Thoughts on Powerslave - input for podcast

Stian

Stian

Prowler
Hi!
I'm doing a podcast called Metal Tunes, where each week we choose a metal song to talk about. We're still recording episodes for our launch, and one of our first episodes will be on what I consider Maiden's greatest song, Powerslave.

I'm very interested to hear some of your thoughts on this song, why do you like it or dislike it, do you feel it's overrated, do you wish the band would play it more often, what do you think of the lyrics, what's the best live version and why, would you feel comfortable wearing Bruce's feathered mask and anything else you might feel like mentioning regarding this song.

I believe the only time I've seen this song done live was then I saw Dickinson do it with his solo band in 2002 (which was amazing). If you've seen it done live by the band recently, what would you consider to be the main difference in how the band plays it with three guitarists as opposed to back in the day?
 
Stian said:
Hi!
I'm doing a podcast called Metal Tunes, where each week we choose a metal song to talk about. We're still recording episodes for our launch, and one of our first episodes will be on what I consider Maiden's greatest song, Powerslave.
Click to expand...
Just interested, why do you think it's Maiden's greatest?
Stian said:
I'm very interested to hear some of your thoughts on this song, why do you like it or dislike it, do you feel it's overrated, do you wish the band would play it more often, what do you think of the lyrics, what's the best live version and why, would you feel comfortable wearing Bruce's feathered mask and anything else you might feel like mentioning regarding this song.
Click to expand...
If you don't get much response perhaps you should suggest some sort of list. The forum loves lists.
Stian said:
I believe the only time I've seen this song done live was then I saw Dickinson do it with his solo band in 2002 (which was amazing). If you've seen it done live by the band recently, what would you consider to be the main difference in how the band plays it with three guitarists as opposed to back in the day?
Click to expand...
(2002, are you sure?)
Anyway, the album version had three & four guitar parts, so live (with three guitarists) sounds more like the album recording that it ever did live in the 80's.
 
Here's 11 years of posts about it:
http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads/powerslave.20503/
(Not as much as that might sound like. 4 pages.)

A more recently active thread about the whole album:
http://forum.maidenfans.com/threads/powerslave-album-discussion.30582/

Saw it live in 2008. Bruce's mask bit works better live than on video. Great song, one of their best, around #3 to #5 on my personal list. (In the same league as Hallowed and Phantom.)

No one here has seen it "recently", since they haven't played it live since 2008. It was only played live on the World Slavery, Ed Huntour and Flight 666 tours. I didn't know Dickinson had played it live solo, that's interesting.
 
Yeah, Bruce use to do quite a few Maiden tunes in his solo shows.
Powerslave, 23:58, Flight of Icarus, The Prisoner, Revelations, Bring Your Daughter, Run To The Hills.
 
I like that on the "new" live performances of the song they have added not just the third guitar part but also the keyboards as well. It provides a fuller sound during the chorus. As for the song in general, I really admire the ambition behind it both from a musical and lyrical perspective. It could easily have sounded goofy / cheesy (looking at you "The Nomad"), but it manages to be kick-ass, thematically very strong, thought provoking and even educational :-) It certainly got me into a library back in the day....
 
I've always had a soft spot for the live version on the B-side of the Wicker Man single.

 
It's one of my all time favourites by maiden and I think the version as played during the somewhere back in time tour is the best live version, I really enjoy the sound of the keyboard in the chorus and it really works well with three guitars. I don't mind feathered masks one bit. and of course Steves bass in the middle part is one of his absolutely best written parts my ears.
 
CriedWhenBrucieLeft said:
Just interested, why do you think it's Maiden's greatest?
Click to expand...

I like the fact that they've managed to not cheese it up, even though it's a subject matter that very easily could've been a cheesefest. Also the untraditional (for Maiden) harmonic minor arpeggios gives the song a very atmospheric sound, the instrumental part halfway through the song is excellent, and the way the main riff comes back after the instrumental part is great.

CriedWhenBrucieLeft said:
(2002, are you sure?)
Click to expand...

Yes, I saw Dickinson do Powerslave at Sweden Rock Festival 2002. One of his last solo performances to date.

Thanks for all the replies, people, and thanks for the link to the Powerslave discussion thread. I'm going to listen to the live versions you recommended now, and please keep your opinions coming :)
 
Powerslave is one of Bruce's best writing credits in the band, for sure. It was an early example that Bruce was a force to be reckoned with both as a singer and a writer. Prior to Powerslave, the only songs he had written completely on his own were the amazing, but slightly incoherent, Revelations, and the upbeat, but forgetful, Flash of the Blade (which only predates Powerslave in track order).

The song is powerful, groovy, and it gets straight to the point - vocals kick in almost immediately and Bruce's voice really sells the story. The bridge is a thing of pure beauty: the acoustics, the bass groove, that bluesy, incredible guitar solo...it's magic. When everything picks up again, it just gets better. It's a brilliant song and surely one of Maiden's best.

I've never seen it live, but I really hope they add it back into the setlist!
 
12 years after the World Slavery World Tour ended, Bruce and Adrian brought the song back in the Bruce Dickinson set, whilst touring for Accident of Birth.
One year later, when promoting The Chemical Wedding, it still was in the set. That's when I saw it for the first time. It was one of the highlights of the evening for sure. The following struck me in particular:

During the chorus, the aah haa haaa hhaa haaaaa backing vocals from the studio version were done by the band! To be precize, by Adrian and Eddie Casillas (bass). It gave a nice extra touch to an already excellent epic! Check it out!
When Maiden "reunited" with Bruce and Adrian, the band probably didn't have to think long about doing this song again in the Ed Hunter Tour (14 years after the World Slavery World Tour).
 
Last edited:
Good stuff @Forostar

It's also worth reading what the commentary has to say on this track

http://www.ironmaidencommentary.com...tary05_powerslave&link=albums&lang=eng#track7

Definitely one of the finest Maiden songs. Great intro as well - How do everyone interpret it? Sounds like some funeral procession coming to a halt and the dead Pharaoh coming back to life with his ghost-like scream turning into a human laugh.

Also, of course the slow section is godly and the:

"Now I am cold but a ghost lives in my veins,
Silent the terror that reigned -
Marbled in stone
A Shell of a man God preserved -
For thousand ages,
But open the gates of my hell -
I'll strike from the grave"

Verse, a lyrical highlight on the whole album.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top