Fear of the Dark (song)

"Fear of the Dark" is a song by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. Written by Steve Harris, the band's bass player and primary songwriter, it serves as the title track to Iron Maiden's 1992 album Fear of the Dark.

"Fear of the Dark"
Song by Iron Maiden
from the album Fear of the Dark
Released11 May 1992 (1992-05-11)
Recorded1991 – April 1992
StudioBarnyard, Essex, England
GenreHeavy metal
Length7:16
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Steve Harris
Producer(s)

It is one of the band's most popular songs, and has been covered by several different artists. In 2011, it was covered by Fightstar for Kerrang! magazine's Maiden Heaven tribute album.[1]

The Flight 666 version of the song was released as downloadable content for the Rock Band video game series on 9 June 2009.

When the song is performed live, the audience always sings along to the instrumental melody during the softer sections, at times becoming louder than the band themselves. It has been featured on all the band's live albums since its release.

Lyrics

The song's lyrics tell the story of a man who has always been intensely afraid of the dark. He recalls the many times he has walked alone, and recollections of the feeling of being followed while walking at night.

According to Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris wrote this song because he himself was really afraid of the dark.[2]

Personnel

Covers

Live single
"Fear of the Dark (live)"
Single by Iron Maiden
from the album A Real Live One
B-side
Released1 March 1993 (1993-03-01)
Recorded27 August 1992
VenueHelsinki Ice Hall
GenreHeavy metal
Length7:22
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Steve Harris
Producer(s)Steve Harris
Iron Maiden singles chronology
"Wasting Love"
(1992)		 "Fear of the Dark (live)"
(1993)		 "Hallowed Be Thy Name (live)"
(1993)

A live version of the song was released on 1 March 1993 to promote A Real Live One, a live album featuring recordings from various concerts throughout the Fear of the Dark Tour. This song was recorded at the Helsinki Ice Hall on 27 August 1992. It is the 26th single released by the band, reaching number 8 in the UK charts.

Different tracks taken from the same album served as B-sides, including "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter", "Be Quick or Be Dead", and "Tailgunner", in addition to "Hooks in You", recorded in 1990 during the No Prayer on the Road tour. The initial pressing of the 7" cut-to-shape vinyl picture disc listed "Hooks in You" as the B-side but actually played "Tailgunner". This mis-press was quickly corrected by EMI on future pressings.

"Fear of the Dark" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1994 in the "Best Metal Performance" category, but lost to "I Don't Want to Change the World" by Ozzy Osbourne.[7]

The single's cover art features Eddie playing Steve Harris' signature Fender Precision Bass.

Track listing
7" poster bag single
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fear of the Dark" (live at the Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland, 27 August 1992)Steve Harris7:22
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."Tailgunner" (live at Patinoire de Malley, Lausanne, Switzerland, 4 September 1992)
4:10
7" picture disc
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fear of the Dark" (live at the Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland, 27 August 1992)Harris7:22
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."Hooks in You" (live at Wembley Arena, London, England, 17 December 1990)
3:45
Italy 12" maxi single
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fear of the Dark" (live at the Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland, 27 August 1992)Harris7:22
2."Be Quick or Be Dead" (live at Super Rock festival, Mannheim, Germany, 15 August 1992)
3:20
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
3."Hooks in You" (live at Wembley Arena, London, England, 17 December 1990)
3:45
UK CD maxi single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fear of the Dark" (live at the Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland, 27 August 1992)Harris7:22
2."Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" (live at the Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland, 27 August 1992)Dickinson5:30
3."Hooks in You" (live at Wembley Arena, London, England, 17 December 1990)
  • Dickinson
  • Smith
3:45
Italy and Holland CD maxi single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fear of the Dark" (live at the Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland, 27 August 1992)Harris7:22
2."Be Quick or Be Dead" (live at Super Rock festival, Mannheim, Germany, 15 August 1992)
  • Dickinson
  • Gers
3:20
3."Hooks in You" (live at Wembley Arena, London, England, 17 December 1990)
  • Dickinson
  • Smith
3:45

Chart performance
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[8] 6
Irish Singles Chart 17[9]
UK Singles Chart 8[10]

References
  1. "Maiden Heaven - A Tribute to Iron Maiden". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  2. https://www.ironmaiden-bg.com/web/index.php/fotd-others-en/745-interview-with-bruce-dickinson-june-1992-en
  3. Encyclopaedia Metallum - Graveworm (Ita) - Scourge of Malice
  4. Sturm Und Drang - Fear of the Dark on YouTube
  5. Blaze Bayley and Doro Pesch - Fear of the Dark on YouTube
  6. Pentagram - Fear Of The Dark (Live in Izmir) on YouTube
  7. "Grammy Awards: Best Metal Performance". Rock on the Net. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  8. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  9. "Irish singles archive". IRMA. irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  10. "Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive 13 March 1993". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
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