Fear of the Dark is the ninth studio album released by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It topped the UK albums chart. Released on 11 May 1992, it was the final studio album to feature Bruce Dickinson as lead vocalist who left the band following the album's support tour to pursue a solo career. He was succeeded by Blaze Bayley, formerly of Wolfsbane, for two studio albums until Dickinson returned to Iron Maiden for the 2000 release of Brave New World. History: The album cover of Fear of the Dark was the first Iron Maiden album cover not to Read Full BioFear of the Dark is the ninth studio album released by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It topped the UK albums chart. Released on 11 May 1992, it was the final studio album to feature Bruce Dickinson as lead vocalist who left the band following the album's support tour to pursue a solo career. He was succeeded by Blaze Bayley, formerly of Wolfsbane, for two studio albums until Dickinson returned to Iron Maiden for the 2000 release of Brave New World.
History:
The album cover of Fear of the Dark was the first Iron Maiden album cover not to be designed by artist Derek Riggs. In an interview with MTV, Bruce Dickinson said they had asked three different artists to design a cover, and they then picked the best one. Melvyn Grant's illustration was chosen over the one Riggs submitted. Melvyn Grant has since drawn two more album covers for Iron Maiden, and the cover for their single "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" makes him the second most-used artist for Eddie after Riggs.
The album's musical style showed some experimentation with "Be Quick or Be Dead", a speed metal song released as the album's first single, and "Wasting Love", the group's sole power ballad. The Gulf War track "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" was the band's most political song since "2 Minutes to Midnight". The album featured first time songwriting credits for Janick Gers and featured more keyboard work than the previous album.
Only two songs off of the album, the title track, and "Afraid to Shoot Strangers", would survive on tours past 1993. "Fear of the Dark" became a popular live track and was the only song played on the Somewhere Back in Time World Tour not from the 1980s. "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" became a frequent addition on setlists during Blaze Bayley's tenure with Iron Maiden.
Both critics and fans saw the album as a stale offering from an increasingly tired band. Dickinson's committment to the band was in question and the inclusion of a ballad left veteran fans disillusioned. Much mocked was Harris' 'Weekend Warrior,' which was viewed as an outdated view on 80's football hooliganism. The line "what you gonna do on Monday?" came in for much abuse. Metal Hammer criticised the lyrics on such tracks as 'The Apparition' and 'The Fugitive', but said the guitar solos redeemed the otherwise mediocre songs.
"Be Quick or Be Dead," "From Here to Eternity," "Wasting Love," and a live version of the title track were released as singles.
Fear Of The Dark Tour was the tour supporting the album.
History:
The album cover of Fear of the Dark was the first Iron Maiden album cover not to be designed by artist Derek Riggs. In an interview with MTV, Bruce Dickinson said they had asked three different artists to design a cover, and they then picked the best one. Melvyn Grant's illustration was chosen over the one Riggs submitted. Melvyn Grant has since drawn two more album covers for Iron Maiden, and the cover for their single "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" makes him the second most-used artist for Eddie after Riggs.
The album's musical style showed some experimentation with "Be Quick or Be Dead", a speed metal song released as the album's first single, and "Wasting Love", the group's sole power ballad. The Gulf War track "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" was the band's most political song since "2 Minutes to Midnight". The album featured first time songwriting credits for Janick Gers and featured more keyboard work than the previous album.
Only two songs off of the album, the title track, and "Afraid to Shoot Strangers", would survive on tours past 1993. "Fear of the Dark" became a popular live track and was the only song played on the Somewhere Back in Time World Tour not from the 1980s. "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" became a frequent addition on setlists during Blaze Bayley's tenure with Iron Maiden.
Both critics and fans saw the album as a stale offering from an increasingly tired band. Dickinson's committment to the band was in question and the inclusion of a ballad left veteran fans disillusioned. Much mocked was Harris' 'Weekend Warrior,' which was viewed as an outdated view on 80's football hooliganism. The line "what you gonna do on Monday?" came in for much abuse. Metal Hammer criticised the lyrics on such tracks as 'The Apparition' and 'The Fugitive', but said the guitar solos redeemed the otherwise mediocre songs.
