Flight of Icarus

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Hey there, Zoo Freaks! Your favorite hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning the epic track "Flight of Icarus" by Iron Maiden from their 1983 album Piece of Mind. This song’s got some wild trivia to share. Written by Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith, it’s a loose take on the Greek myth of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun with wax wings and crashed into the sea. Bruce flipped the story, making it about teenage rebellion against a controlling father, turning the myth into a heavy metal anthem of defiance. In a 2021 Rolling Stone interview, Dickinson said, “I flipped it on its head, and I made the father the villain. If you could give an adolescent wings and they would fly, what do you think they would do?” The song’s mid-tempo vibe was crafted for U.S. radio, hitting No. 8 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart—Maiden’s only Top 10 hit in America.

[](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/iron-maiden-flight-of-icarus/)

The single’s cover art, drawn by Derek Riggs, is a headbanger’s dream: it shows Maiden’s mascot Eddie as a winged figure torching Icarus with a flamethrower, parodying the myth. Riggs revealed it’s a nod to Led Zeppelin’s breakup, with Icarus resembling a figure from William Rimmer’s Evening: Fall of Day, used as Zeppelin’s label logo. Fans on Reddit have spotted a tiny cube in the sky on the cover, tying it to the Piece of Mind album art where Eddie’s in a padded cell, suggesting he’s escaped to wreak havoc. The video, shot in the Bahamas at Compass Point Studios, features drummer Nicko McBrain as a blue-faced grim reaper and producer Martin Birch morphing into Eddie. A later edit by Camp Chaos added Flash animation of Icarus fleeing a winged Eddie, replacing some cheesy ‘80s effects.

[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_of_Icarus)[](https://www.reddit.com/r/ironmaiden/comments/q97pho/small_detail_on_flight_of_icarus_cover_art/)

Despite its U.S. success, the song got flak in the UK, with critic Garry Bushell calling it “plodding” and unpopular with hardcore fans. Steve Harris, Maiden’s bassist, later admitted releasing it as the U.S. single was a mistake, saying it shines more live, played faster and heavier. Bruce, however, stood by it, though it was dropped from setlists after 1986 until a triumphant return in 2018 during the Legacy of the Beast tour in Tallinn, Estonia—32 years later! The B-side, a studio cover of Montrose’s “I Got the Fire” with Dickinson’s vocals, adds extra grit to the single, though some fans prefer the raw live version from the Paul Di’Anno era.

[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_of_Icarus)[](https://www.reddit.com/r/ironmaiden/comments/z161xh/flight_of_icarus_song_discussion/)[](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Trivia/IronMaiden)

Now, let’s dive into how Iron Maiden got rolling. Formed in 1975 in Leyton, East London, by bassist Steve Harris, the band emerged from the gritty pub rock scene. Harris, inspired by prog and hard rock like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Wishbone Ash, started Maiden after leaving his earlier band, Smiler, which he felt lacked ambition. Early years were chaotic, with a revolving door of singers and guitarists, but Harris’s vision of twin-guitar harmonies and theatrical live shows took shape. By 1979, with Paul Di’Anno on vocals and a deal with EMI, their self-titled debut dropped in 1980, kicking off the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Bruce Dickinson joined in 1981 after Di’Anno’s departure, bringing operatic vocals and boundless energy, cementing Maiden’s classic lineup with Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Clive Burr (replaced by Nicko McBrain in 1982). Their third album, The Number of the Beast, hit No. 1 in the UK, and Piece of Mind solidified their global rise.

[](https://www.last.fm/music/Iron%2BMaiden/_/Flight%2Bof%2BIcarus)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Maiden)

Stay connected with the band and their massive fanbase! Check out Iron Maiden’s official website for tour dates and merch. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and epic throwbacks. Fans go wild on sites like Iron Maiden Bulgaria and Iron Maiden Wiki, packed with deep dives into the band’s history. Join the Iron Maiden Fan Club on Facebook or head to r/ironmaiden on Reddit for heated debates and rare finds. Up the Irons, Zoo Freaks!

[](https://ironmaiden.fandom.com/wiki/Flight_of_Icarus) ```