First time hearing Iron Maiden "The Number Of The Beast" Reaction | Asia and BJ

[@BoondockRoberts]

Essentially after watching Omen 2 (where 666 shows a kid is a demonic incarnation) bassist and writer Harris had a nightmare and wrote this song based on that dream. Also if you do another Maiden song, listen to his bass. No one gallops like Steve Harris

[@PjRjHj]

Harris certainly has intense stamina

[@williamweiss6128]

Yep. Have to watch at least the first two Omen movies. Third one, meh.

[@chriswildhaber35]

No one the best heavy metal bassinet in my opinion, and writes most their music with Adrian.

[@RayfordRaySiegel]

@@chriswildhaber35, I guess he could be considered a bassinet, since he does rock. Ha, ha Have you heard the music that Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen put out? It's really good.

[@andrewkubat1506]

The lyrics are based on the poem Tam o' Shanter by Robert Burns.

[@67Aquaholic]

Always remember Iron Maiden is very much a story telling band. They are influenced by history and horror...and many other things. Basically this song is about a very real nightmare.

[@brianvernon249]

And the wedding guest is a sad and wiser man.

[@michealmccann]

The opening lines are from the book of revelations, not word for word, but the meaning is the same I'm not religeous, but i do study that stuff

[@chuckconner3694]

I saw Iron Maiden in concert in 1983 in Cincinnati. After the first song, the lead singer (Bruce Dickinson) said, “Hey, we hear there are a lot of people around here saying we worship the devil. Well, that’s a bunch of bullshit! We all work for the man up above!” I’ll never forget that. It made me feel much better about the band.

[@deanovanno]

I doubt Bruce or anyone else in Maiden ever felt the need to defend their art or justify their music and lyrics And did you feel they were just a bunch of evil devil worshipping heathens before you started feeling better about them?

[@b.entranceperium]

You're not ready for heavy metal if you think that way

[@m.ericwatson968]

It's just like a horror movie set to heavy metal music, and it's a bona-fide classic, this song and album took Rock and Roll music to another level - UP THE IRONS!

[@lewisner]

It was a revelation to see a song this heavy get high in the UK charts in 1982.

[@kevincollins6302]

They're heavy on mythology, the occult, history, etc They're basically story tellers and historians

[@timprice5747]

Yes, it is about a dream. The bass player had watched a movie that scared him and gave him a nightmare, so he wrote this song about it. Iron Maiden has two lead guitars (now days three) so often have double solos.

[@LA80sMike]

I was 15-16yrs old when This came out, My very catholic but open minded mom asked about “this” music I told her they write stories, sometimes historical, she listened and wasn’t too concerned as a matter of fact she ended loving the Scorpions because of Klaus the singers voice… lol

[@faafio]

I'm a Christian, and was youth group age when this song came out. In those days satanism was a big thing. I was taken to MANY "rock seminars" at churches back then about the evils of rock. Having already been a fan of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest & Scorpions, I knew that Maiden's music was simply about epic themes. I wasn't scared off from them. While I do believe there were some bands that really did go for satanism for real, the vast majority of bands just jumped on the bandwagon because it fit into the whole rebellious thing. I started playing drums in high school, then in garage bands for a few years afterward. This song was one of the songs on my playlist to practice to. I'd put on headphones, then have a blast. I saw them on this tour, and it was awesome (even though I had nosebleed seats). Even though I was way in the back, I could still see a couple of guy's on each side of the stage dressed like devils (red tights, pitchfork, horns, etc), and a 15ft tall Eddie walking around on stage. Very cool show.

[@chrisw3421]

I could've written this same comment...well, I never saw Maiden, but all else was exactly the same for me. I was recently thinking of a record burning at church, I was maybe 11 years old... couple yeats later I started playing drums.. that was back in the late 80s.

[@avestuart]

Bands like Venom really played-up the Satanic stuff, but even then they laughed it off. Some fans took it a little too seriously. And then the Norwegian black metal movement in the very early 90s took it to another level from Venom.

