Twilight Zone (Iron Maiden song)
| "Twilight Zone" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Iron Maiden | ||||
| from the album Killers | ||||
| A-side | "Wrathchild"[1] | |||
| Released | 2 March 1981 | |||
| Format | vinyl record (7") (12") | |||
| Recorded | 1980 | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 2:33 | |||
| Writer(s) | Steve Harris Dave Murray |
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| Producer | Martin Birch | |||
| Iron Maiden singles chronology | ||||
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"Twilight Zone" was the fourth single by Iron Maiden, released on 2 March 1981. The song did not appear on the original release of Killers (1981), but was included in the US release in June and the international 1998 remaster. At the time of its release, it was the band's second-most successful single, peaking at no. 31 in the UK Singles Chart.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
The single was notable as, although it was the first single from Killers, it wasn't released prior to the album, instead going out a month later in the middle of the band's UK tour.[2] The song was originally intended to be a B-side, but the band felt it was so strong that it deserved to be on the A-side.[3] The single's other song, "Wrathchild", was also given 'A-side' status because, according to Steve Harris, "we had a live version of us doing 'Wrathchild' at the Rainbow, before Christmas, on video that we could use. We couldn't afford to pay for another video for 'Twilight Zone', so we did a double A-side, because we knew we were gonna be off touring a lot and, if by any chance they wanted us on Top of the Pops again, at least we'd got a video for 'Wrathchild' we could give them."[1]
Like their two previous single covers, the artwork for "Twilight Zone" was subject to criticism in the press, where it was interpreted as "gratuitous sexism."[4][5] The media were offended by what appeared to be the band's mascot, Eddie, spying on a young girl in her bedroom.[1] Garry Bushell points out that the critics were mistaken, as the song lyrics and picture on the girl's dressing table insinuate that Eddie is dead and contacting his lover ("Charlotte") from beyond the grave, thus making it the band's first love song.[6]
[edit] Track listing
- "Twilight Zone" (Steve Harris, Dave Murray)
- "Wrathchild" (Harris)
[edit] Chart performance
| Single | Chart (1981) | Peak position |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Twilight Zone" | UK Singles Chart | 31[7] | Killers |
| Single | Chart (1990) | Peak position |
Album |
| "Women in Uniform / Twilight Zone" | UK Albums Chart[note 1] | 10[8] | — |
[edit] Notes
- ^ 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
- Paul Di'Anno – vocals
- Dave Murray – guitar
- Adrian Smith – guitar, backing vocals
- Steve Harris – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Clive Burr – drums
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 190. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
- ^ Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 186. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
- ^ Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 189. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
- ^ James, Darren (2005). "Rod Speaks". Metal Hammer presents: Iron Maiden 30 Years of Metal Mayhem: 60.
- ^ Bushell, Garry; Halfin, Ross (1985). Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden (2 ed.). Zomba Books. p. 89. ISBN 0-946391-84-X.
- ^ Bushell, Garry; Halfin, Ross (1985). Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden (2 ed.). Zomba Books. p. 90. ISBN 0-946391-84-X.
- ^ "UK Singles Archive- 21st March 1981". http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/1/1981-03-21/. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
- ^ "UK Albums Archive- 3rd March 1990". http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/3/1990-03-03/. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
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