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The Trooper

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This article is about the Iron Maiden song. For other uses, seeTrooper.
"The Trooper"
SinglebyIron Maiden
from the albumPiece of MindandDeath on the Road
B-side
  • 1983
  • "Cross-Eyed Mary"(Jethro Tullcover)
  • 2005 CD
  • "The Trooper" (Live)
  • "Prowler" (Live)
  • 2005 7 "Live
  • "Another Life" (Live)
  • 2005 12 "
  • "The Trooper" (Live)
  • "Murders in the Rue Morgue" (Live)
  • 2005 Digital Download
  • "The Trooper" (Live)
Released20 June 1983
15 August 2005
Recorded1983
24 November 2003
GenreHeavy metal
Length4:11
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Steve Harris
Producer(s)Martin Birch
Iron Maidensingles chronology
"Flight of Icarus"
(1983) 		"The Trooper"
(1983) 		"2 Minutes to Midnight"
(1984)
"The Number of the Beast(Reissue) "
(2005)
"The Trooper (Live in 2003)"
(2005)
"The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg"
(2006)
Music video
"The Trooper"onYouTube

"The Trooper"is a song by the Englishheavy metalbandIron Maiden,released as the second single on 20 June 1983 from the band's fourth studio album,Piece of Mind(1983). It was one of only a few songs to achieve frequent radio airplay in the United States, thus peaking at No. 28 on the USBillboardMainstream Rock.[1]It also achieved success in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 12 in the UK Singles Charts, as well as gaining a better reception than the band's previous single, "Flight of Icarus".[2]The song is one of their most popular and remains an essential track of heavy metal music.

A live version of the song, fromDeath on the Road,was issued in 2005.

Overview[edit]

Written by bassist and founding memberSteve Harris,the song is based on theCharge of the Light Brigadeat theBattle of Balaclava1854, which took place during theCrimean War,[2]and inspired byLord Tennyson's1854 poemof the same name.[3][4]The track has been the subject of much praise since its release, withAllMusicdescribing it as "an all-time genre classic that boasts guitaristsDave MurrayandAdrian Smith'smost memorable harmonized lead riff, plus that trademarkgalloping rhythm,"[5]whileMick Wallcomments that it is the song "which most Maiden fans from those days still recall first when you mention thePiece of Mindalbum. "[6]Despite the popularity of the song, it was the single's B-Side, a cover ofJethro Tull's "Cross-Eyed Mary",which managed to gain a substantial amount of airplay on US radio,[7]becoming one of the band's few tracks, along with previous single "Flight of Icarus",[6]to do so.

Bruce Dickinsonperforming the song live wearing a "red coat" styled military smock.

The single's accompanying music video included clips of a cavalry battle from the 1936 filmThe Charge of the Light Brigade,starringErrol FlynnandOlivia de Havilland,[8]which theBBCrefused to play unedited, deeming the footage too violent.[2]The band's manager,Rod Smallwood,has since criticised the decision, stating, "Anyone would think we'd killed the horses ourselves instead of using an old Errol Flynn movie."[2]In 2003, Iron Maiden released a Camp Chaos version for the song. The music video shows the never-before-seen clips of the band playing the song as well as the animated battle betweenEddieand politiciansAl GoreandGeorge W. Bushto which Eddie ended the conflict in the video by killing both Bush, Gore and their team. The updated version came in 2008, this time, the two US politicians were replaced by Eddie's yellow skeleton allies and their red enemy skeletons.

