Phantom of the Opera - Iron Maiden FULL Guitar Cover

Full guitar cover of the Iron Maiden classic Phantom of the Opera from their legendary 1980 debut album. Headphones recommended as the guitars are panned hard left/hard right to better mimic the original recording.
Guitars:
Gibson SG Standard
Fender Player Stratocaster HSH
Plugin: Bias FX 2
DAW: Reaper Audio
Soundcard: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
Strings:
Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky 9-46
Picks:
Dunlop Jazz III XL

[@HenryCrescini]

My favorite Iron Maiden song of all time and you TOTALLY nailed it! Well done!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you!! 🙏 It's always great to know that I did someone's favourite song justice ☺️ Cheers!! 🤜🤛

[@sabrepax9012]

Great rendition ! You did as in 80 with the Stratton solo. I like the Smith taping solo in Live after death as well. One of my fantasies woukd have been to see hear a Rush cover of that song! The bass sound in the Will Malone production of IM (even though Harris despise it) is so overwhelming! I enjoy very much your channel, keep going!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you! Yes, with this one I wanted to reference the original recording so I'm playing all of those parts as Dennis did. Besides the solo, there are a few other differences in how Adrian played it (fingerings and position on the arpeggio harmony and main riff for example) which are also interesting and kinda cool. But again, here I wanted to pay tribute to the original. Dennis did a phenomenal job and I thought it deserved a closer look 😊

[@MK-so2eo]

Smith did not exit when Maiden made this song. In the live show Adrian Smith just played what Dennis Stratton or Steve/Mutrray contributed.

[@yanikem6655]

@@MK-so2eo not exactly - Adrian plays the intro harmony differently to Dennis.

[@yanikem6655]

@@LicksOfTheBeast Adrian plays the intro ascending harmony differently too - I’ve never liked his version, just sounds…off. Great job, by the way, Nico!

[@symonjesterwise9185]

Stratton's solo pure love, I love his (original) version,ben fatto

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Grazie tantissime!!

[@yoannarsie3277]

My favorite song of Iron Maiden. The speech of Bruce Dickison before this song at Ullevi’s concert for the early days tour is absolute truth!

[@TerryTinsel]

You are my KZbin Iron Maiden resource! Was looking for this one, and you already had it!

[@krzysztofszafranski615]

For me the beast song in the first album. Nico you're amazing

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Yeah this is THE Iron Maiden song for me. Everything Maiden is in there! And thank you so very much!!

[@Carlosguilherme.]

Man I love this Iron song. And the cover was perfect!

[@yanikem6655]

Great job Nico!

[@vansergioalves1133]

Fantastic music, fantastic interpretation. Congratulations!!!!

[@CC-qb9sm]

Fantastic track! Such a fun one to play too! Great job Nico!

[@maxkopp8451]

Very well done! You are a true master of the beast 🤘

[@jongolsteyn9680]

My favorite Maiden tune. Great job, that sounded great. I love that first slower solo. You do Maiden perfectly.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

1000 thanks!!!

[@lorettahookano6139]

My favorite Maiden song of all time !

[@patricklongerbeam6421]

Unbelievable job, and you absolutely nailed it! I love this track!👏🏻👏🏻

[@thorcerchi5341]

Questa me l'ero persa. Che canzone 💣💣 forse una delle più "sottovalutate". Grande Nico 🤟🤟

[@RicardoGordo]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Currently I play for Maiden United (with Mr. Dennis Stratton) and I use your channel to be sure how to play my parts correctly. This is definitely the most trustful Iron Maiden guitar channel in youtube! Up the Irons!

[@coachinho4919]

Masterpiece!

[@marsh0le907]

Sick cover dude! 🤘🏻

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks brotha!

[@bluesdude1194]

Absolutely awesome, my favourite Maiden track :)

[@suetruett3812]

just love this song, one of my favorites..and is it crazy to play.. Nico ya nailed it..of course...

[@seancarson6481]

I am going to watch this video a lot. I got to learn this song.

[@smiffy.airsoft.ghillie5861]

Im happy i was at the 02 arena in 2013 for then to play thjs during the maiden england tour. One of my favourite maiden songs

[@Tony_Kam]

Great my friend !! Keep rocking !

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you as always man!!

[@michaellrakes5521]

Holy shit man. You got a subscriber here now! That is legendary

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey thank you so much man!! Greatly appreciated and I'm really glad you enjoyed this one 😊🤘

[@fearedlegend]

Oh my god you are good . We’re talking elite . So much gratitude

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's mighty kind of you to say. Thanks so much!!

[@chipsunday5563]

5:19 - 5:24 the most beautiful lick in the history of licks

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

It really is a f'n cool lick! 🤘

[@josemarmota7165]

Brazil ✌... Good job man 👏👏👏👏👏

[@momentoxd2121]

Underrated cover

[@R.GUITARIST]

Perfect tone!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Figuring out the tones was a bit part of the work (pick attacks, pick angles and other such subtleties) so thank you so very much for your feedback on that!! It's highly encouraging!! Cheers!

