Aces High: How Iron Maiden Created The PERFECT Opening Song
Рет қаралды 63,814
4 ай бұрынAn in-depth, section-by-section look at Iron Maiden's epic opening track, Aces High, from their groundbreaking 1984 album, Powerslave.
Watch my full guitar cover of this song: • Possibly The Best Iron...
The Lado Earth I am playing in this video appears courtesy of my friend Michael A. Check out his awesome music here:
• Raggamuffin (Lyric Video)
open.spotify.com/artist/4AJVg...
Guitars:
Lado Earth Custom
Jackson USA Signature Adrian Smith San Dimas: sweetwater.sjv.io/zNKoXm
Fender Dave Murray Signature Stratocaster: sweetwater.sjv.io/oqKkPg
Guitar Plugin: Neural DSP Archetype: Petrucci
Bass Plugin: Bias FX II
DAW: Reaper Audio
Audio Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2: sweetwater.sjv.io/PyQMY6
Strings: Ernie Ball 9-46 (Adrian): sweetwater.sjv.io/1rYvog & 9-42 (Dave): sweetwater.sjv.io/5gdvmn
Pick: Jazz III XL: sweetwater.sjv.io/XYaMo5
@LordEriolTolkien 4 ай бұрын
I can never hear Churchill's speech without then imagining this song
@AndreComtois 4 ай бұрын
I know right! Or Vincent Price reciting revelations.
@gerryiannuzzi5122 4 ай бұрын
When we saw them open with this in Brooklyn NY 2019 my son and I were blown away. I hadn’t seen or listened to them since 1985 we instantly knew we were in for a great show. I snapped a few pictures of that spitfire and texted my wife the pictures and told her we’re having a blast
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
The Legacy shows were incredible! And it's so cool that you saw them play it on the original tour!
@tomsorrell4918 3 ай бұрын
Me too. I saw them in 2022 in Columbus Ohio and prior to that was the 4 times in the 80s. They are truly the Real Deal....
@Capitan_Chaos 28 күн бұрын
I was at that show too. I got a video of it too.
@Shadooe 4 ай бұрын
Aces High is the first Maiden song I ever heard (or saw really) I woke really early one Sat AM to watch cartoons and up in outport Newfoundland in 1984, we only had two TV stations. CBC wasn't on air and was just a test pattern, but NTV was playing music videos. Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna (stuff like that), but then Quiet Riot came on and caught my attention... then Aces High came on next and it was like tunnel vision into the TV screen. Maiden fan ever since and have never looked back.
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
Ha! Same for me! Seeing Aces High on LAD hooked me in and they've been my favourite band ever since. And also QR was one of the very first bands to catch my attention too and Metal Health was the first album I every bought - it was still their most recent release 😅 Cheers, man!! 🤜🤛
@chrisnauta2467 Ай бұрын
The Greatest album opener in all of Metal music! It doesn’t get any better than this folks
@ourlifeinwyoming4654 4 ай бұрын
40 years? Damn I feel old! Great job breakinf this down!
@thomasandersson9605 4 ай бұрын
I was 14 in 1984 and I got the Powerslave album for christmas that year. Started playing guitar in 1983. Here I am 40 years later still learning Maiden songs. Thank you so much for this channel and the hard work you put into it.
@forbiddenrng1627 4 ай бұрын
Aces High was one one the very first songs I have ever listened. This interlude riff before and after a fantastic solo section while seeing this machine gun shooting down the airplane was probably one of the things that made me stay with Iron Maiden for the rest of my life. I just cannnot describe this vibe in any words
@iraklismoschonas5214 4 ай бұрын
When I started listening to Maiden, almost twenty years ago, I was listening to several songs, but I hadn’t listened to “Aces High” yet. When I listened to it, I was completely blown away and it immediately became my favorite song of theirs. In 2018, I saw them live in Athens, Greece, they opened the show with “Aces High” and it was one of the happiest live show moments of mine.
@AndreComtois 4 ай бұрын
Saw the powerslave tour in Sudbury Ontario. I couldn't hear properly for three days after. Worth it.
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
Ouch! 😅 But also kinda worth it, I imagine 🤘🤘
@AndreComtois 4 ай бұрын
My were standing next to the amps by the stage for a good view. So it was self inflicted.
