| "Purgatory" | |||||
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| Single by Iron Maiden from the album Killers |
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| Released | June 15, 1981 | ||||
| Format | vinyl record (7") | ||||
| Recorded | 1980 | ||||
| Genre | Heavy metal | ||||
| Length | 3:20 | ||||
| Writer | Steve Harris | ||||
| Iron Maiden singles chronology | |||||
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"Purgatory" is Iron Maiden's fifth single and second single from the Killers album. This song is a remake of a very early Iron Maiden song originally called "Floating" which they used to play live during 1976 to 1977. According to current drummer Nicko McBrain, "Purgatory" is a faster re-arrangement of the original. "Purgatory" was one of the band's least successful singles and failed to break into the Top 50 in the UK charts. An interesting fact about this single is that the original cover art was withdrawn. The band had felt that it was too high of caliber for just a single and requested a less complex cover be prepared in its place. The withdrawn cover later resurfaced as The Number of the Beast album. Ironically, "Purgatory" is among the most recognizable and merchandized Iron Maiden art images. Purgatory is the first of three Maiden single-covers to feature Riggs' depiction of the devil. On the cover of the Run to the Hills single he does battle with Eddie and on the single cover of The Number of the Beast his decapitated head is displayed by Eddie.
Track listing
- "Purgatory" (Steve Harris)
- "Genghis Khan" (Harris)
Credits
- Paul Di'Anno – vocals
- Dave Murray – guitar
- Adrian Smith – guitar, backing vocals
- Steve Harris – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Clive Burr – drums
