Last week, I was driving down the street when the radio DJ came on and began speaking about the Iron Maiden album, The Number of the Beast. She praised the whole album, claiming that the songs were all placed perfectly in a manner that compliments them all. Another disc jockey was present for the conversation and he sounded equally as enthused. The day marked the fortieth anniversary of the album's release. It also marked the debut of the band's new lead singer, Bruce Dickinson. I was never a big fan of the band, not necessarily because of any disdain, I was just never exposed to it as a kid. My heavy metal fandom went in another direction. Although, I would eventually come to realize a connection to this album, within days of hearing this conversation on the radio.
The DJ's eventually played a track from the album, the titular track, Track #5, The Number of the Beast. It was heavy, but not too heavy, and having never heard this song before, I was quite enamored with said track. A couple of days later, I would find myself at one of the remaining music stores left on the planet, and I had picked up the CD of this Iron Maiden album. My first Iron Maiden CD for my vast collection of CDs taking up space in my home. I plunged the disc into the deck in my truck, which incidentally, is the only operating CD player I have left in my possession.
A huge smile filled my face of whiskers, the music filling the cabin of my vehicle and dancing around me. It was invigorating. Nothing comparable to The Quickening*, but enjoyable all the same. Eventually, I would make it to Track #6, Run To The Hills. I was overjoyed. I'd not read any of the tracks on the back of the CD cover, so this song was a huge surprise and a welcome one at that. I'd heard this song played on the radio for years. I'd always turn up the volume and belt out the chorus in the best manner I could muster. I had a connection to this song.
People often reminisce about where they were when they heard about this news or that event. We can remember where we were when we learned that the World Trade Center was hit by a plane. Or when the towers came crashing down. I remember what I was doing when I learned that Andre The Giant has passed away, just as I can remember the first time I ever heard the song "Run To The Hills" by Iron Maiden.
I was just a small boy. We, my dad, sister and I, were visiting my uncle Murray and his family in Yorkton, SK. My cousin, Bob, had a new car, a Plymouth Turismo, a small two-door hatchback. I remember it was night time and he was taking me for a short boot in this speedy little sport car. He instructed me to listen to this song that depicted a history lesson that he'd learned in school. The song was "Run To The Hills" by Iron Maiden. He played it for me twice and the volume got louder each time and I loved it.
Given all the pushback from media and religious groups, pertaining to this [then] recent album release, describing it's contents as evil and devil worship, it's hard to believe that there'd be a song that, in my opinion, is more of a protest song than anything harbouring evil intent. According to Wikipedia, the song documents the colonization of the Americas. The song tells the story from the perspective of a Cree Indian, followed by an American Cavalryman. It describes the pain and misery of the Cree people. Hardly a demonic song, although evil is present in the song, if you carefully dissect the lyrics, but on evil in the horrors that were inflicted on the Cree Nation.
As bad as the subject matter is, I do have to say that it's a kick-ass song. One that puts me in a rockin' good mood when it airs on the radio and one that always transports me back in time, to that brisk winter's evening, racing through the streets of Yorkton, SK, with my cousin Bob.
(*The Quickening is a fictional concept related to the immortal characters of the Highlander franchise, first introduced in the 1986 film Highlander. Originally, the Quickening referred to the energy immortals are born with, which makes them invincible to death unless beheaded.)
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