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| name = Aces High
| name = Aces High
| cover = Aces High (Iron Maiden single - cover art).jpg
| cover = Aces High (Iron Maiden single - cover art).jpg
| border = yes
| caption = Single cover
| alt =
| alt =
| type = single
| type = single
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| studio = [[Compass Point Studios|Compass Point]] ([[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]])
| studio = [[Compass Point Studios|Compass Point]] ([[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]])
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres --> [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]], [[power metal]]
| genre = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres --> [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo|date=23 April 2015|title=Iron Maiden Albums Ranked Worst to Best|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/iron-maiden-albums-ranked/|access-date=4 August 2021|website=Ultimate Classic Rock}}</ref>
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=31}}
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=31}}
| label = {{flatlist|
| label = {{flatlist|
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| next_title = [[Running Free]] (live)
| next_title = [[Running Free]] (live)
| next_year = 1985
| next_year = 1985
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Xg9aQvjMS60|"Aces High"}}}}
}}
}}


"'''Aces High'''" is a song by English [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Iron Maiden]], written by the band's bassist [[Steve Harris (musician)|Steve Harris]]. It is Iron Maiden's eleventh [[Single (music)|single]] release and the second from their fifth [[studio album]], ''[[Powerslave]]'' (1984).
"'''Aces High'''" is a song by English [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Iron Maiden]], written by the band's bassist [[Steve Harris (musician)|Steve Harris]]. It is Iron Maiden's eleventh [[Single (music)|single]] release and the second from their fifth [[studio album]], ''[[Powerslave]]'' (1984).


The first B-side is a cover of [[Nektar]]'s "King of Twilight", from their 1972 album ''[[A Tab in the Ocean]]''. Their cover is actually a medley of the songs "Crying in the Dark" and "King of Twilight", the last two songs on the album. The Japanese 12" was mixed with the B-side covers from "The Trooper" & "2 Minutes to Midnight" singles.<ref name="midnight">{{cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/Iron-Maiden-2-Minutes-To-Midnight/master/18869 | title = 2 Minutes To Midnight | access-date = 2015-12-24}}</ref><ref name="trooper">{{cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/Iron-Maiden-The-Trooper/master/19005 | title = The Trooper | access-date = 2015-12-24}}</ref>{{Verify source|date=December 2015}}
The first B-side is a cover of [[Nektar]]'s "King of Twilight", from their 1972 album ''[[A Tab in the Ocean]]''. Their cover is actually a medley of the songs "Crying in the Dark" and "King of Twilight", the last two songs on the album. The Japanese 12" was mixed with the B-side covers from "The Trooper" and "2 Minutes to Midnight" singles.<ref name="midnight">{{cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/Iron-Maiden-2-Minutes-To-Midnight/master/18869 | title = 2 Minutes To Midnight | access-date = 24 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="trooper">{{cite web | url = http://www.discogs.com/Iron-Maiden-The-Trooper/master/19005 | title = The Trooper | access-date = 24 December 2015}}</ref>


==Song information==
==Song information==
The song's lyrics are written from the viewpoint of a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] [[aviator|pilot]] fighting during the [[Battle of Britain]] (1940), the first military engagement to be fought entirely with aircraft.<ref>[http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/92sqngeoffwellum.cfm 92 Squadron - Geoffrey Wellum] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302084417/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/92sqngeoffwellum.cfm |date=2 March 2009 }}, RAF website</ref> The artwork depicts the band's mascot, [[Eddie the Head]], in the cockpit of a [[Supermarine Spitfire]], one of the principal aircraft to participate in that battle.
The song's lyrics are written from the viewpoint of a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] [[aviator|pilot]] fighting during the [[Battle of Britain]] (1940), the first military engagement to be fought entirely with aircraft.<ref>[http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/92sqngeoffwellum.cfm 92 Squadron - Geoffrey Wellum] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302084417/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/92sqngeoffwellum.cfm |date=2 March 2009 }}, RAF website</ref> The artwork depicts the band's mascot, [[Eddie the Head]], in the cockpit of a [[Supermarine Spitfire]], one of the principal aircraft to participate in that battle.


