Killers is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden . It was first released on 16 February 1981 in the United Kingdom by EMI Records and on 11 May in the United States by Harvest and Capitol Records .[ 9] The album was their first with guitarist Adrian Smith , and their last with vocalist Paul Di'Anno , who was fired after problems with his stage performances arose due to his alcohol and cocaine use.[ 10] Killers was also the first Iron Maiden album recorded with producer Martin Birch , who went on to produce their next eight albums until Fear of the Dark (1992).
Killers was the second and final Iron Maiden album with vocalist Paul Di'Anno (shown here in 2008)
Killers is the only Iron Maiden album to feature two instrumentals. It was written almost exclusively by Steve Harris ;[ 11] only "Twilight Zone" and the title track are cowritten.
Bar "Murders in the Rue Morgue" (based on the story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe )[ 12] and "Prodigal Son", the songs were written in the years prior to the recording of their debut album.[ 13] Five of the album's songs featured in the band's live setlists in 1977, when Dennis Wilcock fronted Iron Maiden.[ 14] "Wrathchild" and "Strange World" appear to be written as far back as 1976 and original singer Paul Mario Day later claimed he had co-written "Strange World".[ 15] No songs were recorded professionally until the Killers sessions, with the exception of "Wrathchild" (a version recorded in 1979 was featured on the Metal for Muthas compilation).[ 13]
"The Ides of March" is nearly identical to "Thunderburst", by fellow British NWOBHM band Samson , who featured a pre-Maiden Bruce Dickinson on vocals; however, "The Ides of March" was written during the brief time in 1977 in which future Samson drummer Thunderstick was a member of Iron Maiden. While Harris took sole credit for "The Ides of March", "Thunderburst" is credited to Harris and all four members of Samson's Head On line-up, Bruce Bruce, aka Bruce Dickinson, Chris Aylmer , Paul Samson , and Thunderstick, aka Barry Purkis.
Killers spent eight weeks on the UK chart.[ 16] The North American edition, which came out a few months later, was initially released on Harvest Records /Capitol Records and subsequently on Sanctuary Records /Columbia Records . The song "Twilight Zone " was added to the album. In Australia, the Skyhooks cover "Women in Uniform " was added instead as a bonus track.
The Killer World Tour featured the band's first US shows, beginning at The Aladdin , Las Vegas, in support of Judas Priest .[ 17] Subsequently, "Wrathchild" is the only regularly played track from the album, appearing in almost all their tours.
All tracks are written by Steve Harris , except where noted
Side one Title 1. "The Ides of March" (instrumental) 1:48 2. "Wrathchild" 2:54 3. "Murders in the Rue Morgue" 4:14 4. "Another Life" 3:22 5. "Genghis Khan" (instrumental) 3:02 6. "Innocent Exile" 3:50
Side two Title Writer(s) 7. "Killers" 4:58 8. "Prodigal Son" 6:05 9. "Purgatory " 3:18 10. "Drifter" 4:47 Total length: 38:18
Side two – North American edition Title Writer(s) 7. "Killers" 4:58 8. "Twilight Zone " 2:33 9. "Prodigal Son" 6:05 10. "Purgatory" 3:18 11. "Drifter" 4:47 Total length: 40:51
1995 UK reissue bonus disc Title Writer(s) 1. "Twilight Zone" 2:33 2. "Women in Uniform" (Skyhooks cover) Macainsh 3:07 3. "Invasion" 2:38 4. "Phantom of the Opera" (live) 6:55 Total length: 15:13
1995 US reissue bonus disc[ 19] Title Writer(s) 1. "Women in Uniform" (Skyhooks cover) Macainsh 3:07 2. "Invasion" 2:38 3. "Phantom of the Opera" (live) 6:55 4. "Running Free " (live; from Maiden Japan ) 3:07 5. "Remember Tomorrow" (live; from Maiden Japan ) 5:44 6. "Wrathchild" (live; from Maiden Japan ) 2:52 7. "Killers" (live; from Maiden Japan ) 4:50 8. "Innocent Exile" (live; from Maiden Japan ) 3:46 Total length: 32:59
