IRON MAIDEN Releases Casket Box Set 'Eddie's Archive'

Mark

Not blessed, or merciful
Apr 11, 2001
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Sarf Lundin, Innit
IRON MAIDEN Releases Casket Box Set 'Eddie's Archive' and 'Edward The Great' Greatest Hits Collection On November 5th Through Portrait/Columbia/Legacy Records!

For 20 years, IRON MAIDEN have been at the forefront of heavy metal worldwide and are viewed by many as one of Britain's greatest musical exports, as highlighted by last year's prestigious Ivor Novello songwriting award.

During this time they have achieved incredible global chart success, some 200 gold and platinum records, sell out tours and huge respect from their peers both old and new. As a celebration Iron Maiden are to release some highly treasured recordings presented in a very special collector's case for their long standing and loyal fans.

EDDIE'S ARCHIVE is to be released by Portrait/Columbia/Legacy Records on November 5th. The set comprises of three double CD's containing the band's earliest live recordings from 1979 through to their headlining performance at Donington in 1988. In addition to this, there will be a compilation of THE BEST OF THE B'SIDES available here for the first time as one collection.

Rod Smallwood, manager of the band since mid 1979, comments "We've been talking for a while about issuing a special release for our fans and I think the live recordings are very important to the history of the band. In fact, other than the 'Maiden Japan' EP and a couple of live B' Sides, there were no live recordings released until 'Live After Death' in 1986. These recordings encompass the early days with Paul Di'Anno through to Bruce Dickinson's arrival. Maiden's career went on from one high to another - it really was a rollercoaster ride! I think they capture the essence of what the band was and still is all about: pure, raw energy, great musicianship and an in-your-face attitude. I've seen the casket and it looks fantastic. This is a great way to celebrate our history with the people who helped us make it."

The set will be presented in a unique 270x190x60 mm limited edition silver Eddie embossed casket. Alongside the music, fans will find a crystal Eddie Head shot glass and an individually numbered Pete Frame family tree on parchment scroll, detailing the complete Iron Maiden history and rolled in a specially designed Eddie ring! Each of the three double CD's have full colour 24 page booklets, two with new Eddie artwork with previously unseen photos of the various line ups; and one based on the original classic '82 tour programme.

The first of the double CD's is entitled BBC ARCHIVES and includes music recorded between 1979 and 1988 for the BBC's Friday Rock Show. Accompanied by notes from the show's long time producer, Tony Wilson, it features Maiden fronted by Paul Di'Anno and their performances at a special Rock Show studio
session in October 1979 as the band were breaking onto the scene, and at 1980's Reading Festival where they appeared as Special Guests to UFO. Also documented is Bruce Dickinson's arrival in 1982 and the band's return performance as headliners at the Reading Festival. The double album concludes with songs taken from the band's record breaking capacity show at The Monsters Of Rock Donington festival as part of their 1988 Seventh Son tour. The BBC ARCHIVES double CD is a testament to the live power that is Iron Maiden - no prisoners taken, no quarter given.

Iron Maiden's 1982 "Beast On The Road" tour has taken on a mythical quality among Metal fans as the tour and the album which really put Maiden at the forefront of Rock and Metal worldwide. The historical show from the Hammersmith Odeon has been specially mixed and co-produced for the casket by Steve Harris and the band's long serving sound engineer Doug Hall. This double CD, BEAST OVER HAMMERSMITH clearly illustrates how remarkable and ground breaking the tour was in support of the all time classic album, The Number Of The Beast. The accompanying inlay booklet is a complete recreation of the 'Beast On The Road' tour program and lists all the world tour dates and includes notes from the band written at that time.

The third double CD in the set, BEST OF THE B'SIDES, is accompanied with liner notes written by Iron Maiden's manager Rod Smallwood to guide you through every track. In many ways it is a collection that not only reveals much about the band as individuals and the inherent character of the band, but also provides a real insight into who and where their influences came from.

