The Number Of The Beast Iron Maiden

The Number Of the Beast Album: The Number Of the Beast (1982)
by Iron Maiden

I attended this tour in Charlotte North Carolina.

This song was influenced by the 1978 movie Damien: Omen II, which is about a 13-year-old Antichrist. It was written by Iron Maiden bass player Steve Harris, who explained: "Basically, this song is about a dream. It's not about devil worship."

Before the music starts, this opens with an a cappella quote from The Book of Revelation. The band wanted the horror film actor Vincent Price to read this intro, but he wanted more money than they were willing to pay (a year later, Price lent his voice to Michael Jackson's "Thriller"). The quote was read by an unknown thespian actor who had no interest in the band.

The number of the beast, according to Revelation 13:18 (the quoted scripture), is 666. Interestingly, 6+6+6 is 18, the number of the verse. Elsewhere in that chapter, it is stated that no man will be able to buy or sell without a mark on the right hand or forehead with the number of the beast on it. This has lead to religious zealots "finding" 666 in practically everything...like in every bar code...

The cover art for the album depicted Iron Maiden's mascot Eddie and a devil in vicious combat in Hell. The cover art for single depicted Eddie with a sinister grin on his face holding the devil's head (See also: "Run to the Hills").

During the recording of the album, there were rumors floating about that supernatural occurrences had been going on in the studio, such as lights flipping on and off, strange noises, visions of Satan, etc. This was used as evidence that Satan and the Antichrist had a hand in making this. In a concert at New York's Palladium on June 29, 1982 (which is heavily bootlegged), Bruce Dickinson said: "Just want to say to all the people who play records backwards and burn albums out in the streets, they can go and get... stick their heads up their arse or something like that, 'cause... we ain't interested."

On the cover art, just right of the devil's ankle, is artist Derek Riggs' signature: the unique symbol which contains his initials.
The tour accompanying the album's release was called "The Beast on the Road."

Lead singer Bruce Dickinson said of this song: "We can play with conviction every night, because we totally believe in the music we're performing." This quote, along with the line "666, the one for you and me" led many preachers and enemies of rock music to believe Maiden were Satanists.

The Number of the Beast album surprisingly came top of a survey by music retailer HMV to find the UK public's favourite British album during the Queen's 60 years on the throne. The poll attracted almost 55,000 votes in the month preceding the Queen's Diamond Jubilee via Facebook, including presumably a fair number of Maiden fans. An HMV spokesman commented: "The power of social media means there are one or two surprises."

This was used in the soundtrack for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.

This was re-released as a single in the UK in January 2005. This time, it went to #3.

As he explained on the BBC Classic Albums series, Bruce Dickinson's high-pitched scream at the end of the intro was a result of producer Martin Birch forcing the band to replay the intro several times. Dickinson became so fed up with the constant repeats that he emitted the scream out of frustration, and it fit so well that the band decided to keep it.

"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"

I left alone, my mind was blank
I needed time to think, to get the memories from my mind
What did I see? Can I believe
That what I saw that night was real and not just fantasy

Just what I saw in my old dreams
Were they reflections of my warped mind staring back at me
'Cause in my dreams, it's always there
The evil face that twists my mind and brings me to despair

Night was black, was no use holding back
'Cause I just had to see was someone watching me
In the mist dark figures move and twist
Was all this for real or just some kind of Hell

666 - the Number of the Beast
Hell and fire was spawned to be released

Torches blazed and sacred chants were praised
As they start to cry, hands held to the sky
In the night the fires are burning bright
The ritual has begun, Satan's work is done

666 - the Number of the Beast
Sacrifice is going on tonight

This can't go on I must inform the law
Can this still be real or just some crazy dream?
But I feel drawn towards the chanting hordes
Seem to mesmerize, can't avoid their eyes

666 - the Number of the Beast
666 - the one for you and me

I'm coming back, I will return
And I'll possess your body and I'll make you burn
I have the fire, I have the force
I have the power to make my evil take its course