radio airplay in the US, thus peaking at No. 28 on the US Mainstream Rock charts.[1] It also achieved success in the UK, peaking at No. 12 in the UK Singles Charts as well as gaining a much better reception than the band's previous single, "Flight of Icarus".[2]

Contents

[edit] Overview

Bruce Dickinson performing the song live wearing a "red coat" styled military smock.

Written by bassist and founder-member Steve Harris, the song is based on the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava 1854, which took place during the Crimean War,[2] and inspired by Lord Tennyson's poem of the same name.[3] The track has been the subject of much praise since its release, with Allmusic describing it as "an all-time genre classic that boasts [guitarists Dave Murray] and [Adrian Smith's] most memorable harmonized lead riff, plus that trademark galloping rhythm,"[4] while Mick Wall comments that it is the song "which most Maiden fans from those days still recall first when you mention the Piece of Mind album."[5]

The single's accompanying music video included clips of a cavalry battle from the 1941 film They Died with Their Boots On, starring Errol Flynn, which the BBC refused to play unedited, deeming the footage too violent.[2] The band's manager, Rod Smallwood, has since criticised the decision, stating, "Anyone would think we'd killed the horses ourselves instead of using an old Errol Flynn movie."[2] According to Garry Bushell, the BBC ironically screened They Died With Their Boots On at 7pm one evening, which included the violent scenes which led them to ban the uncut Iron Maiden video.[2]

A regular fixture in the band's concerts, vocalist Bruce Dickinson has always waved a Union Flag during live performances and, more recently, has begun wearing an authentic red coat uniform which would have been worn during the battle on which the song was based.[6] While the band were receiving criticism from Sharon Osbourne in 2005, at the time justifying her attack on the band at the 2005 Ozzfest, she accused Iron Maiden of disrespecting American troops, then fighting alongside the British in Iraq, for waving a Union Flag in the US, although Classic Rock magazine supported the band by pointing out that the song's subject bore no relation to the military activity then taking place in the Middle East.[6]

[edit] In popular culture

The song has appeared in several Iron Maiden tribute albums, including A Call To Irons: A Tribute To Iron Maiden,[7] Numbers from the Beast,[8] A Tribute to the Beast[9] and Maiden Heaven: A Tribute to Iron Maiden,[10] as well as on records by tribute band such as Maiden uniteD (on 2010's Mind the Acoustic Pieces)[11] and The Iron Maidens (on their 2006 self-titled debut album).[12] In addition, the song has been released by Sentenced on The Trooper EP (1994),[13] Hellsongs on Hymns in the Key of 666 (2008),[14] Thumper on the Metalliska compilation,[15] Highland Glory as a bonus track on Forever Endeavour (2005),[16] Radio Cult on Grooves From The Grave (2008)[17] and Stryper on The Covering.[18]

On top of this, the track has also been included in the Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games,[19][20] is mentioned in the novel World War Z by Max Brooks and is currently being used as the opening theme for the documentary series Metal Evolution.

[edit] Track listings

[edit] 1983 single

  1. "The Trooper" (Steve Harris) – 4:10
  2. "Cross-Eyed Mary" (Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull cover) – 3:55

[edit] 2005 re-release CD

  1. "The Trooper" (live from Death on the Road) (Harris) – 4:12
  2. "The Trooper" (original studio version) (Harris) – 4:10
  3. "Prowler" (recorded live in Reykjavík, Iceland, on 7 June 2005) (Harris) – 4:24
  4. "The Trooper" (live video of main track) (Harris) – 4:12
  5. "The Trooper" (original promo video) (Harris) – 4:10

[edit] 2005 re-release 7" Blue Vinyl

  1. "The Trooper" (live from Death on the Road) (Harris) – 4:12
  2. "Another Life" (recorded live in Reykjavík, Iceland, on 7 June 2005) (Harris)

[edit] 2005 re-release 12" Picture Disc

  1. "The Trooper" (live from Death on the Road) (Harris) – 4:12
  2. "The Trooper" (original studio version) (Harris) – 4:10
  3. "Murders in the Rue Morgue" (recorded live in Reykjavík, Iceland, on 7 June 2005) (Harris)

