Rocktober First Tracks Song #12: "Prowler" by Iron Maiden

Last week, original Iron Maiden lead singer Paul Di'Anno passed away at the age of 66.  His health had declined over the last several years, and we was confined to performing a wheelchair.  But a mere four and a half decades ago, he fronted what would become one of the most influential bands in metal history -- well, until they decided to go with someone else after two albums.

Iron Maiden released their eponymous debut album in April of 1980.  By all accounts, it was a pretty big success, reaching #4 on the UK album charts, eventually going platinum in the UK.  It was ranked #13 on Rolling Stone's 2017 list of the 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.  Di'Anno's raspy vocals, combined with the twin guitar attack of Dave Murray and Dennis Stratton (who would leave the band six months after the release of the album), the phenomenal bass playing of Steve Harris (also the band's main songwriter), and the pounding drums of Clive Burr, provided the world with the beginning of a new genre, one that combined the speed and energy of punk with the technical proficiency of metal:  the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.  And, of course, the album's cover would also introduce the world to heavy metal's most enduring mascot, Eddie.

The first track on Iron Maiden (the album) is "Prowler."  This is a perfect introduction to Iron Maiden (the band).  A little rat-at-tat guitar starts the song off, just before that snarling riff kicks in, giving us a frenetic song about some creep who walks around stalking women.  There's some wicked guitar solos and the great bass lines and fills that we would come to know and love from Harris.  Di'Anno would sing on the band's next album, the masterpiece Killers, before the band kicked him out (thanks in large part to his excessive drug use) and replaced him with Samson lead singer Bruce Dickinson, who took the band into the metal stratosphere, where they remain today.