Artist: IRON MAIDEN
Album: PIECE OF MIND REMASTERED (CD)

Release date: 1983/ 1998
EAN/UPS: 724349691902
Media type: CD

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Prior to the recording of the group's fourth album, May 1983's 'Piece Of Mind', drummer Clive Burr was replaced by former PAT TRAVERS and TRUST man Nicko McBrain. Ironically, after a brief spell with ALCATRAZ, Burr joined TRUST for a short-lived stay before forming the more melodically inclined STRATUS and PRAYING MANTIS. McBrain had earlier in his career been a member of AXE, an outfit that included now noted producer and CHARLIE guitarist Terry Thomas, and also appears on albums by STREETWALKERS and STRETCH. Just prior to joining up with MAIDEN McBrain had been involved with INFORMER, a band comprising of erstwhile HIGHWAY vocalist John Elstar, ex SIDEWINDER and STALLION guitarist STUART SMITH and WHITESNAKE bassist Neil Murray.

'Piece Of Mind' would be Martin Birch's third engagement behind the desk for IRON MAIDEN, although the group's success had prompted a change of recording location to Compass Point Studios, Nassau in the Bahamas. A passage from the Bible's Revelations was again utilised as with 'The Number Of The Beast', the inner sleeve including text from Revelations XXI V. 1. The Derek Riggs album sleeve itself sported a lobotomised Eddie incarcerated in a padded cell. Musically, the album's inception piece was a dramatic drum flourish to herald the arrival of McBrain leading into 'Where Eagles Dare', themed on the Alistair Maclean novel of the same title. The album contained another two epics, the Bruce Dickinson penned 'Revelations', a song with much of its content alluding to the works of occultist Aleister Crowley, and Steve Harris' To Tame A Land', this rooted in Frank Herbert's 'Dune' Sci-Fi classics. IRON MAIDEN put in a formal request to title the song 'Dune' but this was declined.

A preceding single, 'Flight Of Icarus', racked up a number 11 UK chart position. Following the album's release IRON MAIDEN launched into the by now obligatory, mammoth world tour preceded by 'Piece Of Mind' entering the UK chart listings at number 3 and the American Billboard charts at number 127.

Nicko McBrain's first public live airing with IRON MAIDEN came on May 2nd at Hull City Hall, the first date on the 'World Piece' tour. This set of UK shows, concluding with four sold out shows at London's Hammersmith Odeon, was supported by GRAND PRIX. Europe and Scandinavia opened up on June 1st at the Helsinki Ishallen in Finland, concerts in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, a first ever stop in Luxembourg, and Holland with guests ROCK GODDESS. To coincide, the second single from the album, 'The Trooper', based upon the 1854 Balaclava cavalry charge, hit number 12 on the UK charts.

The American tour started off on June 21st at the Events Center in Casper, Wyoming with support acts FASTWAY and SAXON with Canadians CONEY HATCH, a particular favourite of Steve Harris, later replacing SAXON at the East Troy, Wisconsin Alpine Valley Music Theater on August 6th. The next day, at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana, the group celebrated Bruce Dickinson's birthday by bringing onstage "Miss Metal". This model paraded in front of the crowd quite happily in bikini with whip and handcuff accessories until Dickinson ripped her top off. The disgruntled female took legal action, but this was settled out of court. Later guests, hooking up with the band on September 30th at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois, were QUIET RIOT. The final three shows, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Kansas City, Missouri and St. Louis, Missouri were opened up by CONEY HATCH and AXE to close this US expedition on October 25th.

In November 1983 the quintet travelled to Europe, where MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP opened, before appearing at one of the biggest Heavy Metal festivals ever. A TV special in Dortmund as part of the 'Rock Pop' televised concert series held on December 18th, the awesome bill also included SCORPIONS, JUDAS PRIEST, KROKUS, DEF LEPPARD, OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT and MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP over two days.

TRACKLIST:

1. Where Eagles Dare
2. Revelations
3. Flight Of Icarus
4. Die With Your Boots On
5. The Trooper
6. Still Life
7. Quest For Fire
8. Sun And Steel
9. To Tame A Land

LINE-UP:

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