[edit] Charts

Single Chart (1983) Peak
position		 Album
"The Trooper" Irish Singles Chart 12[21] Piece of Mind
UK Singles Chart 12[22]
Single Chart (1990) Peak
position		 Album
"Flight of Icarus / The Trooper" UK Albums Chart[note 1] 7[23] —
Single Chart (2005) Peak
position		 Album
"The Trooper" (live) Canadian Singles Chart 5[24] Death on the Road
Irish Singles Chart 16[21]
Italian Singles Chart 8[25]
Swedish Singles Chart 5[26]
Swiss Singles Chart 61[27]
UK Singles Chart 5[28]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Re-release of both singles as part of The First Ten Years box set. Exceeded the length limit of the UK Singles chart.

[edit] Personnel

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Iron Maiden Billboard Charts". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/iron-maiden-p4560/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved 2012-01-29. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Bushell, Garry; Halfin, Ross (1985). Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden (2 ed.). Zomba Books. p. 114. ISBN 0-946391-84-X. 
  3. ^ "Iron MaidenLike You've Never Heard Them Before!". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=123892. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  4. ^ "Iron Maiden- Piece of Mind". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/piece-of-mind-r9912/review. Retrieved 2012-01-29. 
  5. ^ Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 245. ISBN 1-86074-542-3. 
  6. ^ a b "Sabotage!". Classic Rock (85): 8. 2005-10-01. 
  7. ^ "A Call to Irons: A Tribute to Iron Maiden, Vol. 1". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/call-to-irons-a-tribute-to-iron-maiden-vol-1-r346670. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  8. ^ "Producer Bob Kulick Discusses Iron Maiden Tribute Album Numbers From The Beast". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=42720. Retrieved 2012-01-29. 
  9. ^ "A Tribute to the Beast". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/tribute-to-the-beast-nuclear-blast-america-r585510. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  10. ^ "'Maiden Heaven' CD". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=99681. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  11. ^ "Threshold, Within Temptation Members Record Acoustic Versions Of Iron Maiden Classics". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=147609. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  12. ^ "The Iron Maidens". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-iron-maidens-r895024. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  13. ^ "Metal Storm- Sentenced, The Trooper". Metal Storm. http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/album.php?album_id=1675&band_id=128&bandname=Sentenced. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  14. ^ "Hymns in the Key of 666". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/hymns-in-the-key-of-666-r1346267. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  15. ^ "Metalliska". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/metalliska-r1862529. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  16. ^ "Highland Glory- Forever Endeavour". Discogs. http://www.discogs.com/Highland-Glory-Forever-Endeavour/release/3137327. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  17. ^ "Radio Cult Catalogue". Radio Cult. http://www.radiocult.com/cds.html. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  18. ^ "Stryper: 'The Covering' Album Pushed Back To Early 2011". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=148204. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  19. ^ "Guitar Hero Smash Hits: The Full Track List". IGN. http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/979/979822p1.html. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  20. ^ "Iron Maiden'Rock Band' Downloadable Content Due In June". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=120972. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  21. ^ a b "Irish Singles". http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement. Retrieved 2011-10-01. 
  22. ^ "UK Singles Chart- 9th July 1983". http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/1/1983-07-09/. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  23. ^ "UK Albums chart archive- 24th March 1990". http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/3/1990-03-24/. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  24. ^ "Iron Maiden Billboard Singles". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/iron-maiden-p4560/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  25. ^ "Iron Maiden Italian Single Charts". http://italiancharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&search=Iron+Maiden. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  26. ^ "Iron Maiden Swedish Charts". http://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Iron+Maiden. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  27. ^ "Swiss Singles Chart- the Trooper". http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Iron+Maiden&titel=The+Trooper+%28Live+2003%29&cat=s. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  28. ^ "UK Singles Chart- 27th August 2005". http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/1/2005-08-27/. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Trooper&oldid=479205787"
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