The Trooper - wikipedia The Trooper This article is about the song by Iron Maiden. For the EP by Sentenced, see The Trooper ( EP ). For the professional wrestler, see The Patriot ( wrestler ). For the regimental statue of the Rhodesian Light Infantry, see Rhodesian Light Infantry. For the 1934 American film, see Fighting Trooper. `` The Trooper '' Single by Iron Maiden from the album Piece of Mind and Death on the Road B - side `` Cross-Eyed Mary '' ( Jethro Tull cover ) 2005 CD `` The Trooper '' ( Live ) `` Prowler '' ( Live ) 2005 7 '' Live `` Another Life '' ( Live ) 2005 12 '' `` The Trooper '' ( Live ) `` Murders in the Rue Morgue '' ( Live ) Released 20 June 1983 15 August 2005 Format Vinyl ( 7 `` ) Recorded 24 November 2003 Genre Heavy metal Length 4 : 11 Label EMI Songwriter ( s ) Steve Harris Producer ( s ) Martin Birch Iron Maiden singles chronology `` Flight of Icarus '' ( 1983 ) `` The Trooper '' ( 1983 ) `` 2 Minutes to Midnight '' ( 1984 ) `` Flight of Icarus '' ( 1983 ) `` The Trooper '' ( 1983 ) `` 2 Minutes to Midnight '' ( 1984 ) The Number of the Beast ( 2005 ) The Number of the Beast 2005 `` The Trooper ( live ) '' ( 2005 ) String Module Error : Match not found2005 The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg ( 2006 ) The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg 2006 `` The Trooper '' is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released as the second single on 20 June 1983 from the band 's fourth studio album, Piece of Mind ( 1983 ). It was one of only a few songs to get much radio airplay in the US, thus peaking at No. 28 on the US Mainstream Rock charts. It also achieved success in the UK, peaking at No. 12 in the UK Singles Charts as well as gaining a much better reception than the band 's previous single, `` Flight of Icarus ''. A live version of the song, from Death on the Road, was issued in 2005. Contents 1 Overview 2 In popular culture 2.1 Northern Ireland 3 Track listings 3.1 1983 7 '' & 12 '' UK single 3.2 2005 Enhanced CD 3.3 2005 7 '' Blue Vinyl 3.4 2005 12 '' Picture Disc 4 Personnel 5 Charts 5.1 Notes 6 References 7 External links Overview Bruce Dickinson performing the song live wearing a `` red coat '' styled military smock. Written by bassist and founder - member Steve Harris, the song is based on the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava 1854, which took place during the Crimean War, and inspired by Lord Tennyson 's poem of the same name. The track has been the subject of much praise since its release, with AllMusic describing it as `` an all - time genre classic that boasts guitarists ( Dave Murray ) and ( Adrian Smith 's ) most memorable harmonized lead riff, plus that trademark galloping rhythm, '' while Mick Wall comments that it is the song `` which most Maiden fans from those days still recall first when you mention the Piece of Mind album. '' Despite the popularity of the song, it was the single 's B - Side, a cover of Jethro Tull 's `` Cross-Eyed Mary '', which managed to gain a substantial amount of airplay on US radio, becoming one of the band 's few tracks, along with previous single `` Flight of Icarus '', to do so. The single 's accompanying music video included clips of a cavalry battle from the 1936 film The Charge of the Light Brigade, starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, which the BBC refused to play unedited, deeming the footage too violent. The band 's manager, Rod Smallwood, has since criticised the decision, stating, `` Anyone would think we 'd killed the horses ourselves instead of using an old Errol Flynn movie. '' A regular fixture in the band 's concerts, vocalist Bruce Dickinson has always waved a Union Flag during live performances and, more recently, has begun wearing an authentic red coat uniform which would have been worn during the battle on which the song was based. During a performance in Dublin in 2003, Dickinson 's flag - waving reportedly received a large amount of booing from the Irish audience. While the band were receiving criticism from Sharon Osbourne in 2005, at the time justifying her attack on the band at the 2005 Ozzfest, she accused Iron Maiden of disrespecting American troops, then fighting alongside the British in Iraq, for waving a Union Flag in the US, although Classic Rock magazine supported the band by pointing out that the song 's subject bore no relation to the military activity then taking place in the Middle East. On 15 August 2005, a live version of the song was released from the then upcoming live album, Death on the Road. On 24 April 2016, during Iron Maiden 's performance in Beijing ( their first in China ), Dickinson did not bring out a flag while performing `` The Trooper ''. The flag was also omitted for a concert in Shanghai two days later. In popular culture The song has appeared in several Iron Maiden tribute albums, including A Call To Irons : A Tribute To Iron Maiden, Numbers from the Beast, A Tribute to the Beast and Maiden Heaven : A Tribute to Iron Maiden, as well as on records by tribute bands such as Maiden uniteD ( on 2010 's Mind the Acoustic Pieces ) and