Aces High - Iron Maiden | College Students' FIRST TIME REACTION!

[@carlstawicki1915]

The live version is even more epic because they use Winston Churchill's famous 'never surrender' speech as an intro.

[@christophercrowder872]

One of the things that elevates Iron Maiden above other metal bands is their ability to convey the emotional sense of things through the music.

[@dillonsronce2583]

Their ability to write songs that tell stories or even a history story is amazing.

[@nthdegree1269]

Melody as well. .they have always been melodic

[@timprice5747]

Best live band ever. Bruce not only flew their plane (their really big plane), but he actually moonlighted as a commercial pilot. He was also a world-class fencer, a scholar, and public speaker. Oh, and he kicked cancers ass.

[@MrDeadstu]

They certainly never fail to please. Their stage show's were legendary back in the day.

[@BTAColorado]

Not JUST cancer, it was *THROAT CANCER* that he beat. Then went on to continue being one of the most badass singers ever!

[@briantieken6718]

He also used his plane to assist in getting people out of Afghanistan.

[@jasonyoung7705]

The word is 'Polymath'.

[@genarogilormino2139]

Bruce is,my hero!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Bruce is the modern day renaissance man,Jack of all trades...❤❤❤ they should make a t shirt, " What would Bruce do?"😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤❤❤😎😎😎

[@roberthaines1227]

Iron Maiden is a thinking man’s metal. A lot of their songs are inspired by historical events and literature/arts. Their song Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner helped me pass my English class in High School.

[@tristramcoffin926]

I actually convinced my Lit teacher at military school to let me play this during class and as brutal as those up tight bastards at that place were, they can never take that away from me.

[@maureenwagg5305]

A thinking wo-man's metal too. Just sayin'. lol

[@roberthaines1227]

Yes, woman’s metal too.

[@chrisproffitt6198]

I would say the steely dan of metal. Substance over anything else.

[@pvitzrick]

Ill take the second part of this comment as a joke lmfao

[@forformgamer]

One of the few bands I dare to say changed my life. Seeing them live in '08 was one of the best moments of my life.

[@wesbates1143]

Seen them twice and I agree. It isn’t just a show, it is a transcendent event.

[@SebastianSmith-c5t]

My grandfather was a P-51 pilot with the 8th Army Core, 361'st Fighter Squadron. Now his music was always Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey ( which I love) but he actually liked this song when I was young in the 80s. He said it brought the adrenaline what it was like, which he didn't like talking about. Great reaction.

[@barriehull7076]

The song's lyrics are written from the viewpoint of a British RAF pilot fighting during the Battle of Britain (1940), the first military engagement to be fought entirely with aircraft.[4] The artwork depicts the band's mascot, Eddie the Head, in the cockpit of a Supermarine Spitfire, one of the principal aircraft to participate in that battle. "Aces High" is one of Iron Maiden's most popular songs, and has been covered numerous times.[5][6] It is featured in the video game Madden NFL 10, the MTV show Nitro Circus, and Steve Peat's segment in the mountain bike film New World Disorder III. Colin McKay used the song on his part of the skate video Plan B Questionable. It can also be found in the soundtrack of the game Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now. Google/Wikipedia so be as it may.

[@shanehughes740]

Missed hearing Churchill's speech at the beginning - really sets the tone for the rest of the song.

[@cletusbeauregard1972]

Bruce Dickinson had two uncles who were RAF pilots in WW II, so he didn't have to delve that deep to write this. He'd heard these stories all his life.

[@m.gideonhoyle409]

I'm not even a huge Maiden fan, but Steve Harris is permanently enshrined in my Rock Bassist Hall of Fame.

[@airwindows]

Rightly so. How could he not be?

[@nehemb]

Steve Harris is LEAD bass! He writes most of the songs and is a magnificent bass player - absolutely thunderous!

[@Gforceracing20]

I haven't heard y'all mention it, but the two guitar attack in Iron Maiden's solos always stood out to me. Adrian Smith and Dave Murray are Legends. Steve Harris is and always will be a bass God!

