The Wicker Man

A reunion single that ignited the return of Bruce and Adrian, built on a riff bounced around by Smith and finished with a melody by Dickinson.

The Wicker Man is a heavy metal anthem by Iron Maiden, released on May 8, 2000, serving as the first single from their twelfth studio album, Brave New World. This track marked a pivotal moment for the band, being the first single since 1989's "Infinite Dreams" to feature the classic "The Trooper"-era lineup with vocalist Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith returning in 1999. Co-written by Smith, Dickinson, and Steve Harris, and co-produced by Kevin Shirley and Harris, the song draws its title from the British cult film of the same name. It stands distinct from a similarly titled track in Dickinson's solo career, which is more closely themed around the movie.

Quick Facts

Artist

Iron Maiden

Album

Brave New World

B-side

"Futureal" (live)
"Man on the Edge" (live)
"Powerslave" (live)
"Killers" (live)

Released

8 May 2000

Length

4:35 (album version); 4:16 (radio edit)

Label

EMI

Writer

Adrian Smith
Steve Harris
Bruce Dickinson

Producer

Kevin Shirley; Steve Harris

Lore & Background

The song's creation began when Adrian Smith was "bouncing around" with a specific riff. Bruce Dickinson recognized its potential and added a catchy melody before Steve Harris joined in to play along. According to Dickinson, the band wrote the track without attempting to craft it specifically as a single-length composition. It holds historical significance as the first song Iron Maiden rehearsed together following the return of Dickinson and Smith. The lyrical process aimed to capture the specific energy Dickinson feels when standing on stage with thousands of fans singing and chanting along with them. While the title is inspired by the cult film, the lyrics differ from Dickinson's solo song of the same name found on "The Best of Bruce Dickinson" two-disc edition.

Reader's Guide

Fans seeking to collect specific versions of this track should look for distinct physical releases. The limited edition includes two CDs and a double-faced poster featuring live songs recorded during the Ed Hunter Tour. The European release notably contains a beermat. CD 1 features the band on the cover, matching the single art, while CD 2 is clear with an image of the "Wicker Man" printed on the disc itself. For vinyl collectors, the 12-inch picture disc displays the "Wicker Man" on the A-side and people wearing animal masks on the B-side. The standard edition includes live versions of "Futureal" from Helsinki (September 15, 1999) and "Man on the Edge" from Milan (September 23, 1999). In 2001, the track earned a Grammy nomination for "Best Metal Performance," though it lost to Deftones' "Elite." It also found new life as a playable song in Rock Band Blitz and served as the goal celebration song for the Washington Capitals from 2011 to 2018.

Did You Know?

A rare radio version of the song alters lyrics in every chorus except the third, which features unique lines like "Burn on the sun."
Derek Riggs refused to create more art for Iron Maiden after this single because he found them too hard to work with.