"Be Quick or Be Dead," "From Here to Eternity," "Wasting Love," and a live version of the title track were released as singles.
Fear Of The Dark Tour was the tour supporting the album.
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Be Quick or Be Dead
Iron Maiden Lyrics
Covered in sinners and dripping with guilt
Making your money from slime and from filth
Parading your bellies in ivory towers
Investing our lives in your schemes and your powers
You got to watch them
Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven
The thief's in your head
You've got to watch them
Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven
The thief in your head
Be quick or be dead
Be quick, quick, quick, quick
Or be dead, dead, dead, dead
See what's ruling all our lives
See who's pulling strings
See what's ruling all our lives
See who pulls the strings
I bet you won't fall on your face
Your belly will hold you in place
The serpent is crawling inside of your ear
He says you must vote for what you want to hear
Don't matter what's wrong as long as you're alright
Pull yourself stupid, rob yourself blind
You've got to watch them
Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven
The thief in your head
You've got to watch them
Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven
The thief's in your head
Be quick or be dead
Be quick, quick, quick, quick
Or be dead, dead, dead, dead
You've got to watch them
Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven
The thief's in your head
You've got to watch them
Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven
The thief's in your head
Be quick
Or be dead
Be quick
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bruce Dickinson, Janick Gers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Rodney Ives Collen
This song is faster and heavier than most Iron Maiden songs, and is the band's first single co-written by Janick Gers, and it is all about the greed and corruption of the democratic system. Politicians do dodgy deals with the rich that screw up a lot of people. If you’re not quick, you’ll end up dead, either figuratively or literally. It was the first single from the album. The title was inspired by a passage (2 Timothy 4:1) in the Bible.
LYRICS
[Verse 1]
Covered in sinners and dripping with guilt
Making you money from slime and from filth
Parading your bellies in ivory towers
Investing our lives in your schemes and your powers
[Chorus]
You got to watch them
Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in Heaven
The thief's in your head
You've got to watch them
Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in Heaven
The thief in your head
Be quick or be dead
Be quick, quick, quick, quick
Or be dead, dead, dead, dead
[Bridge]
See what's ruling all our lives
See who's pulling the strings
See what's ruling all our lives
See who pulls the strings
I bet you won't fall on your face
Your belly will hold you in place
[Verse 2]
The serpent is crawling inside of your ear
He says you must vote for what you want to hear
Don't matter what's wrong as long as you're alright
So pull yourself stupid and rob yourself blind
[Chorus]
Be quick or be dead
Be quick, quick, quick, quick
Or be dead, dead, dead, dead
[Chorus]
Be quick... or be dead!
Be quick!
Jeremy Cubs
Bruce's vocals on this album is amazing.
Daemon
How they never play this song on concerts
Armin
@Thirdfish i know bro, but it doesn't hit me the same... As i said, its understandable, they're ancient gods of metal. I'm listening to "No prayer for the dying album" as i type this, and my eyes are sweaty from all the nostalgia and everything...
Thirdfish
@Armin He is 64 years old this August, yet still has fire in his belly and desire in his eyes, that's good enough for me.
Lots of singers lose their voice and range as they age. Enjoy him while he's still able to produce music. New solo album coming soon with Roy Z.
Armin
@Thirdfish i feel sad when i listen to his late stuff coz he sounds like a granpa compared to this, understandable, coz he is... :(
Mario Paredes
Powerful vocals, insane riff, mind-blowing guitar solo... Only Maiden can give you this.
Dave L
This could easily be a Judas Priest song.
Miltiadis kyriakopoulos
There are times I see metallica can't get even close that band.
medaner1974
And Judas and Accept
BullRed94
Pantera