@ioannisdenton 4 ай бұрын
Fantastic album, back in the village and duelists are 10/10
@Gorbyrev 4 ай бұрын
Nico, that Lado Earth is stunning. Bucket list Canadian guitar.
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
It really is 😊
@smaque666 4 ай бұрын
How did you know I was admiring the guitar??? I've already informed the government that I don't feel safe anymore, but they told me to shut up and enjoy the video...I feel so overpowered...
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
Electric Eye...In the sky.... Feel my stare... Always there 👁️🗨️🎸
@diyprojecttrophyfibreglass7892 4 ай бұрын
Powerslave and 1942. The power chords of my youth.
@samright4661 2 ай бұрын
When I was 15 I went to Tennessee with my parents and bought Powerslave and my 2 Aunts told me told me to listen to my new Record! My parents are from the hills of Tennessee grew up on Gospel and Country music. When the needle dropped and Aces High opened up !!My Aunts was in there 60s . They did like the music until it got heavy. I will always remember that day 😂
@spaztekwarrior 4 ай бұрын
I had just graduated high school in ‘84. What a great time for music of all genres. Powerslave is still among my favourite albums of all time. So awesome! 1942 was one of my favourite coin ops of the day :)
@joeylodes 4 ай бұрын
I saw the Powerslave World Slavery Tour 3x’s. Incredible shows.
@user-ql1pc7pi9x 4 ай бұрын
My favorite Maiden album. Just a killer with no filler from start to finish. I remember watching Max TV, a former music channel here in New Zealand, late one Friday night, and Aces High and The Trooper came on back to back. Must've been around 1995. Amongst the dreary grunge soaked playist, these two songs jumped out at me, and it was then that I knew I had to learn to play guitar.
@stevemurray8257 4 ай бұрын
An absolute classic. What a song.
@TheLotusManFILMs. 4 ай бұрын
It was the first metal album I ever heard as a 12 year old in 1992, it's still my favourite album of all time.
@CC-qb9sm 4 ай бұрын
As a fan of many genres of music, I think it speaks volumes that this is not only one of my favorite Iron Maiden albums, and not only one of my favorite heavy-metal albums, but one of my favorite albums period. I’m glad you spent a good deal of time talking about just how perfectly suited all the guitar parts are in relation to the subject matter, so imaginative the instrumentation on this song! Brilliant!! Nicely done, Nico!
@MrMvidz 4 ай бұрын
The perfect metal opener in my opinion. Certainly blew me away when I got this album in 1984.
@JessieJames0317 3 ай бұрын
I always thought the harmonics Adrian hits sounded like an air raid siren or a plane going down.
@derekwalker4622 4 ай бұрын
40+ years later, and I am still a huge Maiden fan. Up the Irons!
@SC-dy5dc Ай бұрын
Good stuff - you could comment a bit more on what Nicko’s doing in the song as well!
@Darth_Veird 3 ай бұрын
I am Polish - you couldn't just go to the store and buy the Powerslave in Warsaw.. I was 14 years old. My Dad's friend brought it for me from UK. Powerslave was my first Iron Maiden LP.. I was amazed by the music, the art of the record etc... To this day it is my favourite Iron Maiden album... and few years ago I had a privilege to Nicko at the Toffs fish and chips in Muswell Hill, (London and he signed his autograph on Powerslave CD that I had with me.
@derricklarsen2919 3 ай бұрын
You could play it on your synthesizer
@somarriba333 4 ай бұрын
I need to take a closer look at that intro riff. I have been playing that riff they way it was published in the "Powerslave/Somewhere In Time" tab book and it's different. They never play that part live so I had no idea of the change and position.
@albertoacuna3015 3 ай бұрын
The song in Rocksmith (PS 4 game) have a different intro also
@LordEriolTolkien 4 ай бұрын
Jeez .. I was 16 on release and this is one of the best
@dimitriskarageorgiou2778 4 ай бұрын
Man, you really got it to another level. Congrats, great analysis
@mmustikkam 4 ай бұрын
What a great video! Huge bonus for the little C64/1942 nod 😍
@cybermanne 4 ай бұрын
I can't wait for Rime of the ancient mariner.