[@Willie_McBride]

Bruce Dickinson is a licensed Commercial Jet Pilot, & has been for decades. As for the ‘bass forward’ sound, you can give all the credit to Steve Harris. Not only for playing it, but he is the primary writer & arranger for every Maiden song. He knows what he’s doing.

[@tristramcoffin926]

Olympic fencer, commercial pilot, front man for the biggest metal band in the world. You know, no big deal...

[@chrisbolliger5717]

@@tristramcoffin926 World class fencer but not Olympic.

[@tristramcoffin926]

@@chrisbolliger5717 He was selected to represent England at something. Perhaps it wasn't the Olympics. But, that really wasn't the point was it

[@chrisbolliger5717]

@@tristramcoffin926 When making the statement that he was an Olympian, yeah, it kinda is the point.

[@vicprovost2561]

Steve Harris, utter legend, a metal Mozart, engineer extraordinaire!

[@PureEffinMagic]

The song is specifically about the Battle of Britain, from the perspective of the RAF fighter pilots ("spinning and turning our Spitfires to face them") scrambling to intercept the German bomber attacks

[@petebrown3715]

If you want to check out more Maiden bangers here are a few: 1. Where Eagles Dare 2.Hallowed be thy name 3. Children of the damned 4. Power slave 5.22 Arcadia Ave 6. Wrathchild 7. Iron Maiden ( the actual song) 8. Fear of the Dark 9. Two minutes to Midnight 10. The Evil That Men Do. That's a few off the top of my head.

[@vicprovost2561]

Thanks for including a couple early tunes, Bruce is better but they made some killer music with Paul. Always a great band.

[@kevviking6612]

Excellent choices. I'll add The Trooper, Prodigal Son and To Tame a Land.

[@MrDeadstu]

On a side note "Where Eagles Dare" is also a great old war movie with Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton.

[@thefallenfaith1986]

Empire of The Clouds.

[@T6706K]

I love that list

[@tylerhackner9731]

A great opener to an iconic album

[@nehemb]

'Hallowed be thy Name' live in 1982 next please - Bruce's vocals are god level!

[@mikethemotormouth]

That should suffice kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4uTloWaoth6nLM

[@viclagina347]

They done the studio

[@marcinmcula99]

Holy crap. YES!!! Up the irons! Please react to fear of the dark - live in Rio '01. One of the best performances of any song by any band ever

[@sudman6251]

I’m an older guy. I’ve seen Maiden twice in the mid 1980’s. Life changing stuff. I love seeing young people discover this band. Great vid boys! “Up the Irons!”

[@DavidThomas-1969]

You guys are getting into my 80s youth music. All the old folks at the time thought we were insane. Flight of the Icuras is my favorite.

[@nehemb]

Saw them doing this live on the 'World Slavery Tour' back in 1984 aged 13 - one of the greatest nights of my life!

[@independenceltd.]

saw that tour too. WASP opened my show.

[@petebrown3715]

Saw Maiden on that tour twice. Once in Chicago and then at Alpine Valley. Great times! Up the Irons 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@joeyblowey8582]

I saw this tour as well Still one of the best concerts I’ve ever attended

[@Alfaqwad]

I was 15 when I saw that tour! Great shows with the all the Egyptian themes going on

[@chrissyc1996]

Saw that tour at Radio City Music Hall, NYC. I was 13 too!

[@Utubemop]

Yeah, and the plane he was flying was a 747....LOL, not some small sh*t thing. But hey, he was also an olympic level fencing athlete.

[@adamplace1414]

Dude... You weren't kidding either. I had no idea. And it's not like he was a fencer in college before he was a singer, he picked it up after he was famous and THEN got that good.

[@BlackieNuff]

I wish the album would have opened this song with the excerpt of Churchill's Speech, like they did on the video (and the Live After Death album). It just sets the tone.