[@11shellnutt11]

Me too! All the seminars about rock music tryin to scare me. How bout Petra playing backword music before Judas Kiss lol

[@faafio]

@@11shellnutt11 Yeah. It was very clever of Petra to do that, when even Christian Rock & Metal bands were attacked by some Christians. I remember those seminars going after any Christians that were popular in the mainstream, like Stryper & even Amy Grant.

[@11shellnutt11]

@@faafio Yep, if you played it backwards it was a message to those people, something like why are you looking for the devil when you should be looking for the light. I seen Iron Maiden in the early 90s it was an awesome show. Loved the 15 ft tall Eddie!

[@apctest8359]

I was Jr High when this came out, we (like half my school) called into the rock station every single night to get it played and we would record it on cassette tapes. So great :)

[@rallypoint1]

Or if you didn’t have a radio/tape player that could dub you put the two radios facing each other. Oh man those were the days!!!!🤘🏼

[@jerryhinds6009]

Nostalgic

[@crackert5176]

When I heard this at 10 years old it scared the shit out of me!!

[@T_E_music_playlists]

👍This is one of Iron Maiden's best songs & albums. Edit: Correction, the spoken intro was done by Barry Clayton NOT the late & great Vincent Price who was famous for acting in a lot classic horror films. But Barry Clayton sounds a lot like Vincent Price on this.

[@GregWilson635]

The song opens with a spoken word passage, read by English actor Barry Clayton . Maiden tried to get Vincent price but couldn't afford him at the time.

[@T_E_music_playlists]

@@GregWilson635 Wow you're right. I just googled it. Barry Clayton sounds a lot like Vincent Price. I guess Price's price was too high for Iron Maiden so they got Clayton to do a very good impersonation of him.

[@GregWilson635]

@@T_E_music_playlists I also thought it was Vincent Price , they sound identical. Wasn't till I read the NOTB album cover that I realised who actually did it 😀

[@crafty1096]

2020 divided by 666= 30330 “Call Joe at 30330”- Joe Biden Coincidence I’m sure. Except there’s a lot more.

[@fuzzybits410]

The Price is wrong.

[@robotto8858]

Storytelling is their specialty. Absolutely love MAIDEN! Especially the earlier stuff. Check out some of the stuff with Paul Di"Anno singing. "The Ides of March/Wrathchild" or "Killers" or "Murders In the Rue Morgue". Love you guys!

[@jenniferandrews1917]

YAAASSSS!! Please do at least KILLERS, WRATHCHILD, and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Murder in the Rouge Morgue is a great song as well.

[@avestuart]

Definitely Di'Anno-era Maiden for the win. I always recommend "Murders in the Rue Morgue". I like the scrappy Maiden from their early 80s period.

[@BamaXander]

I've always really liked "Phantom of the Opera".

[@apctest8359]

Those 1st two albums hold up remarkably well. Start-to-finish good stuff!

[@anamarisa2800]

As bruce said, they beleive what they sing cause it is real. Bringing your daughter to the slaughter song....it was not a fantasy

[@ericsmith6615]

Wife here...My Husband loves this band..I personally like hard rock/glam metal..(among other generas).He always informed me this is REAL metal..After a while it gets to be a bit much..Asia & BJ..Yes..their instrumentation is on point...Your insight is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING as always..!!!!

[@metalmark1214]

Maiden my favorite band. Have been listening to them since 1982. Could recommend about 50 songs, too much to list. Up the Irons 🤘

[@weaponizedglitter69]

Mine too!

[@thrasherx1671]

Up the Irons 🤘

[@Jamesscearce]

Powerhouse Bruce Dickinson performance... he's a really well read dude who puts some thought into his lyrics... and the pace of Iron Maiden set the standard for 80's heavy metal. And yet, fairly accessible music for people other than metalheads.