@norrsken9608 4 ай бұрын
Thank you Nico for this breakdown of one of heavy metals finest moments ever! It’s always a pleasure watching your highly competent breakdowns of Maiden magic! Up the Irons! 🤘
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
My man, thank you so very much! It's HUGELY appreciated and I'm glad you're enjoying and finding value in these videos 🤜🤛 Cheers!
@norrsken9608 4 ай бұрын
@@LicksOfTheBeast Love the effort you put into these videos. Cheers!
@tkd4uandme 4 ай бұрын
Great breakdown! Classic tune. Probably my favourite Maiden album.
@stephenwinchester6668 4 ай бұрын
Your breakdowns really highlight the genius of Iron Maiden. Very awesome!!
@rachaeltownend6872 4 ай бұрын
Great breakdown of both the song and its imagery! Really nice to see your right hand bass technique coming on too! 🙌
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
Oh thanks so much! Much appreciated - especially coming from someone whose right hand is seriously f'n tight!! Still don't have any stamina or much precision, but working bit by bit... 😅 Cheers! 🤘
@jayheath1971 4 ай бұрын
I've been listening to, and playing, this song for years, but you managed to unearth some nuances I never noticed before. Bravo.
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
That's awesome! Thank you for watching and for the kind encouragement 😃
@michaelstone7514 4 ай бұрын
I saw them in Radio City Music Hall in NY when the Powerslave album was released. They were spectacular!
@edwardszysorhans573 4 ай бұрын
If I ever had to pick entrance music for something, this would be my pick
@para1210 3 ай бұрын
Well, that explains my feelings listening to Iron Maiden preety much 😂
@mizuman1687 4 ай бұрын
There is room beneath the sun for both these great bands to throw a long shadow my friend
@droosa1970 3 ай бұрын
Great video! Great breakdown. Gives me much more appreciation of this masterpiece. And of course….that Lado Earth is amazing 🤘🏼🔥 thanks
@UltraPvnk 4 ай бұрын
Thanks, Mike!
@pauljj3582 3 ай бұрын
YUP!!! The Lado is what caught my eye in the thumbnail!
@1234drums 4 ай бұрын
Powerslave is still my favorite one, and always will be ❤❤❤❤
@biorythmicshifter 4 ай бұрын
Powerslave is pure magic. They demolished the competition. For me, this one and SIT are the peak eras vocally and that’s not to undermine the brilliance of everything else they’ve released…
@nightfire540 4 ай бұрын
Dude you get me so hyped to play more Maiden every time!
@hrosemd 4 ай бұрын
Nailed it. Well done sir.
@wizaxed 4 ай бұрын
Maiden has been one of my longest favorite bands. I was lucky to see them in Vegas in 2016 for the Book of Souls tour. Actually got to meet and take pictures with Niko, Adrian, Dave and Steve (all at different times) as we saw them in the casino at various times. Didn't see Bruce or Janick. Their music is timeless and unmistakable. The first 5 records are true masterpieces!! All are just pure gold!! Up the IRONS!! Thanks for your excellent analysis and breakdown of this killer track! I am really digging your content!!
@souperdave2009 4 ай бұрын
Excellent, if i could only listen to one album, it might be this one 🔥
@wastedqba 4 ай бұрын
This is so cool that you had a chance to use Lado Earth for the Aces High. There are not for me, but I always admire how consistent they are (sharp horns for the body and sharp headstock details).
@maiden4greece572 4 ай бұрын
perfection...
@johnwinkler2606 4 ай бұрын
Killer. I love Iron Maiden's music.
@PapaSancho666 4 ай бұрын
DUDE!!!! Metal and 1942? HELL YEAH!!!! I loved that game and the Powerslave album helped begin the love of guitar. Cheers
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
Haha yeah, man!! The hours spent in bars playing those arcades were the best time! 😊 Cheers 🤜🤛
@JulioSerrano2015 4 ай бұрын
Great analysis for one of the best openers of all time! Good job man! 😎
@froorocks1000 4 ай бұрын
Bruce said in interview Aces High was the hardest Maiden song to sing
@marcopanichi 4 ай бұрын
Amazing analysis! Congrats Nico!!!!
@cybermanne 4 ай бұрын
Steve Harris composing is on another level. He's created so many masterpieces. Plus he's pretty decent at playing the bass also. Legend.
