Bruce Bruce, the Air Raid Siren (mp3s)

(5 MP3 files below the fold. But don't jump just yet.)

I have long wondered whether there is one single band which epitomizes the spirit of WFMU and this blog, until I finally found the answer two days ago. I am not going to hide it from you, but I have placed it under the jump for those of you who like a challenge. Here are your hints: Stairway to Heaven, Nightmare on Elm Street, Air Raid Sirens, Fencing, 666, Scott Williams. 

That was easy, wasn't it? Of course the answer is Iron Maiden, with the one and only "Air Raid Siren" Bruce "Bruce Bruce" Dickinson on vocals. Now you might ask "What the fuck does Iron Maiden have to do with Stairway to Heaven?", and I wouldn't blame you. Answering questions like this is what we are here for. Not only was there a connection, Stairway to Heaven was in fact the reason that Iron Maiden hired Bruce in the first place. Here are 6 tracks from the 1981 audition tape of Bruce Dickinson, ripped to MP3 from the Czech bootleg LP "Made of...":

Twilight Zone | Wrathchild | Killers | Xmas Wishes | Stairway to Heaven (FCC)

The Maidens were not really sure about Bruce's abilities until he laid down this perfect rendition of the Led Zeppelin classic in the end. There would be only one man to eventually outdo Bruce, but he was only 1 year old at the time of this audition.

(By the way, the rest of the bootleg is a shoddily edited recording of a live performance in Holland, I am not hiding any goodies from you.)

Comments

[Karl Smith]

Hi there :-) … It looks like you have changed some things since I was here last!

Regards
Blog

[Detroitsuperfly]

How bonecrushingly disappointing!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Maiden

"Anton Gustafsson committed suicide in November, 2003."

[martin]

hi there
thank you for putting the mp3 of bruce on here
is cool to here him singing twilight zone
many thanks martin

[Matt]

kool thanks for these. loved killers, good work

[Enchufa La Guitarra]

wow! i never hear that!