The Early Days

Infobox music DVD


Name = The Early Days
Type = Compilation DVD
Artist = Iron Maiden
Released = November 8, 2004
Recorded =
Genre = Heavy metal
Length =
Label = EMI
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album = "Visions of the Beast"
(2003)
This album = "The Early Days"
(2004)
Next album = "Death on the Road
(2005)

"The Early Days" DVD set features an exhaustive, thoroughly complete history of the early years of Iron Maiden, from their humble beginnings in London's East End in 1975 through their triumphant "Piece of Mind" album and tour in 1983. The set features a large collection of rare videos and concert footage, as well as interviews with former members such as Kent Ewing, Doug Sampson, Terry Rance, Ron Matthews, Terry Wapram, and Bob Sawyer.

Track listing

Disc one

Live at the Rainbow (21 December 1980)

# "The Ides of March"
# "Wrathchild"
# "Killers"
# "Remember Tomorrow"
# "Transylvania"
# "Phantom of the Opera"
# "Iron Maiden"

Beast over Hammersmith (20 March 1982)

# "Murders in the Rue Morgue"
# "Run to the Hills"
# "Children of the Damned"
# "The Number of the Beast"
# "22 Acacia Avenue"
# "Total Eclipse"
# "The Prisoner"
# "Hallowed Be Thy Name"
# "Iron Maiden"

Live in Dortmund (18 December 1983)

# "Sanctuary"
# "The Trooper"
# "Revelations"
# "Flight of Icarus"
# "22 Acacia Avenue"
# "The Number of the Beast"
# "Run to the Hills"

Disc two

The Early Days (feature length documentary - 90 minutes)20th Century Box (rare TV documentary from 1981 - 20 minutes)Live At The Ruskin (rare home movie footage - 45 minutes)5 promo videos "Women In Uniform", "Run To The Hills", "The Number Of The Beast", "The Trooper" and "Flight Of Icarus"TV appearances (40 minutes) + hidden extras

Live at the Ruskin Arms (1980)

# "Sanctuary"
# "Wrathchild"
# "Prowler"
# "Remember Tomorrow"
# "Running Free"
# "Transylvania"
# "Another Life"
# "Phantom of the Opera"
# "Charlotte the Harlot"

Extras

# "Running Free" (Live on Top of the Pops 1980)
# "Women in Uniform" (Live on Top of the Pops 1980)
# "Running Free" (Live on Rock and Pop, Germany 1980)

Promo Videos

# "Women in Uniform"
# "Run to the Hills"
# "The Number of the Beast"
# "Flight of Icarus"
# "The Trooper"

In addition, the DVD set includes a photo gallery featuring more than 150 pictures, images and artwork, full tour listings, discography and tour programmes.

Notes

* The "Live in Dortmund" concert is missing the band's performance of "Iron Maiden," which was cut from ZDF TV's original broadcast as it was deemed "too violent." At the end of the performance, the band "mutilated" Eddie - first, with Bruce Dickinson ripping his brain pieces out, followed by the other members kicking him on the ground until finally, Dave Murray smashed his then-favorite Fender Stratocaster on him. [ [http://www.maidenfans.com/imc/?url=video14_earlydays/video14_earlydays&lang=eng&link=videos#dortmund The Iron Maiden Commentary ] ]

* Videotaped by a friend of Steve Harris, "Live at the Ruskin Arms" is the earliest video coverage of the band performing live. [ [http://www.maidenfans.com/imc/?url=video14_earlydays/video14_earlydays&lang=eng&link=videos#lockup The Iron Maiden Commentary ] ]

* The band's performance of "Running Free" on the German show "Rock and Pop" was one of a handful of lip-synched performances, as the band prefers to perform live.

* "Remember Tomorrow" was also performed when the group made their appearance on the "Rock and Pop". The reasons why it was dropped for the DVD are unknown. Also, on the VH1 special "Heavy: The Story Of Metal", an excerpt of the performance of "Running Free" from the group's appearance on "Rock and Pop" was shown but instead has a bit of a more cleaner quality than the one found on the DVD.

"Sequel" - Somewhere Back in Time

During Iron Maiden's "A Matter of Life and Death" world tour, Bruce Dickinson mentioned that Maiden would be "bringing back the 80's Egyptian thing in 2008" (apparently referring to their "Powerslave" album). This referred to a "sequel" to the 2005 "Early Days" Tour and this DVD, which was in line with earlier comments that there would be a tour with songs from the "Powerslave" to "Seventh Son of A Seventh Son" era albums. This tour that Iron Maiden is currently on is called The Somewhere Back In Time World Tour. Part 2 of The Early Days is now in disc 2 of the "Live After Death" DVD.