43 years since the release of Iron Maiden's single ‘The Number of The Beast’, this iconic song has established itself as one of the British band's biggest hits.
Released on 26 April 1982, it is the fifth track from the album of the same name and the band's seventh single, written by bassist Steve Harris.
The inspiration for the song came from a series of nightmares Harris had, influenced by Robert Burns' poem ‘Tam o' Shanter’.
The song opens with an introduction narrated by Barry Clayton, who recites an excerpt from the Book of Revelation: "Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. And his number is six hundred and sixty-six".
The lyrics narrate the experience of a man trapped in a hell full of satanic rituals and sacrifices, who realises that he cannot escape his nightmare.
Despite its popularity, ‘The Number of the Beast’ has faced controversy, being accused of promoting Satanism, especially the repetition of the number 666 in the chorus.
The band responded to this criticism on their album ‘Piece of Mind’ with a message recorded backwards.
The song remains a staple at Iron Maiden concerts, along with their iconic figurehead, Eddie the Head.