The Trooper by Iron Maiden
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00:00The Trooper is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released as the second
00:11single on the 20th of June 1983 from the band's fourth studio album, Peace of Mind 1983.
00:18It was one of only a few songs to achieve frequent radio airplay in the United States,
00:23thus peaking at No. 28 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock.
00:27It also achieved success in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 12 in the U.K. singles charts.
00:33The song is one of their most popular and remains an essential track of heavy metal
00:37music.
00:38Written by bassist and founding member Steve Harris, the song is based on the Charge of
00:42the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava 1854, which took place during the Crimean
00:47War and inspired by Lord Tennyson's 1854 poem of the same name.
00:52The track has been the subject of much praise since its release, with AllMusic describing
00:56it as, an all-time genre classic that boasts guitarists Dave Murray and Adrian Smith's
01:01most memorable harmonized lead riff.
01:10The single's accompanying music video included clips of a cavalry battle from the 1936 film
01:16The Charge of the Light Brigade, which the BBC refused to play unedited, deeming the
01:20footage too violent.
01:22A regular fixture in the band's concerts, vocalist Bruce Dickinson has always waved
01:27a Union flag during live performances and, more recently, has begun wearing an authentic
01:31red coat uniform which would have been worn during the battle on which the song was based.
01:35The song has appeared in several Iron Maiden tribute albums and the track has also been
01:39included in the Guitar Hero 2, Carmageddon 2, Guitar Hero, Smash Hits and Rock Band video
01:45games.
01:46Iron Maiden also created a beer called, Trooper, song named after the song.