Powerslave by Iron Maiden

Album: Powerslave (1984)

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This is about an arrogant Pharaoh in his dying hours. Because he's been raised to think he's a god, he can't understand why he's about to die and fights it in vain. He also feels overwhelmed by the power of death, and thinks sardonically about his heir. Just before he dies, he promises to return as a mummy.
The album cover shows a pyramid with a giant statue of the Pharaoh (reminiscent of the Sphinx), with the bands mascot Eddie as the Pharaoh. The artwork inside the album also carried this theme.
Lead singer Bruce Dickinson wrote this. He claims this is a sequel, or somehow linked to his previous song "Revelations."
The back of the album Somewhere in Time shows pyramids behind the city in a reference to this.
Cover art designer Derek Riggs once again slipped his logo into his artwork. His logo is a unique symbol which depicts his initials, a mirrored D and an R on the right hand side. In this case, it's right above the "entrance" to the pyramid (Eddie's crotch).
To capitalize on the album's European popularity, the band went on their famous "Slavery Tour." For the tour, a massive stage show was displayed with a twenty foot tall model of their mascot Eddie as one of the attractions. Eddie was raised at the end of the song "Iron Maiden." The stage show also featured creative light work and props. They began the Slavery Tour in Poland and performed behind the Iron Curtain (ironically enough) for more than three weeks.
The album was recorded in Nassau.
Darkane coverd this for the compilation album A Tribute to the Beast and Ancient for their album God Loves The Dead.
To capitalize on the album's European popularity, the band went on their famous "Slavery Tour." It was a spoof of the name of their previous tour, "World Piece Tour," which promoted the album Piece of Mind. For the tour, a massive stage show was displayed with a 20-foot tall model of their mascot Eddie as one of the attractions. Eddie was raised at the end of the song "Iron Maiden." The stage show also featured creative light work and props. They began the Slavery Tour in Poland and performed behind the Iron Curtain (ironically enough) for more than three weeks.
This appears in the Iron Maiden computer game Ed Hunter. It plays during Level 5, Pharaoh's Tomb. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Brett - Edmonton, Canada, for all above

Comments: 12

Marcelo from San Jose, OtherThis song will appear in the Flight 666 movie! Live in Costa Rica! when they played for the first time here...february 26 2008! I will never forget that day!
Damien from Edmonton, CanadaYou're right, Ernesto- In fact, in the "Piece of Mind" liner notes, there is a picture of the band sitting at a dinner table looking at a plate with (Eddie's?) brain on it, and in the background, in the entrance you can see Death! Same thing on the Trooper poster I have on my Bedroom door.
Jaymz from Ayr, ScotlandThis song reminds me of the video game that was released on the Playstation back in something like 1996/97 it is called ("Exhumed" UK release) and ("Powerslave" US release) it is set in Egypt and has a mortal man with god-like powers given to him in order for him to annihilate the dangers in Egypt that threaten Ramses and the others.
Addison from Kaysville, Utdimmu borgir covered this song its way gnarly
Devon from Westerville, OhThis is a great song. I recently realized the creed thing. When I learned this song on guitar I realized the chorus part after the vocals is very similar to Higher from creed.
Ernesto from Tucson, AzI used to have a lot of the Iron Maiden posters in my bedroom when I was a teenager, and I thought it was weird and cool that in most of them you can find the sillouette of Death in the back ground or near the edges.
Francisco from South Gate, CaThis is my favorite and first Maiden song i heard
Jose from New York, NyYou're totally right "e". Creed did ripp off Maiden. The song is called 'Higher' btw.
E from Vancouver, Canadalovin the riff... Creed actually ripped it off in their song "Take Me Higher". I think thats what its called.... anyway iron maiden is awesome.
Rex Jackson from Sleze Lans, MaCheck out the cover to this album...On the bricks leading in you can read, "Indiana Jones was hear '41" and there is a picture of Mickey Mouse...Riggsey...best artist ever
IngÃ?lfur from ReykjavÃ?k, IcelandWhen the band were recording the Powerslave album in the Bahamas, in the summer of 1984, they kept experiencing unexplained incidents in the studio-sudden and inexplicable equipment failure, the breakdown of the air conditioning-which continued to disrupt every time they worked on the title track. When the air conditioning suddenly stopped working, the guys who came in to fix it brought this step-ladder with them, and stood it in the corner of the studio while they worked on the broken a/c system. "The funny thing is" Nicko says "The minute the step ladder was set up in the room all the rest of the recording equipment suddenly started functioning properly! I know it sounds ridiculous, but that's what happened...and we all started staring at this step ladder and ribbing each other going 'It must be the step ladder-it's shaped like a pyramid!' I tell you, we didn't let them take that step ladder away for days!"
Master_apocalipticus from Roma, ItalyAn incredible song. The sound of overall album is filled with a reverb that remember the ambience in what could be the chambers of a pyramid. Dickinson voice is, as always, perfect with his echoverb. Precious solo with a stunning bass arrangment by Steve Harris. Really a beautiful song, you listen this and you know is Iron Maiden.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

I Fought The LawThe Bobby Fuller Four

"I Fought The Law" was a hit for The Bobby Fuller Four in 1965. The Clash released their version in 1979, changing the lyrics "I left my baby" to "I killed my baby."

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)Edison Lighthouse

The love is growing in the '70s hit "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" because rosemary is the name of an herb.

MMMbopHanson

Hanson's megahit "MMMbop," released when they were teenagers, is surprisingly profound. Zac Hanson told Songfacts it "represents a frame of time or the futility of life."

Sweet Child O' MineGuns N' Roses

"Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses is about Erin Everly, who was Axl Rose's girlfriend at the time. She is the daughter of Don Everly of the Everly Brothers.

Closer To FineIndigo Girls

The "Doctor of philosophy" in the Indigo Girls' song "Closer To Fine" is based on a teacher Emily Saliers had who had a poster of Rasputin on his door.

Poker FaceLady Gaga

Lady Gaga says that "Poker Face" is about her personal experience with bisexuality; being with a man but thinking about a woman.