Iron Maiden is Reissuing Their 1985 Live Album ‘Live After Death’

Live albums tend to be a contentious subject for music fans of all stripes. On one hand, you get to listen the experience of seeing the band live, but on the other hand, production values may not be that great or something to that effect. Yet a 40-year-old live album that stands above almost all others — Iron Maiden’s Live After Death — is getting a special anniversary reissue by Parlophone Records.

Recorded over four nights at Long Beach Arena, California in March 1985, Live After Death features some of Iron Maiden’s most iconic tracks, including “Aces High,” “2 Minutes to Midnight,” “The Trooper,” “Flight of Icarus”… really, the names speak for themselves.

This special, limited collector’s edition 2LP color vinyl reissue will feature the album’s classic gatefold artwork, while the actual records themselves will be based on the 2015 audio remasters. Other extras included in this set that fans can expect are a replica of the original 24-page World Slavery Tour program and a replica tour pass.

The package also comes with a 12-page booklet featuring the original eight-page insert alongside a brand-new essay Rime And Punishment: Celebrating 40 Years Of Live After Death. The booklet also includes an interview conducted by Iron Maiden fan club editor Alexander Milas with founding bassist Steve Harris, drummer Nicko McBrain, longtime manager Rod Smallwood, and the band’s iconic illustrator Derek Riggs.

Speaking of this particular time period within the band, Harris said the original Live After Death tour was a hell of a time to be part of Iron Maiden.

“We were touring our arses off. It was literally just, ‘record, tour, record, tour’ – we didn’t stop. Rod was cracking the old whip, and that was the right thing to do. I mean, we were totally up for it, it’s not like we were doing stuff that we didn’t want to do. You think you’re invincible – ‘Yeah, we’ll take that on, no problem.’ That’s the way to crack it. It’s the only way for a band like us because we had no radio play whatsoever back then.”

If all of this sounds exactly like something you’d want for your collection — or maybe you’re looking to get some holiday shopping done way ahead of time — you can pre-order your copy today.