Song of the Day 7/25: Iron Maiden, “Run to the Hills”
h/t Unstable Isotope, who wondered why nobody had set the Hawley Trot to this heavy metal classic.
In the world of heavy metal, Iron Maiden is as big a band as Metallica, but it’s never gotten the same respect in the US as it has internationally. You can tell because Metallica sailed into the Hall of Fame in its fourth year of eligibility, while Iron Maiden, whose first record came out in 1979, fell short in 2021, the only time it was nominated — this despite the fact that Iron Maiden has sold more records worldwide.
“Run to the Hills” was the first single from the band’s 1982 LP “Number of the Beast.” It reached No. 7 in the UK singles chart but got virtually no airplay in the US; sympathy for Native Americans was a ’60s thing. Similarly, the album was No. 1 in Britain but topped out at No. 33 here, though it eventually went platinum.
Iron Maiden has remained active through the years, but their music this century doesn’t sound like the speed-metal they helped pioneer. It’s closer to prog these days, as evidenced by last year’s LP “Sunjutsu.” Vocalist Bruce Dickinson sounds good for a guy who has overcome throat cancer.
This style of British Heavy Metal is just never anything I got interested in, despite my love of all things loud and obnoxious. I dunno. Some older groups have grown on me in recent years — I finally gave Pantera a chance and fell in love with a few of their records — but this genre is probably going to be elusive for my tastes.
Much respect for them though. Had no idea they weren’t in the Hall of Fame. Reason #20579 why that institution is a joke.