[@R.GUITARIST]

@@LicksOfTheBeast I'm Also be a enthusiast from the Iron Maiden's tones! Could you post The settings that you used for this tone? Thanks!

[@kit3300]

Nice!🤘

[@xxthelugoxx8997]

Awesome :D

[@thirstyhamster3112]

Effin awesome!!! \m/

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks a ton! 🤘🤘

[@jaquelinerocha2586]

Love this very much❣️👏

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you!!! 😊 It's such an important song for Maiden and lots of fun to play too!

[@jaquelinerocha2586]

@@LicksOfTheBeast a magic and unique song

[@yflorantin]

Great! 🤘

[@bourbonbuddy1]

Jaw dropping. Im pretty sure Maiden wouldn’t think twice about inviting you on stage for a number or two. You’ve won.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Well you know what they say... 6 is company, 7's a crowd 😆 Thank you for the incredibly kind support! I'm both flattened and honoured and it motivates me to do more and better! Cheers!!

[@bourbonbuddy1]

@@LicksOfTheBeast I absolutely love it. Been listening to you more than the Maiden records for a change. Cranking it up on the Sonos

[@alessandrotripodi4662]

Brano pazzesco, tu magistralmente impeccabile 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Troppo gentile!! Grazie 🙇🙏🏻

[@Gabodelsol]

Buen cover saludos desde chile!!!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Muchisimas gracias! Saludos y gran abrazo desde Canada 🤘

[@eduardomartins3040]

The best solo by Iron Maiden

[@hiroshi5460]

To me, best IRON MAIDEN song, line up (and album) ever..! With Clive Burr, Dennis Stratton and Paul Di Anno... What a great band was at that time...!! ❤🤘 I totally love the first 3 album with Clive on drum. Still "untouchable band" until 1988 with Seven Son album...

[@bhporwxhe]

Gave a thumbs up before the video even started - because I knew it would be awesome!….I was right.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Too kind!! 🙏

[@mirrorsilray6365]

Muito bom.

[@jasongeorgeson8551]

Dude I’m loving all your videos. Lifelong maiden fan here. I’m also trying to learn these songs. I have a request, not for a song but for you to hit an open string before you begin so we can tune into you

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks a ton man!! That part is easy: It's all in standard tuning except for anything from the first album which is about 8 cents sharp. 😊

[@stephendocherty6735]

Fantastic Nico, (hope I spelled you name correctly) not an easy song to play especially the fast tempo stuff as the guitar plectrum usually goes flying🤣classic song and still a favourite, i remember seeing it live in the D'Anno days, well played mate.👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

It's definitely a challenge to play cleanly and tightly throughout with the right feel and keeping just slightly ahead of the beat without rushing it. Not an easy song at all! Man... You witnessed this with Di'Anno live?? That's about as awesome as it gets for a Maiden fan!!! What do you call that? Fortunate? Lucky? Blessed? I don't think any of those words suffice even if you add them up! 😆 Thanks for sharing and thank you so much for your kind encouragement and support. Cheers man!! 🤘🤘

[@stephendocherty6735]

@@LicksOfTheBeast I was the guy who told you a couple of weeks ago that I saw Maiden in 1980 as my second gig, (the Clash being my first) in Glasgow, I was a scrawny 12yr old🤣keep up the excellent playing mate, some really cool guitars you have there👍😃🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@marcograziotin6844]

grandissimo

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Grazie tantissime!! 🤜🤛

[@thebeastsworldcovercollab1880]

Once again... 💣💣

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Always massively appreciated!! Thank you!

[@L-Slayer]

The best song the best álbum Fucking iron maiden

[@ProfeOz]

Excellent as always buddy! What pickups does your HSH strat hace? Greetings from México!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

1000 thanks my man! The bridge is a DiMarzio Super Distortion and the neck and middle I decided to keep stock as I kinda like their Fendery tones ☺️ For Dave's solos here I used the neck pickup on the first and bridge on the second.

[@ElevatedLevetator]

Maiden should hire you

[@FuturoDeRedpillEhAlcoolismo]

He looks like Zeca Camargo (brazilian journalist)

[@L-Slayer]

Phantom of the opera fucking maiden

[@eulogitos22]

Hey bro you are amazing. You can help me to found somewhere in time tone? I have the mooer ge 200. Thanks.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's kind of the Holy Grail of classic metal tones isn't it? I honestly have never used the Mooer so I am not sure about that one... For Somewhere in time, I think you'll want to scoop the mids a little bit use some delay and a bit of chorus and keep experimenting until it sounds right. That's pretty much what I do as I don't like to spend time tone matching. I occasionally use some presets in Bias that come close but otherwise I just get a sound that I like and that feels right for the song. In this one for example, I have no idea what gear Dave and Dennis originally used... I just tried to get a sound that fit the song and the overall vibe of the album without too much gain (especially on Dennis'parts as he had a fairly clean crunch tone). Sorry I couldn't be more helpful on this one!