1998 remastered edition Title Writer(s) 1. "The Ides of March" (instrumental) 1:46 2. "Wrathchild" 2:55 3. "Murders in the Rue Morgue" 4:19 4. "Another Life" 3:23 5. "Genghis Khan" (instrumental) 3:09 6. "Innocent Exile" 3:54 7. "Killers" 5:01 8. "Prodigal Son" 6:12 9. "Purgatory" 3:20 10. "Twilight Zone" 2:33 11. "Drifter" 4:49 Total length: 41:21
Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.[ 23] [ 24]
Additional personnel
edit
Martin "Headmaster" Birch – producer, engineer
Nigel Hewitt – second engineer
Derek Riggs – cover illustration
Dave Lights – cover concept
Robert Ellis – photography
Rod Smallwood – band manager, photography (1998 edition)
Dennis Stratton – guitar on "Women in Uniform ", "Invasion", and "Phantom of the Opera" (1995 edition)
Tony Platt - producer of "Women in Uniform" (1995 edition)
Simon Heyworth – remastering (1998 edition)
Ross Halfin – photography (1998 edition)
P.G. Brunelli – photography (1998 edition)
Simon Fowler – photography (1998 edition)
Denis O'Regan – photography (1998 edition)
George Chin – photography (1998 edition)
^ "Killers certification" .
^ Bushell, Garry ; Halfin, Ross (1985). Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden (2nd ed.). Zomba Books. p. 83 . ISBN 978-0-946391-84-4 .
^ Bushell, Garry ; Halfin, Ross (1985). Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden (2nd ed.). Zomba Books. p. 88 . ISBN 978-0-946391-84-4 .
^ Huey, Steve. Iron Maiden - Killers at AllMusic . Retrieved 26 June 2011.
^ Popoff, Martin (1 November 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties . Burlington, Ontario , Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing . p. 170. ISBN 978-1-894959-31-5 .
^ O'Connor, Andy (4 December 2018). "Iron Maiden: Killers" . Pitchfork . Retrieved 5 December 2018 .
^ Stagno, Mike (27 June 2006). "Iron Maiden - Killers " . Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 26 June 2011 .
^ McDonald, Riley (2019). "The Daily Vault Music Reviews : Killers" . dailyvault.com . Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ "RIAA certifications" . Recording Industry Association of America .
^ Saulnier, Jason (22 November 2012). "Paul Di'Anno Interview, Legendary Singer talks Life on the Road" . Music Legends. Retrieved 29 April 2013 .
^ Doran, John (2005). "Murder Most Foul". Metal Hammer Presents: Iron Maiden 30 Years of Metal Mayhem : 144.
^ Brannigan, Paul. "Hack Job?". Kerrang! Legends (2): 26–27.
^ a b Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 183. ISBN 978-1-86074-542-3 .
^ "Iron Maiden Album Statistics: 1977 | setlist.fm" . www.setlist.fm . Retrieved 18 February 2024 .
^ Blabbermouth (27 January 2019). "Original IRON MAIDEN Singer PAUL MARIO DAY Says Dispute Over 'Strange World' Song Is 'Finished With' " . BLABBERMOUTH.NET . Retrieved 18 February 2024 .
^ The Guinness Book of British Hit Albums , 1996 edition
^ Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 251. ISBN 978-1-86074-542-3 .
^ "Iron Maiden - Killers 1981 Australian LP" . Discogs . April 1981. Retrieved 20 March 2013 .
^ "Iron Maiden - Killers 1995 US 2CD" . Discogs . 9 October 1995. Retrieved 20 March 2013 .
^ "Sikth - Scent of the Obscene" . Discogs . Retrieved 4 May 2012 .
^ "Kerrang! Maiden Heaven Track Listing Revealed!" . Kerrang! . 25 June 2008. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2010 .
^ "Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The 80s : Complete List of Songs Revealed" . Blabbermouth.net . 4 July 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2012 .
^ Killers (Media notes). Iron Maiden . EMI . 2 February 1981.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ Killers Remastered (Media notes). Iron Maiden . EMI . 1998.{{cite AV media notes }}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6 .
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^ a b c Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment . 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9 .
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