favorite Iron Maiden song (excerpt)

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Not At A Losfer Words

A horde of guitarists – from John Petrucci to Zacky Vengeance to Ghost’s Tobias Forge – pick their favorite Iron Maiden songs

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“I was 15 in 1982 when The Number of the Beast was released. Dream Theater bassist John Myung and I were just entering high school in our hometown of Kings Park, and I had been playing guitar for only three years. I’ll never forget hearing that album for the first time as it had a life-changing impact on me. I knew that not only did I want to be a professional guitarist in an internationally touring rock band – but that I wanted to play metal! I consumed myself with all things Maiden and was immersed in The Number of the Beast, eventually learning every song, including Dave [Murray]’s and Adrian [Smith]’s guitar parts. Although I loved ‘Children of the Damned,’ ‘Run to the Hills’ and ‘22 Acacia Avenue,’ it was the album’s epic masterpiece that had me obsessed – ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name.’ There was something about it that was truly transportive for me. The ominous intro, the theatrical delivery and story-telling approach of Bruce’s vocal performance, the dual guitar harmonies playing singable, memorable motifs, the extended instrumental sections and Steve Harris’ signature bass lines on that song just make it, in my opinion, one of the greatest Maiden songs of all time. Every time they played in New York, John and I went to see them with our core group of diehard Maiden fans. As soon as we saw the lighting dim and heard that intro, chills ran down all of our spines! Hearing the entire audience sing along to every word and every riff was so awesome and inspiring. I also love the way this song goes through different tempo changes so that the energy is constantly moving and evolving, pulling all of us fans right along with them. It was like being on a crazy and unpredictable heavy-metal roller coaster ride! Classic, huge Maiden ending as well. There’s a reason ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name’ is played at almost every live show to this date and why it’s not only mine, but one of fans’ all-time favorite Maiden songs!”

—John Petrucci (Dream Theater)