Iron Maiden

On International Literacy Day, it seems only right for a music platform to shine a light on those songs that have been inspired by great works of literature. With everything from Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights to Dire Straits’ Romeo and Juliet, the written word has been hugely influential for many artists. 

Iron Maiden performing in Croatia, 2016 / Photo credit: Borna Filic/Pixsell/PA Images

However, one band in particular is very well known for being inspired by famous stories. Here are 11 Iron Maiden tracks which have been influenced in some way by classical poetry and prose.

Continue reading: Iron Maiden: Rock Music’s Biggest Literature Geeks?

Poetry and music have always gone hand in hand, and some of the greatest musicians in the world can also be called fantastic poets. But time and time again artists are inspired by iconic poems; either in fleeting lines, entire verses or the subject matter itself. Here are just a few of our favourite songs which have been influenced by universally adored poetry. 

1. The Man Who Sold the World - David Bowie

While the title track from his 1970 album reflects Bowie's struggle with self-identity, the opening verse of the track is based on the opening verse of the 1899 poem Antigonish by Hugh Mearns, from his play The Psycho-ed. The poem is about a ghost that wanders a haunted house, which makes for a startlingly profound thematic comparison between the poem and Bowie's song.

Continue reading: Our Favourite Songs Inspired By The Words Of Poets [Playlist]

A bit of heavy metal to round off your Friday as we acknowledge 37 years since the release of arguably Iron Maiden's most iconic album: The Number of the Beast, released through EMI and Harvest Records. There's a good reason why this project will always be a timeless classic.

The record was the band's third studio album, and the first to feature their legendary frontman Bruce Dickinson. It came the following year after Killers, and was the last album before the departure of drummer Clive Burr. The Number of the Beast was Iron Maiden's first album to top the UK album charts and featured the single Run to the Hills which became their most popular song at that point.

Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast

Continue reading: Album Of The Week: When Iron Maiden Personified The Number Of The Beast

If a 'Legacy of the Beast' comic book and video game wasn't enough, Iron Maiden are now launching a live album this Fall from their 'Book Of Souls' tour featuring live recordings of their setlist across major world cities. This band really are spoiling their fans.

Iron Maiden perform at Download

'The Book Of Souls: Live Chapter' has been recorded over the past two years and features songs from the 2015 album as well as 80s albums 'Killers', 'The Number of the Beast', 'Piece of Mind', 'Powerslave', 'Iron Maiden' and 'Somewhere in Time', and later records 'Brave New World' and 'Fear of the Dark'.

Continue reading: Iron Maiden's 'Book Of Souls: Live Chapter' Is The Live Album We've Been Waiting For

Iron Maiden are extending their business empire with a brand new comic book series starring their indomitable mascot Eddie. Titled 'Legacy Of The Beast', the first issue will be released in the Fall and continue as five issues over five months until February. It comes just months after their gaming app of the same name.

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden at Download 2013

Fresh off the back of their Book of Sould World Tour, the metal group are bringing the adventures of Eddie to paper with an incredible set of graphic novels that will be released until February 14th 2018. Written by Llexi Leon and Ian Edginton and illustrated by Kevin J. West, Jason Gorder and Santi Casas, the first issue is now available to pre-order.

Continue reading: Iron Maiden Bring 'Legacy Of The Beast' To The World Of Comics This Fall

Iron Maiden are expanding their 'Book of Souls' project with a mobile gaming app that encompasses the feel and artwork of the album as they prepare to embark on the last leg of their worldwide arena tour. The game is called 'Legacy of the Beast', and is inspired by the stage production of the recent tour.

Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast is out now

Iron Maiden have always been about creating something much more than just a musical collection; their creativity expands into a whole universe of stories fronted by their gruesome mascot Eddie, whose latest reincarnation is the Mayan-based 'Shaman Eddie'. And now, fans can interact on a player-to-player level.

Continue reading: Iron Maiden Launch 'Legacy Of The Beast': An Interactive Mobile Game Starring Shaman Eddie

Iron Maiden are set to continue the European leg of their worldwide 'The Book Of Souls' tour in the Spring of 2017, returning to Antwerp, Belgium for the first time in 35 years. They will be joined by Florida four-piece and 'Second Chance' hitmakers Shinedown.

Iron Maiden hit the road again in 2017

The second leg of their European tour will kick off in Antwerp on April 22nd, and will see them perform across the UK, Ireland and Germany, concluding at the O2 Arena in London on May 27th. 

Continue reading: Iron Maiden Unveil 2017 UK Dates For 'The Book Of Souls' Tour

German metallers Rammstein have been named as the third and final headlining act for next year’s Download festival. The annual metal festival, which will take place June 10-12, 2016 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, will also be headlined by Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.

Rammstein will headline next year’s Download Festival along with Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.

Rammstein will headline on the Friday night, with Black Sabbath taking top billing on the Saturday. The festival will then be closed by Iron Maiden, making their third headlining appearance, on the Sunday evening.

Continue reading: Rammstein Join Black Sabbath And Iron Maiden As Download 2016 Headliners

Iron Maiden have been announced as the first headliners for next year’s Download Festival to be held at Donington Park, Leicestershire. The festival appearance is their only confirmed UK gig during their 2016 world tour, which is set to begin in the US next February.

Iron Maiden will headline Download 2016.

The festival will take place from June 10th to 12th, with the band scheduled to take the main stage on the closing night. The band’s frontman Bruce Dickinson has recently been given the all clear from cancer, after undergoing a seven-week course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for a cancerous tumour on his tongue.

Continue reading: Iron Maiden Confirmed As First Headliners For Download Festival

Iron Maiden have hit the top of the UK charts for the fifth time, with their new album The Book Of Souls. The record is the band’s sixteenth studio album and their first in five years after 2010’s The Final Frontier which also reached number one in the UK.

The Book Of Souls has topped the UK album chart.

According to the Official Chart Company, The Book of Souls sold just over 60,000 copies to take the top spot. The band had hit the headlines last month when it was announced that supermarket chain Tesco would be stocking a vinyl edition of the album in 55 of it’s biggest stores, in order to trail demand for the medium.

Continue reading: Iron Maiden Top UK Album Chart With 'Book Of Souls'