A regular fixture in the band's concerts, vocalistBruce Dickinsonhas always waved aUnion Flagduring live performances and, more recently, has begun wearing an authentic red coat uniform which would have been worn during the battle on which the song was based.[9]During a performance in Dublin in 2003, Dickinson's flag-waving reportedly received a large amount of booing from the Irish audience.[10]

While the band were receiving criticism fromSharon Osbournein 2005, at the time justifyingher attack on the bandat the 2005Ozzfest,she accused Iron Maiden of disrespecting American troops, then fighting alongside the British inIraq,for waving a Union Flag in the US, althoughClassic Rockmagazine supported the band by pointing out that the song's subject bore no relation to the military activity then taking place in the Middle East.[9]

On 15 August 2005, a live version of the song was released from the then upcoming live album,Death on the Road.[11]

On 24 April 2016, during Iron Maiden's performance inBeijing(their first in China), Dickinson did not bring out a flag while performing "The Trooper" as part of the request from the Chinese government to allow Iron Maiden to perform in the country.[12]The flag was also omitted for a concert inShanghaitwo days later.

In popular culture[edit]

The song has appeared in severalIron Maiden tribute albums,includingA Call To Irons: A Tribute To Iron Maiden,[13]Numbers from the Beast,[14]A Tribute to the Beast[15]andMaiden Heaven: A Tribute to Iron Maiden,[16]as well as on records by tribute bands such asMaiden uniteD(on 2010'sMind the Acoustic Pieces)[17]andThe Iron Maidens(on their 2006self-titled debut album).[18]In addition, the song has been released bySentencedonThe TrooperEP (1994),[19]RageonEnd of All Days(1996), Hellsongs onHymns in the Key of 666(2008),[20]Thumper on theMetalliskacompilation,[21]Highland Gloryas a bonus track onForever Endeavour(2005),[22]Radio Cult onGrooves From The Grave(2008),[23]StryperonThe Covering,[24]Iced Earthon the "tour edition" of their 2011 album,Dystopia,[25]2Celloson their 2015 album,Celloverse.,[26]andEsprit D'Airreleasing a cover withTim "Ripper" OwensandBen Christo(The Sisters of Mercy).

On top of this, the track has also been included in theGuitar Hero 2,Carmageddon 2,Guitar Hero: Smash HitsandRock Bandvideo games,[27][28]is mentioned in the novelWorld War ZbyMax Brooks[29]and is used as the opening theme for the documentary seriesMetal Evolution.

Iron Maiden created a beer called "Trooper",named after the song.[30]

Northern Ireland[edit]

During the course ofthe TroublesinNorthern Irelandthe image ofEddie,as he appears on the sleeve of "The Trooper", became an unofficial mascot of theUlster Freedom Fightersloyalistparamilitarygroup and was the main figure on a number of the group'smurals.The loyalist representation frequently carried a tattered flag with the emblem of theUlster Defence Associationrather than theUnion Flagas on the Iron Maiden sleeve.[31][32]

Track listings[edit]

7 "& 12" Single
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Trooper"Steve Harris4:10
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."Cross-Eyed Mary"(Jethro Tullcover)Ian Anderson3:52
2005 Enhanced CD
Compact Disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Trooper" (Live at theWestfalenhalle Arena,Dortmund,Germany,24 November 2003)Harris4:13
2."The Trooper"Harris4:12
3."Prowler" (Live atEgilshöllin,Reykjavík,Iceland,7 June 2005)Harris4:24
4."The Trooper" (Video - Live at the Westfallenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany, 24 November 2003)Harris4:12
5."The Trooper" (Video - Music video)Harris4:10
2005 7 "Blue Vinyl
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Trooper" (Live at the Westfallenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany, 24 November 2003)Harris4:13
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."Another Life" (Live at Egilshollin, Reykjavík, Iceland, 7 June 2005)Harris3:43
2005 12 "Picture Disc
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Trooper" (Live at the Westfallenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany, 24 November 2003)Harris4:13
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Trooper"Harris4:12
2."Murders in the Rue Morgue" (Live at Egilshollin, Reykjavík, Iceland, 7 June 2005)Harris3:33
2005 Digital Download
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Trooper" (Live at Egilshollin, Reykjavík, Iceland, 7 June 2005)Harris4:06

Personnel[edit]