[@thomasharris4942]

True--except the lyrics are generally written by the bassist Steve Harris. I'm sure Bruce has some input though.

[@terrydavis7389]

hands down, my favorite band of all time.

[@maiden-eq4uv]

Loved how Asia was digging the guitar solos. Took my son and his fiancé to go see Iron Maiden in concert in Dallas on a Saturday night and when they performed this song and the entire show was a show we’ll never forget.

[@timmorin2304]

Greatest Metal Band on the planet. 200 million records sold. Up The IRONS

[@Meyzen76]

Asia and BJ....Up the Irons!!!! 🤘🏼Yes!

[@maryannerazzano7692]

I'd strongly suggest reacting to them live 🤘. And that " Yeahhhh!" Is one of the best fry screams of any rock / metal song I've ever heard .

[@geneticrex]

Written by Maiden bass player, Steve Harris after a nightmare form watching a horror flick.

[@tannonwraith4692]

Congratulations BJ, you got it exactly right for once. Good for you. Steve Harris is the bass player for Iron Maiden and writes most all the songs, apparently this song came to him in a dream. UP THE IRONS!

[@metal-adventures-joerg]

Greatest Band in the World!!! Lot of their Songs are so full of wisdom!!! Been a Fan since 1982,traveled all the seven seas,to see them 154 times in 30 countries! Next Stop is in four weeks in Zagreb,Croatia for their first Gig of their upcoming Legacy of the Beast Tour!! Thanks for the Review! Greetings from Stuttgart, Germany!

[@highgreen6452]

you should nbe allowed up on stage with em for that dedication 10/10

[@nonsuch]

I was 10 yrs old and just started playing guitar when a friend said "check this out!". This album was my introduction into Iron Maiden and I was a die-hard fan until about 1987 when I started to get out of my Heavy Metal phase and began listening to other music.

[@eumaeus]

Their album after Di'Anno left and put them firmly on the map as a metal band that could produce incredibly good studio work. Actually, at one time, the band were often referred to as The Beast, because of this album. It's still one of my faves and was the artwork which I saw as a child and out of curiosity bought it. I was hooked. Now 52, I rarely listen to metal, but if I were to, I would be Maiden. Up the Irons!

[@thomasfortner9112]

Considering the fact that the songwriter, Steve Harris, wrote these lyrics based on a nightmare that he had after watching The Omen 2, I was quite impressed at the end when you said it sounded like he was having a dream. I’ve been listening to this song since 1985, and I can tell you that the first many listens to it I never considered that. Very good analysis and reaction.

[@heavybrett-al4082]

Such an amazing band to see live

[@mikewood6071]

He’s talking about stumbling up on a satanic worship service lol

[@68pointbreak]

I still have this album from when I was in high school. Plus the black shirt with the white sleeves. Awesome album.

[@MoxieMike66]

Saw them live in concert over 30yrs ago. Bruce is unreal w/his vocals. Their newest video is prophetic.

[@chrisbooth478]

Favorite songs of mine! Run to the hills Aces high 2 minutes to midnight Can I play with madness Wasted years Blood brothers So many more! 🤘🤘

[@lovedc4ever678]

Yes to every on and yes to so many more!

[@itmightbme]

Great song! The vocals...hello! Fantastic all around❤❤❤

[@Back2SchoolReactions]

time stamp 3:49 best head shake ever!

[@b.entranceperium]

Maiden is still touring in 2023. Their drummer Nicko just had a mini stroke, but is still peforming. These guys are in their 60s and 70s now, but are still going strong.

[@dontrayler9292]

The Birthday massacre… looking glass

[@gustavocolin2507]

When they play this song live it gets crazy

[@bluewolf5925]

I saw Maiden live on the World Slavery Tour. Wow years later and it still ranks in my top 3 of shows I have seen.

