From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wasted Years
Wasted Years
"Wasted Years" B-sides
The b-side "Reach Out" was sung by Adrian Smith, with
regular lead singer Bruce Dickinson providing backing
vocals. This song was previously performed live by Nicko
McBrain and Smith’s side project The Entire Population
of Hackney.
The demential song "Sheriff of Huddersfield" is about
Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood’s decision to move
to Los Angeles and buy a house in the Hollywood Hills.
Apparently he had trouble adjusting to the LA lifestyle
and often complained to the band about it. Interestingly
Smallwood was unaware of the composition until it was
released on the single, as the band had kept it secret from
him. The song opens with the spoken line "We’re on a
Single by Iron Maiden mission from Rod", a parody of the tagline for The Blues
Brothers. Later, a similar comedy piece called "Bayswater
from the album Somewhere in Time Ain’t a Bad Place to Be", again mocking Smallwood, was
B-side "Reach Out" released as an unlisted untitled b-side ("Space Station No.
"Sheriff of Huddersfield" 5"’s epilogue) in the "Be Quick or Be Dead" single.
Released 6 September 1986
Genre Heavy metal
Composition
Length 5:07
The song deals with subject of homesickness and alien-
ation while on tour, but the mere fact that band is tour-
Label EMI ing is well worth it[1]. It reflects on negative aspects of
Writer(s) Adrian Smith very long and exhausting World Slavery Tour, personal
problems that band members were going through in that
Iron Maiden singles chronology period[2]. The original working title was "Golden Years",
as can be heard on numerous Somewhere On Tour
"Run to the Hills Wasted
"Wasted "Stranger in a
(live)" Years
Years" Strange Land" bootlegs.
(1985) (1986) (1986) Song is composed from keys of E minor and G major.
Adrian Smith plays the solo.
Wasted Years"
"Wasted Years is the fourteenth single released by Iron
Maiden and the first from their Somewhere in Time album. Live performances
It’s the only song on the album that features no synthe-
Wasted Years is one of three tracks from Somewhere In
sizers. Released in 1986, it was the first single solely writ-
Time that have been played on more than two concert
ten by guitarist Adrian Smith, who also sings backing vo-
tours[3], other two being second album single, Stranger
cals. It reached number 18 in the UK Singles Charts.
in a Strange Land and Heaven Can Wait. It was featured
The cover depicts the band mascot Eddie’s point of
on Somewhere On Tour, Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour,
view as he flies a spaceship chasing the Doctor’s TARDIS.
Real Live Tour (only on few dates), The Ed Hunter Tour,
A similar Doctor Who reference can be seen on the back
and Somewhere Back in Time World Tour.
of the album’s sleeve, where the Doctor’s TARDIS is
Janick Gers played the solo on Real Live Tour due
parked on a rooftop.
to Smith leaving Iron Maiden in 1990. He also played
The promotional video features black and white
all Smith’s guitar parts on few dates of Ed Hunter Tour,
footage of the band playing the song in studio, mixed
while Smith was absent. In current Iron Maiden line-up
with various scenes from band’s previous promotional
shows (since 1999), Smith’s trademark intro riff is dou-
videos, together with clips of off-show activities during
bled by Gers.
World Slavery Tour.
Wasted Years is featured in Rock Band.
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wasted Years
Year Single Chart Position Album
1986 "Wasted Years" Irish Singles Chart 11[6] Somewhere in Time
UK Singles Chart 18[7]
1990 "Wasted Years/ Stranger in a Strange Land" UK Albums Chart[note 1] 9[8] —
Apart from singing backing vocals, Adrian Smith also • Adrian Smith – lead guitar, synthesized guitars,
sang lead vocals on chorus, on at least one Somewhere backing vocals (Lead vocals on "Reach Out")
Back in Time Tour date[4]. • Dave Murray – rhythm guitar, synthesized guitars
During Somewhere On Tour years, band used to lip- • Steve Harris – bass guitar
sync the track on various TV shows. The most famous • Nicko McBrain – drums
recording comes from Germany, where Maiden swapped
instruments on stage while the song was "performed", as
a humorous protest to lip-syncing.[5]
References
[1] Iron Maiden - Wasted Years Live Sheffield 1986 on
YouTube
Track listing [2] Iron Maiden - Flight 666 DVD, History Of Iron
1. "Wasted Years" (Adrian Smith) – 5:06 Maiden pt 2
2. "Reach Out" (Dave Colwell) – 3:31 [3] http://www.ironmaidencommentary.com/
3. "Sheriff of Huddersfield" (Iron Maiden) – 3:35 ?link=tours&url=index&lang=eng
[4] Iron Maiden - Flight 666 DVD
Chart performance [5]
[6]
Iron Maiden Playback on YouTube
"Irish singles archive". http://www.irishcharts.ie/
Notes search/placement. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
[7] "UK Singles chart archive- 13th September 1986".
[1] Re-release of both singles as part of "The First Ten
http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/
Years" box set. Exceeded the length limit of the UK
_/1/1986-09-13/. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
Singles chart.
[8] "UK Albums chart archive- 14th April 1990".
http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/
Personnel _/3/1990-04-14/. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
• Bruce Dickinson – vocals
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wasted_Years&oldid=461851877"
Categories:
• 1986 singles
• Iron Maiden songs
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