Iron Maiden’s iconic 1982 track has been given a fresh spin as thrash metal veterans Heathen celebrated the legendary band’s 50th anniversary.
In celebration of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees’ major milestone, the Bay Area band chose to cover “The Prisoner” due to the track’s heavy intro, uptempo verses, catchy chorus and classic instrumental section, which suited them.
In an Instagram update, the five-piece band composed of lead vocalist David White, guitarists Kragen Lum and Kyle Edissi, bassist Jason Mirza and drummer Blake Anderson announced the release of their version of “The Prisoner” as a standalone digital single.
For Lum, covering such an iconic song 44 years after its release was a way to show the band’s deep respect for Iron Maiden by delivering their own rendition while adding Heathen’s signature thrash metal touch.
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“What can we say about the legendary Iron Maiden that hasn’t already been said? They’ve given us 50 years of energetic, melodic metal that’s inspired Heathen and legions of other bands in the genre. ‘The Prisoner’ was an easy choice for us to cover, with its heavy intro, up-tempo verses, catchy chorus, and classic instrumental section. We added a few touches to Heathenize the song while staying true to what made it so great when it was first released in 1982. Enjoy this recording as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of heavy metal’s greatest bands. Up the Irons!” the guitarist said as cited by Napalm Records.
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“The Prisoner” was released as part of Iron Maiden’s third album, The Number of the Beast.
Written by guitarist Adrian Smith and bassist Steve Harris, it was inspired by the classic 1960s British television series The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan, who played Number Six.
Prior to the release, Iron Maiden’s manager Rod Smallwood reportedly asked McGoohan for permission to use dialogue from the series, which he enthusiastically approved.
“What did you say the name was? Iron Maiden? Do it,” the actor said, as cited by Consequence.
The dialogue has since become one of the rock band’s most iconic song introductions.
As mentioned, this was Heathen’s tribute to Iron Maiden in celebration of the legendary band’s 50th anniversary, which has been marked by a massive world tour spanning 2025 and 2026.
Outside of the tribute release, the band fronted by White is also in the middle of its tour, performing in major cities across the Northeastern United States and Canada from July through August.
Joining them as special guests are Metal Church and Void on selected dates.
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