"Aces High" is one of Iron Maiden's most popular songs, and has been covered numerous times.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aces High - Iron Maiden|url=http://www.whosampled.com/Iron-Maiden/Aces-High/|website=WhoSampled|access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Aces High by Iron Maiden|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2909|website=SongFacts|access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> It is featured in the video game ''[[Madden NFL 10]]'', the MTV show ''[[Nitro Circus]]'', and [[Steve Peat]]'s segment in the mountain bike film ''[[New World Disorder III]]''. [[Colin McKay]] used the song on his part of the skate video ''Plan B Questionable''. It can also be found in the soundtrack of the game ''[[Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now]]''.
"Aces High" is one of Iron Maiden's most popular songs, and has been covered numerous times.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aces High - Iron Maiden|url=http://www.whosampled.com/Iron-Maiden/Aces-High/|website=WhoSampled|access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Aces High by Iron Maiden|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2909|website=SongFacts|access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> It is featured in the video game ''[[Madden NFL 10]]'', the MTV show ''[[Nitro Circus]]'', and [[Steve Peat]]'s segment in the mountain bike film ''New World Disorder III''. [[Colin McKay]] used the song on his part of the skate video ''Plan B Questionable''. It can also be found in the soundtrack of the game ''[[Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now]]''.

The music video, filmed in Poland in September of 1984 during the [[World Slavery Tour]] and directed by Jim Yukich, was accompanied with footages of The Battle of Britain as seen on newsreels. The footages were later re-used as the startup for every Iron Maiden concert in the stage screens to accompany the background music (mixing both Churchill's speech and the snippet of the original song.)


==Live performances==
==Live performances==
"Aces High" is frequently used as the opening song for Iron Maiden concerts. As seen in concert videos such as ''[[Live After Death]]'' and ''[[Iron Maiden: Flight 666]]'', it is usually preceded by [[Winston Churchill]]'s "[[We shall fight on the beaches]]" speech with the sound of planes in the background. Churchill's speech was also included at the beginning of the song's music video.
"Aces High" is frequently used as the opening song for Iron Maiden concerts. As seen in concert videos such as ''[[Live After Death]]'' and ''[[Iron Maiden: Flight 666]]'', it is usually preceded by [[Winston Churchill]]'s "[[We shall fight on the beaches]]" speech with the sound of planes in the background. Churchill's speech was also included at the beginning of the song's music video.<ref>{{Citation |title=Iron Maiden - Aces High (Official Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg9aQvjMS60 |language=en |access-date=2022-09-02}}</ref>


In a 2014 interview with [[Q (magazine)|''Q'' magazine]], [[Gerard Way]] said that "the live version of 'Aces High' off the ''Live After Death'' album was the song that first made [him] interested in performing live."<ref>''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' #341, December 2014, p48</ref>
In a 2014 interview with [[Q (magazine)|''Q'' magazine]], [[Gerard Way]] said that "the live version of 'Aces High' off the ''Live After Death'' album was the song that first made [him] interested in performing live."<ref>''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' #341, December 2014, p48</ref>
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* [[Bruce Dickinson]] - [[singing|vocals]]
* [[Bruce Dickinson]] - [[singing|vocals]]
* [[Dave Murray (musician)|Dave Murray]] - [[guitar]]
* [[Dave Murray (musician)|Dave Murray]] - [[guitar]]
* [[Adrian Smith]] - guitar
* [[Adrian Smith (musician)|Adrian Smith]] - guitar
* [[Steve Harris (musician)|Steve Harris]] - [[bass guitar]]
* [[Steve Harris (musician)|Steve Harris]] - [[bass guitar]]
* [[Nicko McBrain]] - [[drum kit|drums]]
* [[Nicko McBrain]] - [[drum kit|drums]]
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==Appearances==
==Appearances==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2021}}
* A version recorded in the summer of 1996 by [[Arch Enemy]] was – as guitarist [[Michael Amott]] observed in the [[liner notes]] to ''[[Wages of Sin]]'' (on which the cut reappears) – "released on the Japanese Iron Maiden [[List of Iron Maiden tribute albums|tribute album]] ''Made in Tribute''. This one turned out really intense, and was easily one of the better songs on a really terrible collection of Iron Maiden cover versions."
* A version recorded in the summer of 1996 by [[Arch Enemy]] was – as guitarist [[Michael Amott]] observed in the [[liner notes]] to ''[[Wages of Sin]]'' (on which the cut reappears) – "released on the Japanese Iron Maiden [[List of Iron Maiden tribute albums|tribute album]] ''Made in Tribute''. This one turned out really intense, and was easily one of the better songs on a really terrible collection of Iron Maiden cover versions."
* It was covered in 2005 by [[Jeff Scott Soto]] ([[Yngwie Malmsteen]]), [[Nuno Bettencourt]] ([[Extreme (band)|Extreme]]), [[Billy Sheehan]] ([[Mr. Big (band)|Mr. Big]], [[Niacin]]), and [[Vinny Appice]] ([[Black Sabbath]], [[Dio (band)|Dio]]) – drums on the tribute album [[Numbers from the Beast]].<ref>[http://www.last.fm/music/Numbers+From+The+Beast Numbers From The Beast Last.FM entry]</ref>
* It was covered in 2005 by [[Jeff Scott Soto]] ([[Yngwie Malmsteen]]), [[Nuno Bettencourt]] ([[Extreme (band)|Extreme]]), [[Billy Sheehan]] ([[Mr. Big (American band)|Mr. Big]], [[Niacin (band)|Niacin]]), and [[Vinny Appice]] ([[Black Sabbath]], [[Dio (band)|Dio]]) – drums on the tribute album [[Numbers from the Beast]].
* It was covered in 2005 by [[Scott Lavender]] on the album [[The Piano Tribute to Iron Maiden]].<ref>[http://www.last.fm/music/Scott+Lavender/_/Aces+High Scott Lavender - Aces High Last.FM entry]</ref>
* It was covered in 2006 by [[Concord Dawn]] (featuring [[State of Mind (band)|State of Mind]]) on the album [[Chaos by Design]].
* It was covered in 2006 by [[Concord Dawn]] (featuring [[State of Mind (band)|State of Mind]]) on the album [[Chaos by Design]].<ref>[http://www.last.fm/music/Concord+Dawn/_/Aces+High+%28Featuring+State+Of+Mind%29 Concord Dawn - Aces High Discography]</ref>
* It was covered in 2006 by [[The Iron Maidens]] on the album [[The Iron Maidens]]
* It was covered in 2006 by [[The Iron Maidens]] on the album [[The Iron Maidens]]<ref>[http://www.last.fm/music/The+Iron+Maidens/The+Iron+Maidens The Iron Maidens Last.FM entry]</ref>
* It was covered in 2008 by [[Children of Bodom]] on the album [[Skeletons in the Closet (Children of Bodom album)|Skeletons in the Closet]].
*It was covered in 2011 by [[Reinxeed]] on the album 1912.
* It was covered in 2008 by [[Children of Bodom]] on the album [[Skeletons in the Closet (Children of Bodom album)|Skeletons in the Closet]].<ref>[http://www.last.fm/music/Children+of+Bodom/_/Aces+High+%28Iron+Maiden+Cover%29 Children of Bodom - Aces High Last.FM entry]</ref>
*It was covered in 2020 by Japanese metal band [[Nemophila (band)|Nemophila]].<ref>{{cite web|date=14 April 2021|title=【Cover】Iron Maiden / Aces High 【NEMOPHILA】|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoQAvpiIdNw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/IoQAvpiIdNw |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|access-date=30 October 2021|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
*It was covered in 2011 by [[Reinxeed]] on the album 1912
* It was covered in 2013 by Thomas Zwijsen on the album Nylon Maiden
* It was covered in 2016 by Green Fields on the album Harvest


