Purgatory (song)
| "Purgatory" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Iron Maiden | ||||
| from the album Killers | ||||
| B-side | "Genghis Khan" | |||
| Released | 15 June 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1980 | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 3:22 | |||
| Writer(s) | Steve Harris | |||
| Iron Maiden singles chronology | ||||
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"Purgatory" is Iron Maiden's fifth single, released on 15 June 1981, and would be their last with singer Paul Di'Anno. It is the only single from Killers as the preceding release, "Twilight Zone", was not included on the album's original pressing.
History
According to drummer Nicko McBrain, the track is a remake of one of the band's earlier songs, entitled "Floating", of which "Purgatory" is a faster re-arrangement.[1] It was one of the group's least successful singles as it failed to break into the Top 50 in the UK charts, although the group's manager, Rod Smallwood, states that this was because "it wasn't really a single, it was just lifted off the album which the fans already had."[2]
Most notably, the single's original cover artwork was withdrawn for use on the band's next studio album, The Number of the Beast.[2] Smallwood recalls that, on being presented with the original cover, "we said, 'No, that's much too good,' so we kept it for the album. We had the artwork months before we had the music."[3] This meant that the band's artist, Derek Riggs, had to come up with a replacement, this time illustrating the Devil's face rotting away to reveal the band's mascot, Eddie's, face underneath.[4]
Track listing
- "Purgatory" (Steve Harris) – 3:22
- "Genghis Khan" (Harris) – 3:10
Personnel
Production credits are adapted from the 7 inch vinyl cover.[5]
- Iron Maiden
- Paul Di'Anno – lead vocals
- Dave Murray – guitar
- Adrian Smith – guitar
- Steve Harris – bass guitar
- Clive Burr – drums
- Production
Chart performance
| Single | Chart (1981) | Peak position |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Purgatory" | UK Singles Chart | 52[6] | Killers |
| Single | Chart (1990) | Peak position |
Album |
| "Purgatory / Maiden Japan" | UK Albums Chart[note 1] | 5[7] | — |
Notes
- ↑ Re-release of both titles as part of The First Ten Years box set. Exceeded the length limit of the UK Singles chart.
References
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