On April 8, 2013 former British prime minister margaret thatcher would pass away. She was a
polarizing figure leading britain through the 80’s during the backdrop of the cold war,
economic recession and the conflict in northern ireland. A week later the nation mourned her,
but it wasn’t the first time margaret thatcher had died,
at least metaphorically.. That’ what were going to explore in today’s video.
Back in 1980 Iron Maiden was an up and coming band led by Paul Di’Anno. The band’s put out
their second single on May 16th called Sanctuary. The artwork for the single depicted the band’s
mascot Eddie standing over the slain body of the british prime minister margaret thacher.
Thatcher was frequently referred to as the iron lady a name a soviet journalist penned for her to
describe her uncompromising and strong willed style. . A few other publications i’ve come
across claimed she was also referred to as iron maiden, but personally i’ve never heard that in
reference to her it’s always been iron lady. Iron Maiden’s song Sanctuary' first appeared
on the Metal For Muthas compilation, but it would be re-released as a single after the band’s self
titled debut album came out. The single of the song was an improved recording over what
appeared on the metal for muthas compilation. The single peaked at number 29 in the U.K. charts.
The song also gave the band their first bit of controversy in their career, even
if it was all planned from the beginning. In author mick wall’s book Run To The Hills:
Iron Maiden Authorized Biography would write A knife-wielding Eddie is depicted crouching over
the slain, mini-skirted figure of a woman that, on close inspection, appears to be Margaret Thatcher,
the Conservative prime minister who had been swept into power in Britain at the
1979 general election. Judging by the scene, Eddie had apparently caught the malingering PM
in the unforgivable act of tearing down an Iron Maiden poster from a street wall,
a crime – in Eddie’s mad, unblinking eyes – worthy of only one punishment.
The band’s manager Rod Smallwood suggested to the group’s label that they should place a black
bar over thatchers face to claim the sleeve was censored. Smallwood believed this would give the
tabloids an angle and draw attention to the single and It worked exactly how the band imagined.
The single’s release coincidentally enough happened at a time when several prominent
conservative politicians were attacked by disgruntled members of the public. On May 20th of
1980 the Daily Mirror would publish the uncensored artwork from the single with the headline
“It’s Murder! Maggie Gets Rock Mugging!” The controversy made it’s way into British parliment
and the daily mirror hilariously, it quoted a ministerial spokesman as saying, “This is not
the way we’d like her portrayed. I’m sure she would not like it.” The publication would call
the cover and i quote “horrific” and interview young tories who shared similar sentiments.
The band’s manager Rod Smallwood would admit that the art was tongue in cheek.
The former prime minister would get her revenge though.The band’s label Zomba music suggested the
group’s next single be a cover of Skyhooks’ “Women in Uniform” The single’s artwork showed Eddie with
a girl on each arm and waiting around the corner with was the iron lady holding a gun. The single
was released the same year in October 27, 1980. This cover caused controversy not because
of Margaret Thatcher getting her revenge but because Eddie was walking down the
street with Nurse and a School Girl on his arms according to the Liverpool Daily Post,
a group of "screaming, chanting, banner-carrying feminists" demonstration against Iron Maiden's
show at Leeds University on 22 November 1980 In May 2001 during an interview with artist
Derek Riggs who invented the band’s mascot Eddie he was asked if he had taken any
flak from the media about this, along with the band. He responded saying "The "flak"
for that single (Margaret Thatcher being knifed by Eddie, from the song lyric "[I've] never killed a
woman before but I know how it feels" – lovely state of mind...) was invented by the band's
management. They "banned" it and they put the black square over her face and then they showed
it to the press and cried "censorship", but there really wasn't any. The flak was all imaginary and
self-generated for publicity. It's an old trick and it nearly always sells records... go and ask
all the rappers who swear on their records all the time, if it depressed the record
sales they would soon stop doing it." It’s been claimed that the hands shown on Iron
Maiden’s 1981 album killers that are clutching Eddie’s T-shirt is that of Margaret Thatcher.That
does it for today's video guys thanks for watching .be sure to hit the like button
and subscribe and we'll see you again on rock n' roll true stories. Take care.