Iron Maiden » Tracks » 2 Minutes To Midnight

Iron Maiden – 2 Minutes To Midnight (5:51)

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About This Track

“2 Minutes to Midnight” is the tenth single released by Iron Maiden and the second track from their 1984 album Powerslave. The single was released on August 6, 1984 and rose to number 11 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was written by Adrian Smith and Bruce Dickinson.

The song has references to the Doomsday Clock, the symbolic clock used by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. In September 1953 the clock reached 11:58, the closest the clock ever got to midnight. This occurred when the United States and Soviet Union tested H-bombs within nine months of one another. This song is clearly presenting an anti-war view. The first guitar solo is played by Dave Murray followed by a guitar solo played by Adrian Smith.

The first B-side is a cover of British progressive rock band Beckett’s “Rainbow’s Gold”.

Another B-side, entitled “Mission from ‘Arry”, is a recording of an argument between bassist Steve Harris and drummer Nicko McBrain. The argument happened after a show in Allentown, Pennsylvania during the band’s World Piece Tour, and occurred due to a misunderstanding on stage between the two due to technical issues with Harris’ bass, which had led to McBrain’s drum solo going wrong. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson was recording the argument with a concealed tape recorder.

Trivia

The video of the song is featured on the 2003 video collection Visions of the Beast.

The song was included in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

United States Ambassador Ryan Crocker has a poster of the album in his office. [1]
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Albums featuring this track

  • Powerslave
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  • Ed Hunter
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  • The Essential Iron Maiden
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  • Live at Donnington
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See all 7 albums

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  • GuitarGodRocks

    I like that it says, 'this is your first time listening to Iron Maiden'..lol.. yeah right!!

    23 days ago

  • Haohmaru69

    Brazil sucks.

    26 days ago

  • DavCnuk

    TWO! MINUTES! To MIIIDNIIGHT!

    March 2012

  • jbbassomatic

    Happy Birthday Steve Harris!!!!!!!

    March 2012

  • PhenomV2

    Brilliant song, one of the first Maiden songs I ever really listened to. Received Powerslave friday... brilliant stuff... Up The Irons!!

    March 2012

  • budziov

    Scream for ME Brazil !!!!!

    March 2012

  • Trouble231

    this song make my day happy :) UP THE IRONS!!!

    March 2012

  • CannibalB

    Maiden!!

    February 2012

  • bethesdaman

    love the riveting fist in the air vibe of this song

    February 2012

  • rockandrolljoe

    We oil the jaws of the war machine and feed it with our babies.

    February 2012

  • crispolly

    MR. JANICK GERS COMES TO RIO!!!

    February 2012

  • BIG-D313

    Iron Maiden - 2 Minutes To Midnight ___ The glamor, the fortune, the pain. Go to war again... BLOOD is freedom's STAIN ________-__ \m/.(><).\m/ __-

    January 2012

  • vafinchmtlhead

    maiden rules man

    December 2011

  • niceverdict

    MMMMMMMMMMHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!

    December 2011

  • zepp44

    great song!!!!!

    November 2011

  • XxBiGb0y85xX

    thank u vice city for teaching me this wonderful song assholes but not really its a kickass song

    November 2011

  • BuffyJackson

    cool song

    October 2011

  • ndag7

    I love how these guys' sound is absolutely ageless! Wish there were more of today's bands that would take up that sound.

    October 2011

  • john_dillenger

    Perfect! jsut listen to that bass! Good ol' Stevo!

    October 2011

  • purcy

    This song continues to get even better with every passing year.

    October 2011
See all 555 shouts

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