Fear of the Dark (album)

Fear of the Dark
Studio album by Iron Maiden
Released	May 12 1992
Recorded	1991 - April 1992
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	58:31
Label	EMI
Producer	Martin Birch
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Iron Maiden chronology
No Prayer for the Dying (1990) Fear of the Dark (1992) A Real Live One (1993)

Fear of the Dark is the ninth studio album released by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It topped the UK albums chart. Released on 12 May 1992, it was the final studio album to feature Bruce Dickinson as lead vocalist, until 2000's Brave New World (album), who left the band following the albums support tour to pursue a solo career. He was succeeded by Blaze Bayley, formerly of Wolfsbane, for two studio albums until Dickinson returned to Iron Maiden in 1999. The album cover is the first from Iron Maiden not to be designed by artist Derek Riggs. In an interview with MTV, Bruce Dickinson said they had asked three different artists to design a cover, and they then picked the best one. Melvyn Grant's illustration was chosen over the one Riggs submitted. Melvyn Grant has since drawn two more album covers for Iron Maiden, and the cover for their single "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" makes him the second most-used artist for Eddie after Riggs. The album's musical style showed some experimentation with "Be Quick or Be Dead", a speed metal song released as the album's first single, and "Wasting Love", the group's sole power ballad. The Gulf War track "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" was the band's most political song since "2 Minutes to Midnight". The album featured first time songwriting credits for Janick Gers and featured more keyboard work than the previous album. Only two songs off of the album, the title track, and "Afraid to Shoot Strangers", would survive on tours past 1993. "Fear of the Dark" became a popular live track and is still played often today. "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" became a frequent addition on setlists during Blaze Bayley's tenure with Iron Maiden, but it has not been played since Bruce Dickinson's return to the band. "Be Quick or Be Dead", "From Here to Eternity", "Wasting Love" and a live version of the title track were released as singles.

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Harris, unless indicated otherwise.

1. "Be Quick or Be Dead" (Bruce Dickinson, Janick Gers) – 3:24
2. "From Here to Eternity" – 3:38
3. "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" – 6:56
4. "Fear Is the Key" (Dickinson, Gers) – 5:35
5. "Childhood's End" – 4:40
6. "Wasting Love" (Dickinson, Gers) – 5:50
7. "The Fugitive"– 4:54
8. "Chains of Misery" (Dickinson, Dave Murray) – 3:37
9. "The Apparition" (Harris, Gers) – 3:54
10. "Judas Be My Guide" (Dickinson, Murray) – 3:08
11. "Weekend Warrior" (Harris, Gers) – 5:39
12. "Fear of the Dark"– 7:18

1995 Reissue Bonus CD

1. "Nodding Donkey Blues"
   • B-side of single "Be Quick or Be Dead"
2. "Space Station #5"
   • Double B-side of 12" single "Be Quick or Be Dead"
3. "Roll Over Vic Vella"
   • B-side of single "From Here to Eternity"
4. "I Can't See My Feelings"
   • B-side of 12" single "From Here to Eternity"
5. "No Prayer for the Dying (live)" (Harris)
   • Double B-side of single "From Here to Eternity"
6. "Public Enema Number One (live)" (Dickinson, Murray)
   • Double B-side of single "From Here to Eternity"
7. "Hooks in You (live)" (Dickinson, Adrian Smith)
   • B-side of single "Fear of the Dark (live)"

Personnel

• Bruce Dickinson – vocals
• Dave Murray – guitar
• Janick Gers – guitar
• Steve Harris – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Nicko McBrain – drums

with

• Michael Kenney - Keyboards