Aces High

The Zoo Crew is spinning the high-octane track Aces High by Iron Maiden from their iconic 1984 album Powerslave, and Zoo Freaks, you're in for a treat with this one! This song, written by bassist Steve Harris, dives into the adrenaline-pumping perspective of a British RAF pilot battling the German Luftwaffe during the 1940 Battle of Britain, the first major military campaign fought entirely in the air. The track’s vivid lyrics, like “Jump in the cockpit and start up the engines,” paint a cinematic picture of dogfights and heroism, with its galloping riffs and soaring vocals making it a staple of Iron Maiden’s live shows. Fun fact: the song often kicks off concerts with an excerpt from Winston Churchill’s 1940 “We shall fight on the beaches” speech, setting an epic tone, as seen in live albums like Live After Death. Bruce Dickinson, the band’s lead singer, once told Songfacts in 2024 that Aces High is the toughest song in their catalog to sing, even back when he was 26, due to its relentless vocal demands. He often requests it early in setlists to tackle it with full energy!

Another cool tidbit comes from drummer Nicko McBrain, who shared in Ultimate Classic Rock that his learning to fly planes in Jersey during the Powerslave recording may have inspired Harris to pen Aces High. McBrain would return from lessons mimicking a pilot’s swagger, complete with “tally-ho” vibes, which likely fueled the song’s aviation theme. The single’s artwork, crafted by Derek Riggs, features Iron Maiden’s mascot, Eddie, piloting a Supermarine Spitfire, cementing its WWII aesthetic. Fans on Reddit’s r/ironmaiden call it a “perfect metal song,” with one user noting its 276 BPM pace and another saying it “changed my life forever” after hearing the Flight 666 live version. The song’s cultural reach extends beyond metal, appearing in Madden NFL 10, MTV’s Nitro Circus, and even skate and mountain bike videos. It’s been covered by bands like Arch Enemy and Children of Bodom, with a bluegrass twist by Steve ‘N’ Seagulls in 2016, showing its universal appeal.

Iron Maiden formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975, sparked by Steve Harris’s vision to blend punk’s raw energy with progressive rock’s complexity. A teenage Harris, inspired by bands like Wishbone Ash and Jethro Tull, picked up the bass and started jamming in local pubs. After stints in bands like Gypsy’s Kiss, he founded Iron Maiden on Christmas Day 1975, naming it after a medieval torture device he saw in a movie. The early years were gritty, with a revolving lineup and self-financed demos like the Soundhouse Tapes, which caught the ear of EMI Records. Their 1980 self-titled debut, with its raw NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) sound, put them on the map, and by the time Bruce Dickinson joined in 1981, replacing Paul Di’Anno, Iron Maiden was poised for global domination. Dickinson, a licensed pilot and former fencer, brought theatrical flair and a powerful voice, elevating albums like The Number of the Beast and Powerslave. The band’s relentless touring, elaborate stage setups, and Eddie’s ever-changing personas solidified their legacy as heavy metal pioneers.

Zoo Freaks can connect with Iron Maiden online at their official website, where you’ll find tour dates, merch, and news about their latest projects, like the 40th-anniversary Powerslave Zoetrope vinyl. Follow them on Facebook for live performance clips and fan interactions, or check out Instagram for behind-the-scenes tour photos and Eddie artwork. Their X account keeps the conversation lively with updates and throwbacks, like a 2021 post from guitarist Janick Gers calling Aces High an “explosion of power” to open shows. Fans gather at sites like Iron Maiden Bulgaria for detailed discography breakdowns and Aces High, a tribute band site with musician bios and performance schedules. Join the Iron Maiden Fans Facebook group to swap concert stories, debate setlists, and share Eddie memes with fellow metalheads. Up the Irons!