Heavy Metal Historiography: Historical Subject Matter in the Music of Iron Maiden
Since forming in 1975, British heavy metal band Iron Maiden have written and recorded a number of songs referencing historical events. This thesis investigates the use of historical subject matter in the music of Iron Maiden by examining nine songs, recorded between 1982 and 2006, that focus on specific moments in history, ranging from the life and conquests of Alexander the Great to World War II. Among the research questions this thesis aims to address are “How do Iron Maiden use historical subject matter in their music, and to what extent can their music be interpreted historiographically?”; “How are visual elements, such as album artwork, music videos, and live staging, used to frame the historical content of these songs?”; and “How do certain themes, such as issues of British identity, appear in these songs, and how do these songs fit in with the larger context of Iron Maiden’s music?”
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