Artist: IRON MAIDEN
Album: SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON REMASTERED (CD)

Release date: 1988
EAN/UPS: 724349686403
Media type: CD

- IRON MAIDEN SALE CAMPAIGN! ВРЕМЕННО НАМАЛЕНИЕ САМО ЗА МЕСЕЦ!! СЛЕД ИЗЧЕРПВАНЕ НА ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИТЕ КОЛИЧЕСТВА ЦЕНАТА СЕ ВРЪЩА НА СТАРОТО НИВО!

Inaugural product of 1988 was the single 'Can I Play With Madness', issued on March 20th and reaching an impressive number 3 in the UK. Exclusive B sides comprised 'Black Bart Blues', an ode to Bruce Dickinson's travelling suit of armour mascot, and a rousing cover version of THIN LIZZY's 'Massacre'. IRON MAIDEN's April 1988 album 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son' came the closest the band ever came to producing a full blown concept album. The band was well known for overblown epics, but this time the theme held together an entire album. The guitar synth experiment was still in evidence, albeit less intrusive. Martin Birch still retained control of the faders although this time around IRON MAIDEN cut the album at Musicland Studios in Munich. 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son' bowed in on the British charts at number one and peaked at number 12 in the USA.

The inevitable world tour shied away from the systematic city by city tour schedule and IRON MAIDEN blitzed their way through America and Europe by hopping from one major festival to another. Echoing the album cover, the new stage set was constructed from towering icebergs. The band readied itself for global operations with a trio of "secret" club gigs branded CHARLOTTE AND THE HARLOTS, playing Cologne's Empire Club on the 28th and 29th April then Club L'Amour, Brooklyn in New York on May 8th.

Unusually, the world tour concentrated on North America first, opening proceedings on May 13th at the Coliseum in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada famously supported by GUNS N' ROSES. Taking over as support on June 21st would be MEGADETH at the Metro Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ACE FREHLEY'S COMET then provided support from the July 1st Saginaw, Michigan date onwards.

In the UK, IRON MAIDEN's second 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son' single, 'The Evil That Men Do', was ushered out on August 1st, debuting at number six and rising to number five. Distinctive B sides were made up of newly re-recorded versions of 'Prowler' and 'Charlotte The Harlot'. KILLER DWARFS finished the US run as openers in Florida, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, IRON MAIDEN concluding US action at the Hampton Coliseum on August 10th.

The schedule's highlight was IRON MAIDEN headlining the August 20th "Monsters Of Rock' festival above KISS, IRON MAIDEN being the only band KISS has ever agreed to play beneath since 1974. DAVID LEE ROTH, MEGADETH, GUNS N' ROSES and HELLOWEEN made up the billing for a record breaking crowd of over 100,000. Tragically, two fans were crushed to death at this event. A warm up show on the 17th, again under the pseudonym CHARLOTTE AND THE HARLOTS, had taken place at London Queen Mary's College.

Further 'Monsters Of Rock' dates in Europe witnessed headliners in Schweinfurt and Bochum, Germany, Budapest in Hungary, Innsbruck in Austria, Tilburg in Holland, Lausanne in Switzerland, Modena in Italy, Athens in Greece, Pamplona, Barcelona and Madrid in Spain, Cascais in Portugal and Paris. France. Regular touring would then resume across Europe with HELLOWEEN in tow into October. IRON MAIDEN put in a UK tour kicking off at the Newport Centre on November 18th supported by KILLER DWARFS. A massive assault on London saw three Hammersmith Odeon concerts and two Wembley Arena gigs, all naturally sold out. As it transpired, the December 12th Hammersmith Odeon gig would prove to be Adrian Smith's last appearance with the band for over a decade.

1989 proved a quiet year for the band but an extremely busy time for its individual members. Both Smith and Dickinson released solo albums. BRUCE DICKINSON's 'Tattooed Millionaire' album had been initiated when the singer had been approached to record a song for the fifth in the 'Nightmare On Elm Street' horror movie series. The singer, working with producer Chris Tsangarides, came up with 'Bring Your Daughter…To The Slaughter', although this track never made it to the album's running order due to Steve Harris insisting it be reserved for the next IRON MAIDEN record. For recording of the album, completed in just two weeks in 1989, Dickinson employed former WHITE SPIRIT and GILLAN guitarist Janick Gers, bass player Andy Carr and drummer Fabio Del Rio.

Adrian Smith's A.S.A.P. (Adrian Smith And Project) released a well received AOR influenced Rock album, 1989's Stephen Stewart-Short produced 'Silver And Gold', that had many critics commentating favourably on Smith's songwriting prowess. For these recordings he would be joined by his colleagues from THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF HACKNEY, guitarists Andy Barnett and Dave Colwell with Keyboards on keyboards, Robin Clayton on bass and Zak Starkey, son of THE BEATLES Ringo Starr, on drums. However, although A.S.A.P. charted moderately and the band's press profile was high, the project soon folded.

TRACKLIST:

1. Moonchild
2. Infinite Dreams
3. Can I Play With Madness
4. The Evil That Men Do
5. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
6. The Prophecy
7. The Clairvoyant
8. Only The Good Die Young

LINE-UP:

Bruce Dickinson (vocals)
Dave Murray (guitar)
Adrian Smith (guitar)
Steve Harris (bass)
Nicko McBrain (drums)