Iron Maiden » Tracks » Be Quick Or Be Dead

Iron Maiden – Be Quick Or Be Dead (3:24)

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About This Track

“Be Quick or Be Dead” is the first single from the Iron Maiden album Fear Of The Dark, released in 1992. The song is about several political scandals taking place at the time of its release, including the Robert Maxwell banking scandal, European stock market crashes, and the BCCI case. It was released a month prior to the album and reached #2 on the UK singles chart. It is characterised for its heavy guitar riff, that has influences of and .

The song begins with the drums, then the other instruments join and play the main guitar riff, which was written by Janick Gers and is in G minor scale, as most of the song. The riff is played repeatedly until Bruce Dickinson joins with the lyrics. Through the verse, the guitars and bass play mainly G. Then there is a pre-chorus that is played in C and then the chorus, which features a guitar riff similar to the one of the intro and Bruce singing “Be Quick or Be Dead” repeatedly. Then the post chorus is played in G and F by the guitars as Dickinson sings “See what’s ruling all our lives. See who’s pulling strings”.

The B-side features two official songs and one hidden track, including an original blues number (Nodding Donkey Blues) and Montrose cover (Space Station No. 5), and the unlisted Bayswater Ain’t A Bad Place to Be. The last is a spoken word comedy piece by Bruce Dickinson (along with acoustic guitar accompaniment from Janick Gers) in which he imitates and makes fun of Maiden manager Rod Smallwood.
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Albums featuring this track

  • Fear Of The Dark
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  • Best of the Beast
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  • Ed Hunter
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  • Live at Donington 1992 (disc 1)
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See all 18 albums

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  • crispolly

    My God, what a vocals. Bruce is a master. <3 [3]

    10 days ago

  • IronPenguin

    OK after 20 years of listening to his song I only just did a double-take of how much this sounds like Priest. Bruce even seems to be imitating Rob Halford with the screaming and vocal style.

    13 days ago

  • blackmetalcore

    Reminds me of Overkill vocals

    last month

  • Sheik777

    Don't listen to this in a car!

    March 2012

  • Colony666

    Maiden goes speed metal

    March 2012

  • IronPenguin

    Surprised to see this song in the top tracks, did not realise it was so popular

    February 2012

  • Erokthebrave

    I prefer Bruce with his air-siren singing instead of this gravely voice in this song. Alright song overall.

    February 2012

  • Metality

    Love the vocals on this one.

    February 2012

  • alpasch

    @Rockinfreddy hast du was anders gehört? oder sind deine Ohren kaputt mein freund.. go hell

    February 2012

  • Drillertheband

    metal!

    February 2012

  • Rockinfreddy

    Einer der schwächeren Songs,der besten Band der Welt!

    January 2012

  • MetalRock1989

    My God, what a vocals. Bruce is a master. <3 [2]

    December 2011

  • MartaaaPop

    My God, what a vocals. Bruce is a master. <3

    December 2011

  • metalfuzzi666

    bruce voice is amazing, up to the irons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    December 2011

  • pavel_10

    Bruce on 1:31 :)

    November 2011

  • jbbassomatic

    \m/ UP THE IRONS \m/

    November 2011

  • Oppressotron

    Headphones should be strapped onto the heads of bankers and then fastened with long staples. After the crown is secure, then put this one on repeat. What's wrong with a little plutocracide every couple centuries.

    October 2011

  • dasoverkill

    wow he sings like halford

    October 2011

  • Tasaddar

    бля давненько слушал))

    September 2011

  • MarkusMi

    Be quick

    September 2011
See all 188 shouts

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