Here we are folks. Day 8 and the first day we listen to Iron Maiden albums I never bought or listened to (for the most part). Today on A Maiden a Day, ” No Prayer for the Dying”.
Being the always evolving monster that they are, “No Prayer for the Dying” goes in the same direction as the previous two albums, “Somewhere in Time” and “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” respectively, which added guitar synthesizers and keyboards, this record adds… wait… what?? Nothing?? They what? They DROPPED that stuff and moved away from the prog rock thing?!? Well, go figure.
Yep, it’s true. They also lose guitarist Adrian Smith in pre-production on this album as well. Mr. Smith, it seems, was unhappy with the idea of moving away from the prog rock synth happy days and getting back to a more “street level” sound. He was replaced by Janick Gers, who earlier that year worked with Bruce Dickinson on his solo album. More on that in a minute.
Steve Harris having a hankering for his days as a street level metal kid also had the idea to record the album in a farm he owned in Essex. I can only imagine he broke this news to the rest of the band in a letter sent out by his secretary at the time, Danny Glover of the “Lethal Weapon” film series. Here is how it for really real read:
“Dear Lads,
Hope this letter dictated by Danny Glover of Lethal Weapon finds you all well. I want to start by congratulating Bruce on his solo album. Was really sorry to hear that they didn’t want your song “Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter” for the sure to be Oscar contender, “Nightmare on Elm Street 5: the Dream Child”. I was a little worried about you at first but, then it hit me, you’re no stranger to people not wanting your songs! Ha, ZING!
It has come to my attention that we have become something of a “Progressive Rock” act as of late. I think it’s time we make a hard U turn and quick! I was watching Headbangers Ball the other night while eating ice cream and that Riki Rachtman snot said we had lost our street cred! Can you believe this guy!!!!???
So I want to get real on these people, you know? We’ll show these blokes who’s the street crew! I came from the street, son! I’ll knife fight you for bread! I don’t care!!
So while I was sitting there finishing off that gallon of ice cream and watching Bruce’s video for “All the Young Dudes” I got to thinking,. What can we do to PROVE we are bad ass street level dudes? We could ride motorcycles on stage. We could knife fight the Queen. We could steal some apples. NO! Then it hit me!! Boys, we are going to show ’em what we got by getting back to our roots and recording a street level record… wait for it… IN A BARN!!! Brilliant, I know!
I’ll see you in Essex!
Balls to the wall, suckers!
Sincerely, Steve “the Hair Bear” Harris and Danny “3 balls” Glover
P.S. Bruce, you can put “Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter” on this record if you have 100 pounds. HAHA”
It is true, Dickinson was asked to write a song for that Nightmare on Elm Street movie and it was “Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter”. this led to Dickinson working on a
his solo album. (which I had and disliked)
The song didn’t get used and when recording “No Prayer for the Dying” Steve Harris thought it would be a good fit for it.
I don’t mind this record. There are a couple cheesy hard to take songs but over all it’s not bad.
The album cover stops the continuous evolution of Eddie and features him busting out of a grave. There are two covers actually. one with him choking a dude and one without.
The hair is back and everything from all previous records dropped. He is essentially “Killers” Eddie again.
bonus
BRUCE DICKINSON ALL THE YOUNG DUDES
Your 3D Eddie progress for the day:
treebeerdstuff 