==Chart Performance==
==Chart performance==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
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|rowspan="2"| "Aces High"
|rowspan="2"| "Aces High"
| [[Irish Singles Chart]]
| [[Irish Singles Chart]]
|align="center"| 29<ref name="ireland1">{{cite web |url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title=Irish Singles |access-date=1 October 2011 |publisher=Irishcharts.ie |work=[[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRMA]]}}</ref>
|align="center"| 29<ref name="ireland1">{{cite web |url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title=Irish Singles |access-date=1 October 2011 |publisher=Irishcharts.ie |website=[[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRMA]]}}</ref>
|rowspan="2"|''[[Powerslave]]''
|rowspan="2"|''[[Powerslave]]''
|-
|-
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| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
|}
|}

==See also==
* [[List of anti-war songs]]


=== Notes ===
=== Notes ===
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==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg9aQvjMS60 Aces High - original video on Youtube]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg9aQvjMS60 Aces High - original video on Youtube]


{{IronMaiden}}
{{IronMaiden}}
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[[Category:1984 singles]]
[[Category:1984 singles]]
[[Category:Songs about the military]]
[[Category:Songs about the military]]
[[Category:Songs about aviation]]
[[Category:Songs about World War II]]
[[Category:Songs about World War II]]
[[Category:Songs written by Steve Harris (musician)]]
[[Category:Songs written by Steve Harris (musician)]]
[[Category:1984 songs]]
[[Category:1984 songs]]
[[Category:EMI Records singles]]
[[Category:EMI Records singles]]
[[Category:Capitol Records singles]]

Latest revision as of 13:07, 28 September 2024

"Aces High"
Single cover
Single by Iron Maiden
from the album Powerslave
B-side
Released22 October 1984 (1984-10-22)
RecordedFebruary – June 1984
StudioCompass Point (Nassau)
GenreHeavy metal[1]
Length4:31
Label
Songwriter(s)Steve Harris
Producer(s)Martin Birch
Iron Maiden singles chronology
"2 Minutes to Midnight"
(1984)
"Aces High"
(1984)
"Running Free (live)"
(1985)
Music video
"Aces High" on YouTube

"Aces High" is a song by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, written by the band's bassist Steve Harris. It is Iron Maiden's eleventh single release and the second from their fifth studio album, Powerslave (1984).