[@jankursu4099]

Number of the beast the first casette tape i bought, I was ten years old. Still love the music of Iron Maiden 39 years later,

[@kardeef33317]

The Bassist seen the Omen 2 and had a nightmare. He wrote this song based on that nightmare.

[@jeffsmith5494]

Bruce Dickinson the lead singer is also the pilot of their personal plane that flies them to every concert

[@mts982]

my fave album back in the day.

[@mauricioalvarado2183]

Iron Maiden was tagged as satanic back in the 80s due to this song, which is nonsense if you get to know the band and the topics of their songs. Their drummer is even a known Christian. They have 17 studios albums to choose plenty of great songs from but let me suggest you do The Clansman, Blood Brothers, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Fear of the Dark, Wasted Years or Phantom of the Opera (any of them live). Thanks for the reactions and keep going!!

[@metaltildeth6783]

If anyone had actually taken the time to read the lyrics, they would have seen in verse two before the scream, that this was a dream and not actual reality. PMRC can suck it.

[@petahpunk]

I never tire of Asia "s metamorphisis into a metalhead!

[@Alberto_1965_BR]

Best Metal band. Best Metal album. Best Maiden line up. And the amazing Clive Burr on drums. Best metal drummer. Rest in Power, Clive

[@mm-gz4nb]

Incredible drummer..even nicko says he has a hard time playing his stuff..

[@Uriahjw]

Another good artist is King Diamond and one of my favorite albums is "The Eye". The whole album tells a story so its good to start at the beginning. You won't believe the singer's voice.

[@ten4thebguy]

such a jam !!! so good

[@lonbecker113]

This song has an HP Lovecraft feel to it. He wrote horror stories in which the sense of horror comes less from what the narrator says than from the fact that the narrator is either going insane or is in a complete panic. So most of the song has the narrator panicking that the devil is coming. But then in the last verse we suddenly switch perspectives to that of the devil, who not surprisingly is a braggart despite his lack of past success.

[@vamboroolz1612]

“You fool, Warren is dead” is my favourite line from Lovecraft.

[@CHRISMED2]

This song is pure fire!! You can take that literally & figuratively

[@kovacs88]

Bruce Dickinson, among being one of the greatest front men of all time, is also a certified commercial pilot, and has his own line of children's books.

[@0okamino]

He’s also quite a fencer. The sword kind, not the selling stolen goods kind.

[@RayfordRaySiegel]

What children's books has he written?

[@kovacs88]

@@RayfordRaySiegel I can only find Lord Iffy Boatrace books, but I don't think those were children's books. I know I've seen him talk about a line of children's books he was writing, maybe he never finished them.

[@RayfordRaySiegel]

@@kovacs88, Oh, yeah. That "Lord Iffy is some perverted stuff, from what I heard in an interview. It's definitely not the children's books. It would be really bizarre, if he actually does have children's books.

[@Keepcalmandbangscrew]

Spelled dio wrong

[@VegasAlien1]

I saw them on this tour with Girlschool and Scorpions (Blackout tour) in Springfield, IL. Great show.

[@smn1085]

second solo is one of my favs from maiden. stranger in a strange land is an incredible solo. there's an official video with the studio song and live footages

[@blastingweevil2968]

The Maiden.. Enough said . still have the original pressing of this album in my vinyl collection.

[@sumonjamal1653]

'The number of the beast' was written about a nightmare bassist Steve Harris had experienced... When the record came out in 1982, it became Iron Maiden's first platinum record in the US (#1 album in the UK). Unfortunately, the success also brought in crazy religious right in America targeting the band, accusing them of "devil worship"... Bruce Dickinson (vocals) said that they treated that absurd reaction as "silliness".

[@bmoore7817]

You guys are hitting all my favorites, awesome

[@bmoore7817]

Vincent price reads the opening

[@AsiaandBJ]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@NoahFroio]

I remember seeing Iron Maiden at the Cow Palace in San Francisco in the mid-80's when I was probably 16 or 17, and when this song came on, it was a SCENE, one of the loudest concerts I had ever been to, and it was EPIC.