@stevefickinger1282 3 ай бұрын
Adrian also my friend
@nikeforo2612 4 ай бұрын
Thanks for the detailed "anatomy" of an artwork. I must confess that Powerslave remains my favorite Iron Maiden's album. No tune in it is weak, and all of them have something mesmerizing (my opinion of course). Your video has it all: fine-grained explanations, excerpts from the music video, details about execution, even reference to C64 and old games. There is everything one needs to make a 48-yo guy like me happy on a Saturday morning (central Mediterranean time). Thanks for the time and effort poured in making this. Cari Saluti.
@isaiapanduri6003 4 ай бұрын
Video come questi mi tengono incollato allo schermo. E non sono neanche un musicista, Nico sei grande.
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
Ti ringrazio tantissimo! Mi fa davvero troppo piacere 😊
@jamescampbell2829 4 ай бұрын
Always love your explanation of songs,powerslave is a great album they have always been great story tellers
@easterworshipper5579 4 ай бұрын
i was 14 years old, and seeing bruce in that kgon tshirt (out local radio station) had me over the moon!
@rockvenom 4 ай бұрын
awesome as usual Nico!! nicely explained!!
@bluesy4871 4 ай бұрын
Awesome stuff here, thanks!
@PsychRian 4 ай бұрын
excellent breakdown! love it.
@Savatage1964 9 күн бұрын
THE definitive Maiden album. If you don't have this in your metal collection... you are severely lacking. I saw them on this tour... high on LSD!!!! Twisted Sister opened. What a Hella fun concert.
@WWTormentor 4 ай бұрын
I’m glad I found you channel and subscribed. This video was so great that made me want to go and watch the aces high video again which I haven’t seen in a long time. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to more videos like this.
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
Thank you very very much!!
@bruceklein9917 4 ай бұрын
New subscriber here. I love the fact that you go more into the theory of the writing. A lot of KZfaq guitarists neglect this when teaching songs and as a guitar teacher myself I really appreciate the effort you put in. Long ago I adopted Aces High as MY Iron Maiden song so thank you for this awesome break down.
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
Hey thank you so much for watching, subscribing, and leaving some very encouraging words! I always say that if you're going to take the time to learn someone's music note for note (or close to it), you should make sure to get at least one important takeaway that you can then apply to your own music. Looks like we're on the same page about that sort of thing! 🤜🤛 If you're enjoying this, I am doing the same kind of thing with other guitarists I admire on my other channel, Nico's Guitar World. 😊
@qsviewsrpgs4571 4 ай бұрын
I'm always astounded by your knowledge and expertise. Your breakdowns and details of these songs and parts are clearly explained and easy to follow.
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
Oh thanks so much! Rely glad to know that I'm on the right track with these song breakdowns 😊
@shawnbruce6934 4 ай бұрын
Great Video! Thanks!
@daniel11076 4 ай бұрын
The opening of The nomad is the best, and inspired me to start writing my book.
@stevefickinger1282 3 ай бұрын
Solo is also nice
@BenScott777 4 ай бұрын
Awesome analysis dude ❤
@gbamck 4 ай бұрын
This is fascinating stuff. Great job. 1942 rolls!🤘 Up The Irons!
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
🙏🙏🤘🤘
@Robbie28 4 ай бұрын
Would love to be able to play some of maiden’s songs. To me, they are legends.
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
Start practicing! 😃
@MetalGildarts 4 ай бұрын
Love the breakdown! I'm also beginning to understand theory a bit more thanks to you Nico! Grazie Mille! Love ya man.
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
That's fantastic!! Really makes me VERY happy to see!! 😃🤘
@teemuk1225 4 ай бұрын
Great video! Someone isolated the bass track here on youtube and there is a lot more nuances in the track than you would think!
@D3Alm3ida 3 ай бұрын
master piece,
@StevenWard 4 ай бұрын
Everyone needs a friend like Mike :)
@samuelbrainsample 4 ай бұрын
The best album bar none
@TheLotusManFILMs. 4 ай бұрын
Agree.
@fufufufree 3 ай бұрын
For me the landmark album is piece of mind COYI
@stevewaldman371 4 ай бұрын
this is so interesting. i played drums to this when I was 17.
