Shots From The Studio #20

This month marks the 40th anniversary of one of my favorite albums by my all time favorite band; Iron Maiden’s Powerslave. The bands fifth studio album was released on September 3rd 1984 with 8 songs and a runtime of 50 minutes. The cover art, along with the artwork for the singles, Aces High and 2 Minutes to Midnight, was painted by long time Maiden artist Derrick Riggs.

   This was the follow up to 1983’s Piece of Mind which was my introduction to the band (thanks Matt and Scott). Every track here is a winner in my opinion with my top 3 being Aces High, Flash of the Blade and the epic Rime of the Ancient Mariner based on the 1798 poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge that clocks in at just over 13 minutes.

   This record also holds a special place in my heart because the World Slavery Tour was my first concert. On March 25 1985 at the San Bernardino Orange Show Fairgrounds I was 14 years old and I got to see my favorite band on their most ambitious tour yet and it was amazing. All these years later I’m still stunned that my parents let me go.

   This tour, most notably, the Long Beach show (SCREAM FOR ME LONG BEACH!!!) was recorded for the double album, Live After Death. Which is considered by many to be one of the greatest live albums of all time.

   This album and the subsequent tour only further cemented Iron Maiden as one of the most beloved and influential heavy metal acts in history and confirmed that they, like their undead mascot Eddie, would live on for the next 40 plus years.