[@angusgow1887]

Fun fact Rod Smallwood Iron Maidens manager when this album was being released had a car accident and the repair bill was 666.00 pounds which refused to pay that amount and made them round it up

[@TailgunnerATC]

That scream is so legendary the man who did it has never been able to do it again

[@angharaddenby3389]

Except in every live performance of it since.

[@StephenHayes-g4t]

Yeah. You guys got it right, and Maiden are a force to be reckoned with because I’ve seen them in concert 4 times in the early to late 1980’s and OMG, what a band. They were and still are always so TIGHT and for me they are one of the best metal bands around. Bruce is just an amazing and talented singer, he is more like an opera singer within a heavy rock/heavy metal band. 🇦🇺❤👏👏👏

[@room22-1]

Beautiful analysis! Iron Maiden are story tellers. The best and most hopeful line of an Iron Maiden Song.."That we must love, all things that god made." And im not very religious.

[@markw1128]

Opening narrative by Vincent Price is from the book of Revelation. Never forget well after listening to this song when the pastor of my church read this verse and a part of a lesson.

[@angharaddenby3389]

It is NOT Vincent Price - the vocal intro is by Barry Clayton.

[@SirLuciferVampiro]

You guys need to check out the videos.....Seeing them perform wether in a video or live is always better with this band

[@donbergeson6771]

1st album with their new singer, Bruce Dickinson. Not one "filler" song on the album, every one could have been a single. Just an entirely awesome album.

[@MrMcSmack]

Iron Maiden is such an awesome band. All their songs are a story and such great stories.

[@seandobson6221]

Fun fact Bruce Dickinson is a classically trained opera singer! This is the epitome of Iron Maiden!

[@louielouie22]

Daaamn I was 11 in 1981 when this came out..😲 they are the best story tellers of history. 🤘😝🤘

[@rickgiles3633]

The story behind that scream at the beginning of the song is that the band had been thru several takes of the same track and Bruce got frustrated and just vented.

[@2869may]

Was really a "huge" Maiden fan until the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son album... That album is something different... A Masterpiece..! I suggest "Infinite Dreams" or "Can I Play With Madness" to start with...

[@doghouse0041]

ac/dc van halen iron maiden black sabbath motor head judas priest rammstein there will never be rock bands like these any more

[@alsimons7925]

Y’all entering a new world. Hold on tight.🤘🏽80’s Metal

[@ryancoke777]

There was a time in my life (when I was 11) when this was the most perfect song that was ever written or will ever be... and I still think there's a good argument to be made 🤘🤘🤘

[@LordEriolTolkien]

I will contend the Trooper is greater

[@KevinWalton-me4vv]

I grow up listening to heavy metal and I see these 11 or 12 time live

[@tomhelmsjr]

Y’all need to do Aces High!! Visualize yourself as a fighter pilot in WW2 scrambling to intercept an incoming German attack. Heart pumping ride that really puts you in pilot seat. The video helps you visualize it too.

[@groundhog5923]

I've listened to this song for decades and enjoy seeing people's reactions in the present day. Back when it came out a friend of my mom's got her all worked up about it being Devil worship so I had to play it and figure out the lyrics as best I could and convince her it was just a song about a dream. She actually ended up liking the song (and the album).

[@mickeykmiller]

To me this is their best album, maybe because of the time it came out and what was going on in my life. Regardless, every track kicks ass...even Gangland! :)

[@LordEriolTolkien]

The first 7 albums are their golden period, This marks their start at the very top

[@jimstringer1082]

Maiden have always been great story tellers, so many songs to choose, can I suggest Run to the hills. Cheers for your reactions.

[@mikeminiboss708]

Was lucky enough to have older cousins in my youth who introduced me to the metal giants of the 80's and got to see them live in their prime.

