Killers (Iron Maiden album)

1981 studio album by Iron Maiden

Killers

Studio album by

Iron Maiden

Released| 2 February 1981 (1981-02-02)[1]
Recorded| November 1980[2] – January 1981[3]
Studio| Battery (London)
Genre| Heavy metal
Length| 38:18
Label| EMI
Producer| Martin Birch
Iron Maiden studio albums chronology
| Iron Maiden
(1980)  | Killers
(1981)  | The Number of the Beast
(1982)

|
|

Singles from  Killers

1. "Twilight Zone" / "Wrathchild"
Released: 2 March 1981
2. "Purgatory"
Released: 15 June 1981

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [4]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal| 9/10[5]
Pitchfork| 7.3/10[6]
Sputnikmusic| [7]
The Daily Vault| A−[8]

Killers is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was first released on 2 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).

## Background

[edit]

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.

Except for "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.

## Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Steve Harris, except where noted.

Side oneNo.| Title| Length

|
|

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 twoNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

7.| "Killers"|

* Paul Di'Anno
* Harris

| 4:58
8.| "Prodigal Son"|  | 6:05
9.| "Purgatory"|  | 3:18
10.| "Drifter"|  | 4:47
Total length:| 38:18

Side two – North American editionNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

7.| "Killers"|

* Di'Anno
* Harris

| 4:58
8.| "Twilight Zone"|

* Dave Murray
* Harris

| 2:33
9.| "Prodigal Son"|  | 6:05
10.| "Purgatory"|  | 3:18
11.| "Drifter"|  | 4:47
Total length:| 40:51

Side two – Australian edition[18]No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

7.| "Killers"|

* Di'Anno
* Harris

| 4:58
8.| "Women in Uniform" (Skyhooks cover)| Greg Macainsh| 3:07
9.| "Prodigal Son"|  | 6:05
10.| "Purgatory"|  | 3:18
11.| "Drifter"|  | 4:47
Total length:| 41:25

1995 UK reissue bonus discNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Twilight Zone"|

* Murray
* Harris

| 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]No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

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)|

* Harris
* Di'Anno

| 3:07
5.| "Remember Tomorrow" (live; from Maiden Japan)|

* Harris
* Di'Anno

| 5:44
6.| "Wrathchild" (live; from Maiden Japan)|  | 2:52
7.| "Killers" (live; from Maiden Japan)|

* Harris
* Di'Anno

| 4:50
8.| "Innocent Exile" (live; from Maiden Japan)|  | 3:46
Total length:| 32:59

1998 remastered editionNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

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"|

* Harris
* Di'Anno

| 5:01
8.| "Prodigal Son"|  | 6:12
9.| "Purgatory"|  | 3:20
10.| "Twilight Zone"|

* Murray
* Harris

| 2:33
11.| "Drifter"|  | 4:49
Total length:| 41:21

## Covers

[edit]

The song "Wrathchild" was covered in 2003 by the English metal band Sikth and featured as a B-side on their single "Scent of the Obscene".[20] The song was also covered in 2005 by female tribute band The Iron Maidens on their 2007 album Route 666, by Gallows on the 2008 tribute CD Maiden Heaven: A Tribute to Iron Maiden released by Kerrang! magazine, and by Six Feet Under on the reissue of their 1999 album Maximum Violence.[21] "Wrathchild" was featured in the PlayStation 2 game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s.[22]

## Personnel

[edit]

Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.[23][24]

### Iron Maiden

[edit]

* Paul Di'Anno – vocals
* Dave Murray – guitars
* Adrian Smith – guitars
* Steve Harris – bass
* Clive Burr – drums

### 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)

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (1981)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[25] | 20
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[26] | 20
French Albums (SNEP)[27] | 1
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[28] | 18
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[29] | 10
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[30] | 28
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[31] | 41
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[32] | 19
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[33] | 11
UK Albums (OCC)[34] | 12
US Billboard 200[35] | 78
Chart (2006)  | Peak
position

|

Italian Albums (FIMI)[36] | 79
Chart (2010)  | Peak
position

|

Greek Albums (IFPI)[37] | 64
Chart (2018)  | Peak
position

|

UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[38] | 10
Chart (2020-2021)  | Peak
position

|

Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[39] | 22
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[40] | 40

#### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1981)  | Position

|

German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[41] | 26

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Canada (Music Canada)[42] | Platinum  | 100,000^
France (SNEP)[43] | 3× Gold  | 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[44] | Gold  | 250,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[30] | Gold  | 100,000[30]
Sweden (GLF)[45] | Gold  | 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] | Gold  | 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[47] | Gold  | 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Killers certification".
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ 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.
4. ^ Huey, Steve. Iron Maiden - Killers at AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
5. ^ 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.
6. ^ O'Connor, Andy (4 December 2018). "Iron Maiden: Killers". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
7. ^ Stagno, Mike (27 June 2006). "Iron Maiden - Killers". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
8. ^ McDonald, Riley (2019). "The Daily Vault Music Reviews : Killers". dailyvault.com. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
9. ^ "RIAA certifications". Recording Industry Association of America.
10. ^ Saulnier, Jason (22 November 2012). "Paul Di'Anno Interview, Legendary Singer talks Life on the Road". Music Legends. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
11. ^ Doran, John (2005). "Murder Most Foul". Metal Hammer Presents: Iron Maiden 30 Years of Metal Mayhem: 144.
12. ^ Brannigan, Paul. "Hack Job?". Kerrang! Legends (2): 26–27.
13. ^ 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.
14. ^ "Iron Maiden Album Statistics: 1977 | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
15. ^ 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.
16. ^ The Guinness Book of British Hit Albums, 1996 edition
17. ^ Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 251\. ISBN 978-1-86074-542-3.
18. ^ "Iron Maiden - Killers 1981 Australian LP". Discogs. April 1981. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
19. ^ "Iron Maiden - Killers 1995 US 2CD". Discogs. 9 October 1995. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
20. ^ "Sikth - Scent of the Obscene". Discogs. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
21. ^ "Kerrang! Maiden Heaven Track Listing Revealed!". Kerrang!. 25 June 2008. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
22. ^ "Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The 80s: Complete List of Songs Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
23. ^ Killers (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 2 February 1981.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
24. ^ Killers Remastered (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 1998.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
25. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
26. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Iron Maiden – Killers" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
27. ^ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – I". Infodisc.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2012. Select Iron Maiden from the menu, then press OK.
28. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 166\. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
29. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Iron Maiden – Killers" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
30. ^ a b c Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
31. ^ "Charts.nz – Iron Maiden – Killers". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
32. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Iron Maiden – Killers". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
33. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Iron Maiden – Killers". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
34. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
35. ^ "Iron Maiden Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
36. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Iron Maiden – Killers". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
37. ^ "Greekcharts.com – Iron Maiden – Killers". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
38. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
39. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2020. 47. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
40. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Iron Maiden – Killers". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
41. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1981. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
42. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Iron Maiden – Killers". Music Canada. 30 January 1991. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
43. ^ "French album certifications – Iron Maiden – Killers" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 26 April 2013. Select IRON MAIDEN and click OK.
44. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Iron Maiden; 'Killers')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
45. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
46. ^ "British album certifications – Iron Maiden – Killers". British Phonographic Industry.
47. ^ "American album certifications – Iron Maiden – Killers". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 April 2013.

* v
* t
* e

Iron Maiden

* Steve Harris
* Dave Murray
* Adrian Smith
* Bruce Dickinson
* Nicko McBrain
* Janick Gers

* Paul Mario Day
* Thunderstick
* Tony Moore
* Doug Sampson
* Paul Di'Anno
* Dennis Stratton
* Clive Burr
* Blaze Bayley

Studio albums|

* Iron Maiden
* Killers
* The Number of the Beast
* Piece of Mind
* Powerslave
* Somewhere in Time
* Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
* No Prayer for the Dying
* Fear of the Dark
* The X Factor
* Virtual XI
* Brave New World
* Dance of Death
* A Matter of Life and Death
* The Final Frontier
* The Book of Souls
* Senjutsu

Live albums|

* Live After Death
* A Real Live One
* A Real Dead One
* Live at Donington
* Maiden England
* A Real Live Dead One
* Rock in Rio
* BBC Archives
* Beast over Hammersmith
* Death on the Road
* Flight 666
* En Vivo!
* The Book of Souls: Live Chapter
* Nights of the Dead: Live in Mexico City

Compilations|

* Best of the Beast
* A Real Live Dead One
* Ed Hunter
* Best of the 'B' Sides
* Edward the Great
* The Essential Iron Maiden
* Somewhere Back in Time
* From Fear to Eternity

Box sets|

* The First Ten Years
* Eddie's Head
* Eddie's Archive

Extended plays|

* The Soundhouse Tapes
* Live!! +one
* Maiden Japan
* No More Lies

Singles|

* "Running Free"
* "Sanctuary"
* "Women in Uniform"
* "Twilight Zone"
* "Purgatory"
* "Run to the Hills"
* "The Number of the Beast"
* "Flight of Icarus"
* "The Trooper"
* "2 Minutes to Midnight"
* "Aces High"
* "Wasted Years"
* "Stranger in a Strange Land"
* "Can I Play with Madness"
* "The Evil That Men Do"
* "The Clairvoyant"
* "Infinite Dreams"
* "Holy Smoke"
* "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter"
* "Be Quick or Be Dead"
* "From Here to Eternity"
* "Wasting Love"
* "Fear of the Dark"
* "Hallowed Be Thy Name"
* "Man on the Edge"
* "Lord of the Flies"
* "Virus"
* "The Angel and the Gambler"
* "Futureal"
* "The Wicker Man"
* "Out of the Silent Planet"
* "Wildest Dreams"
* "Rainmaker"
* "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg"
* "Different World"
* "El Dorado"
* "Satellite 15... The Final Frontier"
* "Speed of Light"
* "Empire of the Clouds"
* "The Writing on the Wall"

Video albums|

* Live at the Rainbow
* Video Pieces
* Behind the Iron Curtain
* Live After Death
* 12 Wasted Years
* Maiden England
* The First Ten Years (From There to Eternity)
* Donington Live 1992
* Raising Hell
* Classic Albums: Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast
* Rock in Rio
* Visions of the Beast
* The History of Iron Maiden – Part 1: The Early Days
* Death on the Road
* Flight 666
* En Vivo!
* The Book of Souls: Live Chapter

Tours|

* Metal for Muthas Tour
* Iron Maiden Tour
* Killer World Tour
* World Slavery Tour
* Somewhere on Tour
* Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour
* Fear of the Dark Tour
* Real Live Tour
* Virtual XI World Tour
* Brave New World Tour
* Dance of Death World Tour
* Eddie Rips Up the World Tour
* A Matter of Life and Death Tour
* Somewhere Back in Time World Tour
* The Final Frontier World Tour
* Maiden England World Tour
* The Book of Souls World Tour
* Legacy of the Beast World Tour
* The Future Past World Tour
* Run for Your Lives World Tour

Related articles|

* Discography
* Songs
* Awards and nominations
* Band members
* Eddie
* Metal for Muthas
* Tribute albums
* Urchin
* Gogmagog
* Psycho Motel
* Samson
* The Entire Population of Hackney
* The Iron Maidens
* Maiden uniteD
* Derek Riggs
* Rod Smallwood
* Melvyn Grant

* Category

Portal:

* 1980s

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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