[@timwirasnik5878]

Bruce Dicinson ( maiden Vocalist) is in fact a Licensed Commercial Pilot, not only does he fly the Maiden band around ( In thier own private Jet) he also works for the Airlines when he is not touring with maiden

[@viclagina347]

Thanks for the banger boys.... keep em coming.

[@Willie_McBride]

I am so happy that they’re getting back into the bangers. For a few months it seems like they took a wrong turn & couldn’t get back on the freeway!!!

[@BlackieNuff]

I dunno about the rest of you lot, but one of the coolest things I love about this song is that sound of the "guitar dive" during the chorus (during "live to fly, fly to live, aces high"). I dunno if I am describing it proper as a "guitar dive", and it's not overly obvious (it's kinda in the background - a "nuanced" effect, I suppose), but it's there and it totally emotes the planes doing those sideway dives.

[@Raiderblack]

THANKS for hitting Maiden! I need my hard rock metal fix from time to time. And I can't wait to hear Paranoid on Patreon! I went to a ton of Maiden shows in my life and they are awesome!

[@jamesshaffer206]

This was so fun to figure out and play , soon as this lp was released I just had to figure out every tune. Loss for words is an incredible instrumental. Good review guys glad you liked it. Rock on.

[@MoMoMyPup10]

And... it's a 747 that he flies. There's a whole documentary about it, and they carry their equipment in the back half of the plane! Crew and band in the front, fully stocked with waitresses and drinks/food.

[@Utubemop]

Flight 666, good documentary and concert movie! Unfortunately filmed when they still used the smaller plane, a 757 if I remember correctly. They only got to the 747 with "The Book of Souls" tour.

[@MoMoMyPup10]

@@Utubemop It's still a fascinating watch, and you do get to see him fly a commercial aircraft and how they make it all work. Even a non-Maiden fan would like it.

[@sammybeck7794]

With Iron Maiden not only do you get some good heavy metal but you also get a history lesson

[@BIGBLOCK5022006]

Or a literature lesson.

[@electricwizard3000]

This album dropped when I was about Andy & Alex's age. One might say it was in VERY HEAVY rotation with me for years and years 🤘 Still one of my favorite albums. Saw this tour [twice] and the stage show was insane!! Probably their last entirely, 100% great album. Bassist Steve " 'Arry" Harris is the leader and main songwriter of the band [it's always been more or less his band], which explains why you can actually hear the bass guitar.

[@gw2955]

My mom was a child of WWII and lived in southern England at the time of the blitz. Her hometown was bombed regularly and grandpa worked at the aircraft company. I get goosebumps when I hear this song.

[@TheMafrand]

The song should be heard with the intro track Churchills Speech.

[@jamesshaffer206]

Bruce also owns and drives Tanks from ww2.

[@NelsonMontana1234]

80's Maiden is the shit. Absolutely killer.

[@BigC.]

Now we’re talking!

[@philstone3859]

Saw these guys from their first tour on up in TEXAS! 18 tours over the decades. Insane live band, you will leave that concert deaf. A really intense, fun, loud night. The guitar solos are endless! 😆 So yeah, I saw this tour. Up the IRONS!

[@tommyblackwell3760]

Up the Irons! First saw them right after graduating from high school on the Beast on the Road tour 1982, most recent was Legacy of the Beast in 2019....with several other tours between. Great choice!

[@RickySpanish2112]

You must see this band live. It’s an amazing show. Not many concert experiences like theirs.

[@catbutte4770]

🔥🔥An Iron Maiden music reaction with Andy & Alex? HELL YEAH!🔥🔥

[@meditationmusicbyalexjackson]

Those stops......amazing really. Half beat stops. Superb musicianship.

[@joeyjoe-joejr.shabadoo536]

Andy & Alex & Iron Maiden? Instant like! This song was my gateway to Maiden way back in 1984, seeing this awesome looking album on my brother's shelf, I had to check it out. Right out of the gates it blew me away!