For the fans among you who buy both singles and albums, you will all be aware that Maiden don't simply stick on another mix of the same single or another album track for their B Sides, but they will always try and come up with something of real quality, and that is both new and different. With this in mind, the band have compiled what they consider to be the BEST OF THE B'SIDES over the years which include all the studio recordings, some of the live recordings (including cover version of songs from their heroes) as well as the occasional humorous, sideways look at themselves and those that have worked with the band.

In full, the track listing of EDDIE'S ARCHIVE is as follows -

CD 1 - BBC ARCHIVE

Disc 1 Disc 2 -

Friday Rock Show Session 1979 Reading Festival 1980
Iron Maiden Prowler
Running Free Remember Tomorrow
Transylvania Killers
Sanctuary Running Free
Transylvania
Reading Festival 1982 Iron Maiden
Wrathchild
Run To The Hills Monsters Of Rock Festival Donington 1988
Children Of The Damned Moonchild
The Number of The Beast Wrathchild
22 Acacia Avenue Infinite Dreams
Transylvania The Trooper
The Prisoner Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Hallowed Be Thy Name The Number Of The Beast
Phantom Of The Opera Hallowed Be Thy Name
Iron Maiden Iron Maiden


CD2 - BEAST OVER HAMMERSMITH

Disc 1 Disc 2

Murders In The Rue Morgue Transylvania
Wrathchild The Prisoner
Run To The Hills Hallowed Be Thy Name
Children Of The Damned Phantom Of The Opera
The Number of The Beast Iron Maiden
Another Life Sanctuary
Killers Drifter
22 Acacia Avenue Running Free
Total Eclipse Prowler


CD3 - BEST OF THE B'SIDES

Disc 1 Disc 2

Burning Ambition All In Your Mind
Drifter - Live Kill Me Ce Soir
Invasion I'm a Mover
Remember Tomorrow - Live Communication Breakdown
I've Got The Fire Nodding Donkey Blues
Cross-Eyed Mary Space Station No.5
Rainbow's Gold I Can't See My Feelings
King Of Twilight Roll Over Vic Vella
Reach Out Justice of The Peace
That Girl Judgement Day
Juanita My Generation
The Sheriff Of Huddersfield Doctor Doctor
Black Bart Blues Blood On The Worlds Hands- Live
Prowler '88 The Aftermath-Live
Charlotte The Harlot '88 Futureal - Live
Wasted Years '99 - Live


Iron Maiden will shortly reconvene to start writing and preparing for their next studio album for Columbia Records.

Simultaneously, in recognition of the band's huge and everlasting popularity, Portrait/Columbia/Legacy is to release a TV advertised Greatest Hits album entitled EDWARD THE GREAT which will feature 16 of their biggest hits.

"We appreciate that the majority of our loyal fans will already have all these tracks, but hope like us, they will get a great kick from seeing Iron Maiden TV ads blasting across the nations homes!" says Rod Smallwood. "This Greatest Hits album is aimed at those who need to be initiated into the world of Iron Maiden and Metal, and to make sure everyone clearly understands that 'EDDIE'S ARCHIVE' is for the fans, we have requested that both releases are made on the same day - 4th November! For the avoidance of any doubt, we will also make the amazing new themed 'EDWARD THE GREAT' artwork available as a free download from our website (www.ironmaiden.com) for our fans as we would not want them to feel obliged to buy a series of tracks they already have in their collection just to get the packaging".

EDWARD THE GREAT hits run as follows:

Run To The Hills The Clairvoyant
The Number Of The Beast Infinite Dreams
Flight Of Icarus Holy Smoke
The Trooper Bring Your Daughter…to The Slaughter
2 Minutes to Midnight Man On The Edge
Wasted Years Futureal
Can I Play with Madness The Wicker Man
The Evil That Men Do Fear Of The Dark (Live in Rio)

The Casket will be released in North America by Portrait/Columbia/Legacy Records.

www.ironmaiden.com