Purgatory (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Purgatory

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Caption = The design used in place of the initial cover design.
Artist = Iron Maiden
from Album = Killers
Released = June 15, 1981
Format = vinyl record (7")
Recorded = 1980
Genre = Heavy metal
Length = 3:20
Label =
Writer = Steve Harris
Producer =
[Certification =]
Chart position =
Last single = "Twilight Zone"
(1981)
This single = "Purgatory"
(1981)
Next single = "Run to the Hills"
(1982)

"Purgatory" is Iron Maiden's fifth single and second single from the "Killers" album. This song is a remake of a very early Iron Maiden song originally called "Floating" which they used to play live during 1976 to 1977. According to current drummer Nicko McBrain, "Purgatory" is a faster re-arrangement of the original. This was the band's last single with Paul Di'Anno.

"Purgatory" was one of the band's least successful singles and failed to break into the Top 50 in the UK charts. This may relate to the fact that this was their only single released with both a- and b-side already available on album in the same form. An interesting fact about this single is that the original cover art was withdrawn. The band had felt that it was of too high a caliber for just a single and requested a less complex cover be prepared in its place. The withdrawn cover later resurfaced as "The Number of the Beast" album.

Purgatory is the first of three Maiden single-covers to feature Riggs' depiction of the devil. On the cover of the "Run to the Hills" single he does battle with Eddie and on the single cover of "The Number of the Beast" his decapitated head is displayed by Eddie.

Track listing

# "Purgatory" (Harris)
# "Genghis Khan" (Harris)

Credits

*Paul Di'Anno – vocals
*Dave Murray – guitar
*Adrian Smith – guitar, backing vocals
*Steve Harris – bass guitar, backing vocals
*Clive Burr – drums