[@itslikewhatever]

Iron Maiden rules, so many great classics to discover. I think you two might enjoy "Revelations", it's off the album after this one, I believe - Piece of Mind.

[@frankaq3951]

My favourite Iron Maiden tune!

[@sderden]

Every Iron Maiden Song is a historical fact\facts. Remember

[@chrissemones6195]

From the beginning he was wondering if it was a Dream… back then these type of tunes or records sold to teenagers. It’s just one topic that they covered. 🔥🔥🔥🤘🏼🤘🏼🎸🎸

[@estacadarocks3446]

Fun fact. That handsome devil on the album cover has a name. Eddie.

[@Moondirts]

I can still remember using pliers to get the 2 foot long plastic contraption that held this cassette from Camelot music into my walkman and forgetting about the real world for a while. Yes sir. 👊

[@robrichards8074]

You need to watch Fear of the Dark live in Rio. You won't regret it.

[@brianvernon249]

I like to think of this song as the beast is singing a song named 666. The narrator is informing us about his performance of said song. Like at Vegas or Branson.

[@gfakruddinahmad8316]

That's the Scream which made him Bruce "The Air Raid Siren" Dickinson ! Bruce your record is still place no one can beat you !

[@garytom1935]

Awesome song yay, seen them live in concert good show, awesome review yeah 👍😎🤘🎸🎤

[@bryancullen6758]

A lot of bands back then sang about that big occult dude Alester Crowley

[@fkops2773]

The album was strongly opposed by social conservatives - especially in the United States, where Iron Maiden were accused of being Satanists. Public burnings of the band's catalogue were organised, although some religious groups smashed the records with hammers, for fear of inhaling fumes from burning vinyl.[10][34] The Beast on the Road tour was subject to numerous boycotts and demonstrations: venues were sometimes surrounded by activists who handed out leaflets and, in one case, a 25-foot cross was carried in protest.[10][35] Harris has stated, "It was mad. They completely got the wrong end of the stick. They obviously hadn't read the lyrics. They just wanted to believe all that rubbish about us being Satanists."[36]

[@lovedc4ever678]

Yes. Crazy madness. And obviously, from this reaction, people still haven't figured it out. LOL!

[@0okamino]

The burning/smashing thing just seems silly to me. It doesn’t really matter what they do with it after they buy it, it just adds to the sales numbers. And it’s not like they aren’t just going to produce and sell more. Oh well, ridiculous people are gonna be ridiculous. 😆

[@joedirt688]

i AM SO HAPPY YOU BOTH ARE DOING SOME MAIDEN.

[@robertiddings4697]

Iron Maiden has been around for so long. So much talent. I've seen them live once. Great show. Flight of Icarus is my favorite song

[@josehborba3004]

I remember seeing Iron maiden in my younger days in old maple leafs gardens in toronto , I had floor level not to far from speakers, aswome, I think I lost my hearing for a few days a week ,also run through the hills is great .

[@Gabriel-qe2ls]

Actually this song was writen based on a very famous novel from 70s.

[@nicholasbennett3169]

It's theater. Vincent Price opens the song just like he did for Michael Jackson's thriller.

[@angharaddenby3389]

NO he doesn't - it s Barry Clayton on the intro.

[@MACULIBER]

22 acacia avenue, a hidden gem in this incredible album

[@markminor70]

Something special there bass player very unique.

[@coat.thik1]

Another great tune by Iron Maiden is Holy Smoke

[@dannygjk]

Say hello to musicians. btw check out the number of seconds the lead vocalist sings "yeeaahhhh".

[@jamessaturn142]

That was straight up bangin!! That lead guitar was smokin 😎

[@NeverGiddy]

Just what I saw in my own dreams was someone reacting to an Iron Maiden song from one of their first two albums. "The Ides of March/Wrathchild" is the best thing they ever did.

[@jerryhinds6009]

Thanks again BJ & Asia. I love how you guys give your options & take on the song. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 ✌️❤️✌️❤️