IRON MAIDEN: Flight of Icarus 7" + I've Got the Fire (Montrose cover)

Emi 5378 - SILVER LABEL

"Flight of Icarus" is a 1983 song by IRON MAIDEN. It is the band's eighth single and the first from the Piece of Mind album. It was the first single by IRON MAIDEN that was released in the United States. It was also the only IRON MAIDEN single to receive much airplay in the U.S., guaranteeing it a spot in the 1983 Rock Radio charts. "Flight of Icarus" also made it into the UK charts.

Produced by Martin Birch, Artwork by Derek Riggs, Photography: Simon Fowler

Bruce Dickinson - vocals
Dave Murray - guitar
Adrian Smith - guitar, backing vocals
Steve Harris - bass guitar, backing vocals
Nicko McBrain - drums

Track Listing of: IRON MAIDEN Flight of the Icarus
The Song/tracks on "IRON MAIDEN Flight of the Icarus" are

Flight of Icarus (Adrian Smith, Bruce Dickinson) - 3:49
I've Got the Fire (Ronnie Montrose; Montrose cover) - 3:53

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"Flight of Icarus" is a 1983 song by Iron Maiden. It is the band's eighth single and the first from the album, Piece of Mind. It was the first single by Iron Maiden that was released in the United States. It was also one of the few Iron Maiden singles to receive much airplay in the U.S., peaking at number 8 on the Billboard Top Album Tracks chart - The highest position of any Iron Maiden single in the US. In the UK, "Flight of Icarus" reached number eleven on the UK Singles Chart.

The song is loosely based on the ancient Greek myth of Icarus who was imprisoned with his father Daedalus in the Labyrinth on Crete. In an attempt to escape, the pair fabricated wings from feathers and wax so they could fly away. Unfortunately Icarus, not heeding the advice of his father, flew too close to the Sun, melting the wax that held the feathers and thus fell to his death in the sea. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson admits that he had modified the original tale to make it an allegory of teenage rebellion against adult authority, which caused the death of Icarus in this case.
The single cover, in something of a parody of the original myth, portrays a winged Eddie killing Icarus with a flamethrower. Icarus resembles the figure in Evening: Fall of Day, by William Rimmer, which was used as a label logo by Led Zeppelin. The death of the figure on this single cover is a reference to Led Zeppelin's break-up a few years before.
Bassist Steve Harris feels that the studio version should have been played faster, so they play it faster live, claiming "This little extra touch gives it a bit more fire".
The first solo in "Flight of Icarus" is played by Dave Murray whilst the second solo is played by Adrian Smith. The ending solo is played by Dave Murray.