[@dizastro5437]

What a concert Powerslave was. This tune rings the bells.

[@robertcobras8320]

You really need to check out "2 Minutes to Midnight" off the same album. Killer song. And as others noted, Bruce Dickinson, is a licensed commercial pilot, and has been a licensed commercial transport pilot since the 90's. There is even a documentary film with him being the pilot of Iron Maiden's world tour of 08-09. Look for "Iron Maiden: Flight 666"

[@chrislegner4816]

Very nice to get a generous helping of metal awesomeness on a Monday. This one does such a perfect job of creating the sense of tension the lyrical content demands.

[@jimtatro6550]

Powerslave is my favorite Maiden album, it’s so good 🔥🤘🏻

[@BIGBLOCK5022006]

Andy & Alex, there are some channels here on KZbin that specialize in air traffic control conversations and there are a few that mention the Boeing 747 that Iron Maiden uses. The 747 is called Ed Force One.

[@roberthaines1227]

This is about the Battle of Britain and the RAF pilot’s fight with the pilot’s of the Luftwaffe in their ME 109s during WWII.

[@paulmcdonough1093]

i am from England my uncle was a sound mixer on Powerslave album, so i heard this before it was released to the public when i was a child in 1984 i was 12

[@olagsanger7436]

First 'reaction channel' I bumped in to, many years ago. Still the coolest out there. Aces High is a sophisticated punsh in the face.

[@David-iv6je]

Maiden were early masters of a niche of virtuosic riff metal/speed metal. If you look at it, this area gets pretty close to certain types of punk. Of course, punks were not singing about fighter planes and speed metal guys were not signaling about social revolution. Also, production is SO 1984. Digital effects and recording had bleached a lot of the instrumental warmth out of recordings. There's a reason old school bands kept their recording and effects analog. Yet the feel totally fit with the fast and day-glo 80s.

[@davidanderson1502]

Just saw em in concert again last summer … always a great show … they bring on the Spitfire still during this song.

[@stevenkmiller]

Wasted Years is a guitar tour-de-force!

[@tristramcoffin926]

Maybe on Alex's birthday yall could react to Alexander the Great. That's some Maiden shit right there, too. Anyway, this was fun. Any day Andy & Alex react to Maiden is a good day.

[@brianmiller1077]

it's hard to rhyme "Macedonia"

[@tristramcoffin926]

@@brianmiller1077 Patagonia?

[@brianmiller1077]

@@tristramcoffin926 Good one but Alexander the Great never went there as far as we know.

[@yettiman2817]

Well its about time you blasted the volume. Been sleepy lately

[@Dr_Bombay]

Maiden always hits the ground, running downhill full tilt, and they never let up. i played the HELL out of this album.

[@jackmac6112]

Up the irons!!! Lets get more metal on this chan!

[@joedirt688]

BUCKLE YOUR SEATBELTS, BRUCE IS ON FIRE HERE!

[@davidfranklin4789]

One of my favorites. Got to love Maiden.

[@chriswiedeman2956]

I love that you guys are reacting to this song. When Powerslave came out, I was a junior in high school and my friends and I entered the school lip sync contest with this song. We had to pick a short song, but the only "short-ish" songs were Aces High and Two Minutes To Midnight. I was at Long Beach Arena when they recorded Live After Death on this tour. Good times!! BTW - I can actually play this song on guitar now and it is a rush!

[@kristianrodriguez4676]

Remember tomorrow, Wrathchild, or Iron Maiden would be good Maiden songs to react to.

[@gregwasserman2635]

"Aces High" is about the Battle of Britian, from the British standpoint of course. The pilot is taking off in a Supermarine Spitfire, one of the two main fighters at the time (the other being the Hawker Hurricane).

[@alrivers2297]

Next one should be either Where Eagles Dare or Wrathchild

[@kenterenchin]

One of the best concerts of my youth was Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, screaming for vengeance, and Number of the beast tour.