@michaelpandolfi9765 4 ай бұрын
Damn you are awesome..I would love the hear you guys play
@TheRainblossoms 3 ай бұрын
Powerslave is probably my favorite album. Also what's with the 80's Killers deck in the background? Was that a thing? Also I love the 1942 reference. That game was badass in the arcades.
@MA-ln9rz 4 ай бұрын
Excellent video
@lorettahookano6139 4 ай бұрын
Awesome guitar !
@stevewaldman371 4 ай бұрын
You are very skilled and knowledgeable musician sir.
@spclark1970 4 ай бұрын
Yep - 1942 - my absolute favorite! Spent hours on the arcade version. No Commodore 64, Atari for me. Actually found this game online somewhere a few years back...
@MrTimjm009 4 ай бұрын
The live version is what I grew up listening to first ( I had the live after death double album as one of the first Iron Maiden albums I ever bought so nearly all the songs I first heard , I tried to play like that )
@heberdovallejunior5524 4 ай бұрын
By far you are the best in terms of Maiden analisys and cover.... but, By miles and miles!!! Congrats
@LicksOfTheBeast 4 ай бұрын
That's super kind of you! Thanks so much 🤜🤛
@danielgonzaleztejedor9486 4 ай бұрын
Martin Birch no doubt was more than a producer. By the way, wish I could see that guitar clear.
@crystalplanet023 4 ай бұрын
Excellent travail comme d'habitude et j'adore quand tu nous fait découvrir toute la technique utilisée par le groupe et qui une fois mise en place donne des morceaux d'anthologie. Pourrais tu faire le même genre de vidéo pour le morceau Back in the village , pas le plus connu mais il a une telle énergie et de bonnes harmonies .
@ColKorn1965 4 ай бұрын
I'm old........I saw them on the World Slavery tour
@TomLaios 4 ай бұрын
Me to.Still the best show I've ever see.
@javiermoretti1825 4 ай бұрын
I'm older. I saw them on the Number of the Beast tour in 1982.
@carzz185 4 ай бұрын
so true, the perfect opening song... though i'd say caught somewhere in time is a great challenger... talking about openers, i miss maiden big openers... haven't done a memorable one since wicker man...
@secondhandlyon2603 4 ай бұрын
I was in high school when this came out.
@LordNerevar1 4 ай бұрын
One of my absolute favs. Especially for a guy with a fixationg about aviation 😂
@marcelo.bassalo 4 ай бұрын
Top 10 heavy metal song.
@lonec1777 4 ай бұрын
Nice tone.
@albertoboccali7437 4 ай бұрын
Great Nicko. Always on the piece......as an italian way to say
@full-grim 4 ай бұрын
Great video for a great album/song! Thanks. By the way, you have captured a really clean tone. Can you specify the hardware and software you use?
@bartlomiejjaworski4068 3 ай бұрын
amen
@spice_krispies 4 ай бұрын
Maiden have a good amount of great openers. If i'm being unbiased and honest, I couldn't say Aces High is better than Where Eagles Dare. They are probably even on any given day, but Eagles is just majestic in all its glory. Some noteworthy mentions are Caught Somewhere In Time, Moonchild, Be Quick Or Be Dead and The Wickerman....
@CoffeeMatt10 4 ай бұрын
For me, Powerslave doesn’t just have arguably the best opening track, it has THE GREATEST 1-2 opening punch in the entire musical world with Aces High and 2 Minutes To Midnight… I can’t think of ANY album by any other band/artist that comes close to Powerslave. While you can argue the single greatest opening track to an album, and there’s plenty of contenders, for an opening track AND a follow-up track… nah! Nothing out there beats Aces and 2MTM!
@myrskylintu1 4 ай бұрын
When i first heard it when it came out, the speed of that verse chord pattern was the first thing that caught my attention. It sounded insane. I wondered "how i am gonna play this? there's like half a million chords!" Guitar solos are really timeless, expecially the beginning of Adrian's solo. On a critical note, bottom sounded bit weak after the POM, mix is very bright and clear but with less bottom end. Nico also speeds up at places bit hilariously:), this was obviously recorded without a click but overall, it is a truly timeless classic. There's something on that opening riff sound, it never sounds exactly the same when others play it, it tends to sound bit thin and weak but Maiden makes it sound very thick and strong.
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