[@OldGuitarMan]

Nico. Do you remember where this is tuned up to? Like maybe 442 or 444 or something? I'm having a difficult time nailing it down. Thanks, man ✌🏻

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I think I tuned it about 8 cents sharp off 440. Something like that 🤔

[@OldGuitarMan]

@@LicksOfTheBeast [I used to be Old Psycho Man on KZbin, but now I'm Old Guitar Man] Thanks! :) Right now I'm at 446 and it seems pretty good on most parts. The guitar doesn't like being wound up like that, keeps fighting back 😄 I'm getting fatigued watching you at 75% speed to learn the solos, but you're a hell of a lot more accurate than, for example, Ultimate Guitar tabs ;) Anyway, I haven't done a real rock/metal cover since October and this will (eventually) be the next one. Too bad, in a way, that Ghost is soon releasing a cover of Phantom that'll make it seem like a bandwagon song to some.

[@mvandel9966]

Hello Nico, great playing. Could you help me nailing the riff on “watch the steps”. Is this Down down up down. I just can’t seem to get the tempo right.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Down, down, down, up. Similar to a sweep 🙂 Good luck!

[@mvandel9966]

@@LicksOfTheBeast thanks that will help a lot

[@acceptpapara]

04:37 I was wondering how you were going to play this part. 😉😉😉Amazing tone and performance.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I wasn't going to cover this song without doing my homework first, that's for sure 😃 Thank you very much!!

[@redcatscratcher3954]

Nice! Adrian's Party Needs Some Overdrive Gain in solo😀

[@thesetupwizard666]

When you play the main riff, do you play 4-4-4 and the a pull off from 5 to 4 on the G string? You probably know it better than me idk

[@ElevatedLevetator]

Do you recommend reaper over pro tools for making metal songs?

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I like Reaper. It uncluttered, inexpensive and it does pretty much everything a DAW needs to do. Pro Tools is still the standard but Reaper works great and I don't feel it's missing anything at all.

[@simonwhite9412]

Hi, what presets did you use for the bias fx 2 amp?

[@OldGuitarMan]

Hey, Nico. I just published a cover of Phantom of the Opera and have come here to plug it 🙄😇: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3ioaGh3qbKeg5Y If you ever have any time or motivation to look at it, remember that I'm not playing in the same league that you are :D It's more of a live thing with a room mic, done in basically one take. So, yeah, some the timing and dynamics are less than perfect, with the solos being the same. It's fun, for example, at the beginning of Dave's first solo, when I'm trying to bend to the correct pitch with the left hand while simultaneously hitting a pedal on the floor with a foot and switching to the neck pickup with the right hand - my brain doesn't have that many gears! Oh, well...

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey that was a great playthrough!! You got an excellent classic metal tone, the squeals when moving the riff to F# and G were very cool, and throwing in the lyrics was a nice touch. I also thought it was cool that you switched between both Dennis and Dave's parts on all the harmonies. I used to do that too when I was doing single take playthroughs on my Instagram 😃 Also, that explorer is beautiful! 🤘🤘

[@OldGuitarMan]

@@LicksOfTheBeast Ahh, hell - getting compliments from you about playing Iron Maiden means the world to me, man. You're the gold standard as far as that goes and were living rent-free in my head much of the time: "Nico would not approve of your imprecision here or changing this part there." 😄 But at some point I had to just let it flow and forget all that. When I was playing in bands in the 80s and into the 90s, guitarists were absolutely brutal to each other. Backstabbing. Vicious. When I got older I told myself I would never be anything but supportive to all other guitarists at all skill levels - no matter how they treated me. No one's in competition with one other. It's art, not a sport. We only elevate the entire community of real, live music creators by attempting to encourage and support. As Jordan Peterson says, albeit about life in general and not about guitar playing, "Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don't." In my 54 years, I've found we can always benefit in some way (may be positive, may be negative) from listening to other guitarists. When I was 18 I'd burn with jealousy when I'd hear someone playing Yngwie style or Blackmore style in a way I couldn't - and of course that was maybe two decades before the Internet and KZbin, etc. Now you can see guys sitting in their bathrooms playing Yngwie better than the man himself. Or you can see Nico picking apart every guitar and bass note in an Iron Maiden song, playing their solos perfectly. All I feel now is awe and appreciation (and occasional inspiration) at the collective talents that now have an outlet. I'd decided a long time back that the white Epi Explorer was the one I wanted to use to find the tuning and record "Phantom" with, but damn...I hadn't considered how many quick pickup changes I was gonna want to make and how the toggle switch is way the hell down there in Brazil somewhere 😄

[@MK-so2eo]

This is probably the 1st cover song or review by Nico (Licks of the Beast) that does not include Adrian Smith. Well, Maiden does not necessarliy need(ed) Adrian. I know he is awesome but Maiden has it own its style to folllow. And they've been doing it for over 40 years. This song, Fear of The Dark, The Clansman etc are just good created without Adrian. Blaze was the only reason for Maiden to lose fans in the 90s due to his voice. Just imagine X Factor and Virutal 11 with Bruces voice.

[@eduardojuste]

Thats one song I think I've never seen they perform live

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I was fortunate enough to seem them play it on the Maiden England tour and it was spectacular! I really envy those who saw them play it back in the early days. That must have been so intense!