[@6li8storm40]

I wish I’d gotten into metal a bit sooner, because I’d have loved to see that show.

[@joshjacobs3906]

The Prisoner and Die With Your Boots On are my two favorite Maiden tracks 🤘 UP THE IRONS!!! Peace from PA ✌️

[@dennismelvinii487]

Have you heard Run to the Hills? If not it's mandatory Maiden!

[@williamosborne6866]

Bruce Dickinson flies their plane (originally a 757, now a 747) - "Ed Force One" - and is a licensed commercial pilot. Bruce is also a world class fencer, author, beer brewer, and holds numerous honorary degrees - truly a man for all seasons. Iron Maiden is still touring (promoting their most recent album "Senjutsu", with Bruce at 65 (all the rest are over 60 as well) and still kicking ass. Here they are last year in Rio in front of 250,00 attendees: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qV63mId8fKmIpLc

[@arnoldcox9128]

Such professionals iron maiden has been putting on shows for 40+ years now they're awesome

[@gordonbezanson4710]

Seen world slavery tour 83 i think if i remember correcrlty they opened with this. Top concert ever. And ive seen metalica and rush, gnr in the 80s none touched them.

[@FFVison]

Bruce sings in a famous metal band, he is a licensed pilot for the band's 747, he is an accomplished fencer (sword fighting), as well as author, horror film maker, and Iron Maiden themed beer brewer.

[@viclagina347]

If you hit the Kinks again then give Destroyer a listen. You'll love it

[@markstoudenmire4935]

Love it!!

[@Willie_McBride]

Excellent choice!!! SOOOO MANY BANGERS from the ‘80’s you forget half of them!!

[@mark-be9mq]

They bring the energy & emotion so well.

[@DeanUSAMale]

Aces High - There goes the siren that warns of the air raid There comes the sound of the guns sending flak Out for the scramble we've got to get airborne Got to get up for the coming attack Jump in the cockpit and start up the engines Remove all the wheel blocks, there's no time to waste Gathering speed as we head down the runway Gotta get airborne before it's too late Running, scrambling, flying Rolling, turning, diving, going in again Running, scrambling, flying Rolling, turning, diving Run Live to fly Fly to live Do or die Won't you run Live to fly Fly to live Aces high Move in to fire at the mainstream of bombers Let off a sharp burst and then turn away Roll over, spin 'round to come in behind them Move to their blindsides and firing again Bandits at eight o'clock move in behind us Ten ME-109's out of the sun Ascending and turning our Spitfires to face them Heading straight for them I press down my guns Rolling, turning, diving Rolling, turning, diving, going in again Rolling, turning, diving Rolling, turning, diving Run Live to fly Fly to live Do or die Won't you run Live to fly Fly to live Aces high Songwriter: Stephen Percy Harris

[@jasonstoutamire177]

The version on Live After Death has Churchill’s “Fight on the Beaches” speech as the intro. My dad is a WW2 history buff and he was shocked when I was able to recite that section of the speech in perfect Churchillian dialect lol.

[@bobbyhulll8737]

Saw this concert tour at the time it was great time to be a kid !

[@TheMafrand]

my favorite Maiden song

[@yettiman2817]

Rime of the Ancient Mariner... anyone else agree

[@russelltoothman3168]

Bruce is a licensed commercial pilot who flies for British airways.in his off time.he also is a professor of history at cambridge university or oxford.

[@fuzzylogicent]

2:19... Coolest Nintendo game music EVER!

[@petebrown3715]

Maiden was the "precursor" along with Priest of " power metal". Rainbow as well.

[@markholmes2023]

Aces High is about the Battle of Britain where Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) flying mainly Spitfire and Hurricane fighters took on Germany's Luftwaffe flying BF 109 fighters, BF110 fighters, DO 17 bombers, JU 88 bombers, HE 111 bombers and JU 87 dive bombers. During the Battle of Britain German forces tried to gain air superiority so they could then invade Britain via Operation Sealion. The Battle of Britain officially lasted 3 months and 3 weeks from 10 July - 31 October 1940. When played live the following quote by Winston Churchill is played " We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."

