The Sheriff Of Huddersfield

Album: The First Ten Years (1986)
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Songfacts®:

  • "The Sheriff Of Huddersfield" is about Iron Maiden's manager, Rod Smallwood, who was nicknamed Rod Smallwallet. He is notorious for being a stingy miser, spending as little money as possible and not above cheating people for a few bucks. He reminds many people of the Sheriff of Nottingham from the Robin Hood stories.
  • There is an episode of the 1960's TV series The Fugitive titled "The Iron Maiden." It features Richard Schuyler playing a sheriff. There is also an episode of Team Knight Rider called "The Iron Maiden."
  • This was released as one of the several B-sides to the single for "Wasted Years." In 1990, it was included on the Iron Maiden box set The First Ten Years.
  • At the time this song was released, Smallwood had moved to a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, but was having difficulty settling in and often complained to the band. They wrote this as a joke and kept it hidden from him until the single "Wasted Years" was released.
  • The Japanese EP for Stranger in a Strange Land is notorious for its lyric sheet for "The Sheriff Of Huddersfield," riddled with absurdly hilarious errors. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brett - Edmonton, Canada, for all above

Comments: 6

  • Spic N Span from BeverlyThere is no rap in the song, just a bridge where someone is talking and it isn't performed by Rod--he didn't even know about the song until it was pressed. It was performed quite obviously by the singer.
  • Martin from Reading, United KingdomYeah Bruce immitated Rod which as you can imagine Rod didn't like one bit! On the re-release singles to celebrate the first 10 years, Nicko recorded some stories/jokes & recalled how this recording came about. His impression of Rod was actually better than Bruce's! "When I were a lad I could lift five navvies on 'tent o' shovel"!
  • Thomas from Northern Germany@sebastian: It´s included on the "Wastes Years"-single, which - as far as I know - is still available at Amazon.
  • Sebastian from Fredrikstad, United Stateswhere do you find this song?
  • Rex Jackson from Sleze Lans, MaI have a version of "quick or dead" with Space Station 5 on it (pretty good. At the end of that song there is a "Sherrif of Huddergield" repirse of sorts..It ends with Rod (probably Bruce) saying "I'm glad I'm back...England bloody needed me"
    PS - not all of the singles came with the banter, some just stopped at the end of the music.."here comes Metallica in the rearview mirror!!!"
  • Claudio from Genova, ItalyThe rap said above is actually performed by Bruce Dickinson (singer of the band) imitating Rod's voice...
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