“the Wicker Man” by Iron Maiden

"The Wicker Man" was Iron Maiden announcing that the old firm was back together. Released in May 2000, three weeks ahead of Brave New World, their twelfth studio album, it was the first Maiden single since "Infinite Dreams" in 1989 to carry the lineup of "The Trooper" days, with Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith back in the ranks after coming home in 1999. Dickinson, Smith and Steve Harris wrote it, and the title tips its hat to the British cult film of the same name.

That makes three guitarists on one track: Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers all play electric, over Harris's bass and keyboards and Nicko McBrain's drums, with Harris and Smith singing backup behind Dickinson. Kevin Shirley produced and mixed it, with Harris co-producing.

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