Classic Albums - Iron Maiden: The Number of the Beast
from Eagle Eye/Pioneer
Iron Maiden's 1982 breakthrough, The Number of the Beast--its first with leather-lunged vocalist Bruce Dickinson--remains a heavy-metal watershed, and this Classic Albums program reunites the major players (including producer Martin Birch) for the undoubted pleasure of longtime Maiden fans. The interviews with band members and rock journalists in the 50-minute program touch on Maiden's early career, then delve into the creation of songs that have become hard-rock classics: the title song came about from a nightmare that bassist-songwriter Steve Harris couldn't shake, "The Prisoner" was inspired by the Patrick McGoohan television series, and the hit "Run to the Hills" made the sort of political statement (about white men's savage treatment of native peoples) that then-Capitol Records exec Don Zimmermann notes most American fans couldn't have cared less about while head-banging. --Kevin Filipski
THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST was Iron Maiden's greatest achievement, and, accordingly it brought them their greatest popularity and notoriety. Revered by metal fans for their focus on music and reviled by critics for their supposed "satanist" leanings, this record represents the seminal British metal band at their peak. Featuring a track-by-track examination of the record's original playlist led by album producer Martin Birch, as well as interviews with rock journalists that put accusations made against the band in perspective, this episode of the CLASSIC ALBUMS series offers an inside look at one of the best and most notorious metal albums of the 1980s.
Hard 'N' Heavy, Vol. 2
from VENTURA
This eclectic collection of hard rock and heavy metal music mixes titans and pretenders--and who is who depends on the generation you're coming from. You may find Jimi Hendrix (seen doing "Wild Thing" from Monterey Pop) corny and home in on the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Perhaps you think Kiss is king but disdain the more doom-laden approach of Alice in Chains. The variety in this collection of 15 artists means there'll be a little something for everyone: from Thin Lizzy to Nirvana, Whitesnake to the Cult, Alice Cooper to Joe Satriani. If there's a complaint, it's the producers' rare willingness to play a musical performance from start to finish without interruption. Too many of those intrusions include interview segments that don't add to our knowledge. DVD features include extended biographies and discographies for each artist. -- Marshall Fine
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