The first B-side is a cover of Nektar's "King of Twilight", from their 1972 album A Tab in the Ocean. Their cover is actually a medley of the songs "Crying in the Dark" and "King of Twilight", the last two songs on the album. The Japanese 12" was mixed with the B-side covers from "The Trooper" and "2 Minutes to Midnight" singles.[2][3]

Song information

[edit]

The song's lyrics are written from the viewpoint of a British RAF pilot fighting during the Battle of Britain (1940), the first military engagement to be fought entirely with aircraft.[4] The artwork depicts the band's mascot, Eddie the Head, in the cockpit of a Supermarine Spitfire, one of the principal aircraft to participate in that battle.

"Aces High" is one of Iron Maiden's most popular songs, and has been covered numerous times.[5][6] It is featured in the video game Madden NFL 10, the MTV show Nitro Circus, and Steve Peat's segment in the mountain bike film New World Disorder III. Colin McKay used the song on his part of the skate video Plan B Questionable. It can also be found in the soundtrack of the game Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now.

The music video, filmed in Poland in September of 1984 during the World Slavery Tour and directed by Jim Yukich, was accompanied with footages of The Battle of Britain as seen on newsreels. The footages were later re-used as the startup for every Iron Maiden concert in the stage screens to accompany the background music (mixing both Churchill's speech and the snippet of the original song.)

Live performances

[edit]

"Aces High" is frequently used as the opening song for Iron Maiden concerts. As seen in concert videos such as Live After Death and Iron Maiden: Flight 666, it is usually preceded by Winston Churchill's "We shall fight on the beaches" speech with the sound of planes in the background. Churchill's speech was also included at the beginning of the song's music video.[7]

In a 2014 interview with Q magazine, Gerard Way said that "the live version of 'Aces High' off the Live After Death album was the song that first made [him] interested in performing live."[8]

"Aces High" has been performed on five Iron Maiden Tours (World Slavery Tour, The Ed Hunter Tour, Somewhere Back in Time World Tour, Maiden England World Tour and Legacy of the Beast World Tour). It was the opener to all five tours in which it was performed except for the Maiden England World Tour where it was moved to the encore.

Track listing

[edit]
7" single
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Aces High"Steve Harris4:31
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."King of Twilight" (Nektar cover)Nektar4:49
12" single
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Aces High"Harris4:31
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."King of Twilight" (Nektar cover)Nektar4:49
3."The Number of the Beast" (live at Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, Germany, 18 December 1983)Harris4:57
Japanese and Brazilian 12" maxi single
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Aces High"Harris4:31
2."The Number of the Beast" (live at Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, Germany, 18 December 1983)Harris4:56
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
3."King of Twilight" (Nektar cover)Nektar4:50
4."Rainbow's Gold" (Beckett cover)
4:57
5."Cross-Eyed Mary" (Jethro Tull cover)Ian Anderson3:52

Personnel

[edit]

Production credits are adapted from the 7-inch vinyl,[9] and 12-inch vinyl covers.>[10]

Iron Maiden
Production

Appearances

[edit]

Chart performance

[edit]
Single Chart (1984) Peak
position
Album
"Aces High" Irish Singles Chart 29[12] Powerslave
UK Singles Chart 20[13]
Single Chart (1990) Peak
position
Album
"2 Minutes to Midnight / Aces High" UK Albums Chart[note 1] 11[14]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Re-release of both singles as part of The First Ten Years box set. Exceeded the length limit of the UK Singles chart.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo (23 April 2015). "Iron Maiden Albums Ranked Worst to Best". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  2. ^ "2 Minutes To Midnight". Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  3. ^ "The Trooper". Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  4. ^ 92 Squadron - Geoffrey Wellum Archived 2 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine, RAF website
  5. ^ "Aces High - Iron Maiden". WhoSampled. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Aces High by Iron Maiden". SongFacts. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  7. ^ Iron Maiden - Aces High (Official Video), retrieved 2 September 2022
  8. ^ Q #341, December 2014, p48
  9. ^ Iron Maiden (22 October 1984). "Aces High" 7 Inch Single (Media notes). EMI.
  10. ^ Iron Maiden (22 October 1984). "Aces High" 12 Inch Single (Media notes). EMI.
  11. ^ "【Cover】Iron Maiden / Aces High 【NEMOPHILA】". YouTube. 14 April 2021. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Irish Singles". IRMA. Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  13. ^ "Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive 10 November 1984". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  14. ^ "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive 31 March 1990". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
[edit]