[@nickatbasel]

I used to run around the perimeter of Zurich airport. Saw "Ed Force One" - IM's winged chariot - parked on the side.

[@LynneConnolly]

Bruce Dickinson (lead singer) has a commercial pilot's licence. He has flown 757s. He got bored, he said, sitting on a plane going from place to place. He's also an Olympic standard fencer, and has competed internationally. He owns a brewery and an aircraft engineering and servicing company.

[@brianmiller1077]

If you've seen a KISS concert, you owe it to yourself to see an Iron Maiden show. They also put on one hell of a show and tour a lot.

[@petetobey3933]

Always nice to see a Maiden reaction! I first heard this album at 16, not long after it came out, still my favorite Iron Maiden album of all. Such a big rabbit hole to explore with more than 40 years of material…. Best Maiden song you should check out next: Revelations from Piece of Mind

[@stefanboskovic4724]

Bruce Dickinson used to fly for an airline, Astraeus Air, when not recording/touring with Maiden. Also an olympic standard fencer. Quite a guy

[@jeffreymathis3379]

When Churchill stated, 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much been owed by so many to so few', he was paying tribute to the enormous efforts made by the fighter pilots and crews to establish air superiority over England.

[@ygouvrit]

My first CD ever, the whole album is a master piece my favorite Metal band ! When Bruce sings I press down my gun you can hear the drum just as a machine gun would sound.

[@zevongrie1402]

Their live version of Fear of the Dark from Chile is amazing. Not only is the audience singing to the lyrics, they sing along with the instruments.

[@ronjm945]

Iron Maiden is always a great listen..

[@AudiophileTubes]

Iron Maiden is clockwork metal! So powerful, precise, and melodic! The best!

[@TwoFingerSaloute]

Best voice in Metal history

[@RedDawnRocker]

Andy, when you said you don't know how they could keep up their stamina you would be surprised. Back in the day, they made up their own soccer team facing off against other bands they toured with such as Def Leppard and the Scorpions. They also were known to mix up their sports and had fun training. Bruce Dickinson always was always full of adrenaline based energy and someone that's needed to see in concert. It was funny when we first saw him piloting the Maiden jet. Chris DeGarmo, the ex-lead guitarist of Queensryche, left music and became an airline pilot too. He has a sideband with his daughter on vocals these days but his piloting seems to be his main moneymaker.

[@wesbates1143]

They still play matches with local teams everywhere the travel.

[@Matt-gj3uf]

My first concert ever was when I was 12 and saw Iron Maiden and Judas Priest in 1984 🤘🤘🤘

[@patriciagoodwin1922]

Great band, strong, killer heavy rock. So well done, really enjoy this band.

[@blairhinton7535]

Singing about the Battle Of Britain in WW2. The recent live versions feature a near full scale Spitfire flying, diving etc above the stage

[@Dragoninja]

The PPowerslave Abum is very good. Other Songs from this Album are "Rhme Of The Ancient Mariner"' "Powerslve", "2 Minnutes Too Midnight".

[@davidmel2158]

Early Maiden with Paul on vocals try REMEMBER TOMORROW or PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. With Bruce I'd say TO TAME A LAND or POWERSLAVE.

[@JayBee-JB69]

One of my favs. I feel like I'm flying the plane every time I hear it.

[@tomperugini189]

Iron maiden and Rush are good friends..they played tennis together..lol..I've been a Rush and iron maiden fan for over 40 years..still loving it..priceless ❤...listen to iron maiden flash of the blades..a friend of my dad used this song in his movie ..dario argento sent vinyl of sound tracks from Italy to Toronto Canada...my parents are from Italy...when I saw the track reading iron maiden..lol .I tripped..I crank it for my dad..we're talking 80,s...he was catapulted into another dimension 🤣🤣🤣..my metal long hair days