Production credits are adapted from the 7-inch vinyl cover.[33]

Iron Maiden

Production

Charts[edit]

Single Chart (1983) Peak
position 		Album
"The Trooper" Ireland (IRMA) 12[34] Piece of Mind
UK (Official Company Charts) 12[35]
USMainstream Rock(Billboard)[36] 28
Single Chart (1990) Peak
position 		Album
"Flight of Icarus/ The Trooper " UK Albums Chart[note 1] 7[37] —
Single Chart (2005) Peak
position 		Album
"The Trooper" (live) Canada (Canadian Singles Chart) 5[38] Death on the Road
Denmark (Tracklisten) 7[39]
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) 5[40]
France (SNEP) 100[41]
Germany (Media Control Charts)[42] 78
Greece (IFPI)[43] 8
Ireland (IRMA) 16[34]
Italy (FIMI) 8[44]
Spain (PROMUSICAE) 1[45]
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 5[46]
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 61[47]
UK (Official Company Charts) 5[48]
UK Rock & Metal(OCC) 1[49]
Single Chart (2006) Position Album
"The Trooper" (live) Spain (PROMUSICAE) 10[45] Death on the Road

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Re-release of both singles as part ofThe First Ten Yearsbox set. Exceeded the length limit of the UK Singles chart.

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[50] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] Silver 200,000‡

‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^"Iron MaidenBillboardCharts ".AllMusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved29 January2012.
  2. ^abcdBushell, Garry;Halfin, Ross(1985).Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden(2nd ed.). Zomba Books. p.114.ISBN0-946391-84-X.
  3. ^"Iron Maiden Like You've Never Heard Them Before!".Blabbermouth.net.Retrieved28 January2012.
  4. ^Jobst, Kerstin S.(2020).Geschichte der Krim: Iphigenie und Putin auf Tauris(in German). De Gruyter Oldenbourg. p. 206.doi:10.1515/9783110520620-028.ISBN978-3-11-051808-5.
  5. ^"Iron Maiden-Piece of Mind".AllMusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved29 January2012.
  6. ^abWall, Mick(2004).Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.).Sanctuary Publishing. p. 245.ISBN1-86074-542-3.
  7. ^"Maiden Vinyl Facts - Part 2".ironmaiden.com.Iron Maiden.29 October 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 1 August 2015.Retrieved3 December2014.
  8. ^Childers, Chad (24 May 2013)."Iron Maiden, 'The Trooper' – Songs About Soldiers".Loudwire.Retrieved25 May2013.
  9. ^ab"Sabotage!".Classic Rock(85): 8. 1 October 2005.
  10. ^"Iron Maiden Will Make 'At Least One More Album,' Says Bruce Dickinson".Blabbermouth.net.4 August 2011.Retrieved9 May2012.
  11. ^"Iron Maiden: More 'The Trooper' Single Details Revealed".Blabbermouth.net.27 July 2005.Retrieved28 September2014.
  12. ^"Iron Maiden forced to alter their show to play in China".TheGuardian.com.29 April 2016.
  13. ^"Various Artists -A Call to Irons: A Tribute to Iron Maiden, Vol. 1".AllMusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved28 January2012.
  14. ^"Producer Bob Kulick Discusses Iron Maiden Tribute AlbumNumbers From The Beast".Blabbermouth.net.Retrieved29 January2012.
  15. ^"Various Artists -A Tribute to the Beast".AllMusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved28 January2012.
  16. ^"Metallica, Machine Head, Avenged Sevenfold, Dream Theater featured onMaiden HeavenCD ".Blabbermouth.net.25 June 2008.Retrieved28 January2012.
  17. ^"Threshold, Within Temptation Members Record Acoustic Versions Of Iron Maiden Classics".Blabbermouth.net.13 October 2010.Retrieved28 January2012.
  18. ^"The Iron Maidens".AllMusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved28 January2012.
  19. ^"Sentenced -The Trooper".Metal Storm.Retrieved3 October2011.
  20. ^"Hellsongs -Hymns in the Key of 666".AllMusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved28 January2012.
  21. ^"Various Artists - Metalliska".AllMusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved28 January2012.
  22. ^"Highland Glory-Forever Endeavour".Discogs.Retrieved28 January2012.
  23. ^"Radio Cult Catalogue".Radio Cult.Retrieved28 January2012.
  24. ^"Stryper:The CoveringAlbum Pushed Back To Early 2011 ".Blabbermouth.net.24 October 2010.Retrieved3 October2011.
  25. ^"Iced Earth -DystopiaTour Edition To Be Available At Merch Stands On North American Tour ".Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles.14 June 2011.Retrieved20 June2012.
  26. ^"2Cellos Create A New Dimension WithCelloverseAlbum ".PR Newswire.9 December 2014.Retrieved21 February2015.
  27. ^Bozon, Mark (5 May 2009)."Guitar HeroSmash Hits: The Full Track List ".IGN.Retrieved28 January2012.
  28. ^"Iron MaidenRock BandDownloadable Content Due In June ".Blabbermouth.net.29 May 2009.Retrieved28 January2012.
  29. ^Daniels, Neil(10 April 2014).Killers The Origins of Iron Maiden, 1975-1983(1st ed.). Soundcheck Books. p. 139.ISBN978-0957570023.Retrieved17 December2016.
  30. ^"Home".
  31. ^Mural directoryfromConflict Archive on the Internet
  32. ^Union Jack Fury of Iron Maiden Fans; Point Crowd Boo at Flag Waving
  33. ^"The Trooper" 7 Inch Single(Media notes).Iron Maiden.EMI.20 June 1983.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ^ab"Search the Charts".IRMA.Irishcharts.ie. Archived fromthe originalon June 2, 2009.Retrieved1 October2011.
  35. ^"Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive 9 July 1983".Official Charts Company.Retrieved3 October2011.
  36. ^"Iron Maiden Chart History (Mainstream Rock)".Billboard.
  37. ^"Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive 24 March 1990".Official Charts Company.Retrieved3 October2011.
  38. ^"Iron MaidenBillboardSingles ".AllMusic.Rovi Corporation.Retrieved3 October2011.
  39. ^"Iron Maiden - 'The Trooper' (song)".Tracklisten.danishcharts.dk.Retrieved26 April2013.
  40. ^"Iron Maiden - 'The Trooper' (song)".The Official Finnish Charts.Finnishcharts.com.Retrieved26 April2013.
  41. ^"Iron Maiden - 'The Trooper' (chanson)".SNEP(in French). Lescharts.com.Retrieved26 April2013.
  42. ^"Offizielle Deutsche Charts"(in German). offiziellecharts.de.Retrieved1 November2021.
  43. ^IFPI archive
  44. ^"Iron Maiden Songs".FIMI.Italiancharts.com.Retrieved3 October2011.
  45. ^ab"Iron Maiden - 'The Trooper' (Song)".PROMUSICAE.Spanishcharts.com.Retrieved26 April2013.
  46. ^"Discography Iron Maiden".Sverigetopplistan.Swedishcharts.com.Retrieved20 October2011.
  47. ^"Iron Maiden - 'The Trooper'".Swiss Hitparade.Retrieved3 October2011.
  48. ^"Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive 27 August 2005".Official Charts Company.Retrieved3 October2011.
  49. ^"Rock Singles Chart Top 40".BBC Radio 1.Archived fromthe originalon 2005-08-27.Retrieved20 April2023.
  50. ^"Spanish single certifications – Iron Maiden – The Trooper".El portal de Música.Productores de Música de España.Retrieved21 June2024.
  51. ^"British single certifications – Iron Maiden – The Trooper".British Phonographic Industry.Retrieved19 March2021.
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