The Iron Maidens ( on their 2006 self - titled debut album ). In addition, the song has been released by Sentenced on The Trooper EP ( 1994 ), Hellsongs on Hymns in the Key of 666 ( 2008 ), Thumper on the Metalliska compilation, Highland Glory as a bonus track on Forever Endeavour ( 2005 ), Radio Cult on Grooves From The Grave ( 2008 ), Stryper on The Covering, Iced Earth on the `` tour edition '' of their 2011 album, Dystopia, and 2Cellos on their 2015 album, Celloverse. On top of this, the track has also been included in the Guitar Hero 2, Carmageddon 2, Guitar Hero : Smash Hits and Rock Band video games, is mentioned in the novel World War Z by Max Brooks and is used as the opening theme for the documentary series Metal Evolution. Iron Maiden created a beer called `` Trooper '', named after the song. Northern Ireland During the course of the Troubles in Northern Ireland the image of Eddie, as he appears on the sleeve of `` The Trooper '', became an unofficial mascot of the Ulster Freedom Fighters loyalist paramilitary group and was the main figure on a number of the group 's murals. The loyalist representation frequently carried a tattered flag with the emblem of the Ulster Defence Association rather than the Union Flag as on the Iron Maiden sleeve. Track listings 1983 7 '' & 12 '' UK single Side one No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` The Trooper '' Steve Harris 4 : 10 Side two No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Cross-Eyed Mary '' ( Jethro Tull cover ) Ian Anderson 3 : 52 2005 Enhanced CD Compact Disc No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` The Trooper '' ( live at the Westfalenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany 24 November 2003 ) Harris 4 : 13 2. `` The Trooper '' Harris 4 : 12 3. `` Prowler '' ( live at Egilshöllin, Reykjavík, Iceland 7 June 2005 ) Harris 4 : 24 4. `` The Trooper '' ( VIDEO - live at the Westfallenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany 24 November 2003 ) Harris 4 : 12 5. `` The Trooper '' ( VIDEO - original video ) Harris 4 : 10 2005 7 '' Blue Vinyl Side one No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` The Trooper '' ( live at the Westfallenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany 24 November 2003 ) Harris 4 : 13 Side two No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Another Life '' ( live at Egilshollin, Reykjavík, Iceland 7 June 2005 ) Harris 3 : 43 2005 12 '' Picture Disc Side one No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` The Trooper '' ( live at the Westfallenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany 24 November 2003 ) Harris 4 : 13 Side two No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` The Trooper '' Harris 4 : 12 2. `` Murders in the Rue Morgue '' ( live at Egilshollin, Reykjavík, Iceland 7 June 2005 ) Harris 3 : 33 Personnel Production credits are adapted from the 7 - inch vinyl cover. Iron Maiden Bruce Dickinson -- lead vocals Dave Murray -- guitar Adrian Smith -- guitar Steve Harris -- bass guitar Nicko McBrain -- drums Production Martin Birch -- producer, engineer Derek Riggs -- cover illustration Charts Single Chart ( 1983 ) Peak position Album `` The Trooper '' Irish Singles Chart 12 Piece of Mind UK Singles Chart 12 Single Chart ( 1990 ) Peak position Album `` Flight of Icarus / The Trooper '' UK Albums Chart 7 -- Single Chart ( 2005 ) Peak position Album `` The Trooper '' ( live ) Canadian Singles Chart 5 Death on the Road Danish Singles Chart 7 Finnish Singles Chart 5 French Singles Chart 100 Irish Singles Chart 16 Italian Singles Chart 8 Spanish Singles Chart Swedish Singles Chart 5 Swiss Singles Chart 61 UK Singles Chart 5 Single Chart ( 2006 ) Position Album `` The Trooper '' ( live ) Spanish Singles Chart 10 Death on the Road Notes Jump up ^ Re-release of both singles as part of The First Ten Years box set. Exceeded the length limit of the UK Singles chart. References Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden Billboard Charts ''. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 29 January 2012. ^ Jump up to : Bushell, Garry ; Halfin, Ross ( 1985 ). Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden ( 2nd ed. ). Zomba Books. p. 114. ISBN 0 - 946391 - 84 - X. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden Like You 've Never Heard Them Before ! ''. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind ''. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 29 January 2012. ^ Jump up to : Wall, Mick ( 2004 ). Iron Maiden : Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography ( 3rd ed. ). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 245. ISBN 1 - 86074 - 542 - 3. Jump up ^ `` Maiden Vinyl Facts - Part 2 ''. ironmaiden.com. Iron Maiden. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014. Jump up ^ Childers, Chad ( 24 May 2013 ). `` Iron Maiden, ' The Trooper ' -- Songs About Soldiers ''. Loudwire. Retrieved 25 May 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Sabotage ! ''. Classic Rock ( 85 ) : 8. 1 October 2005. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden Will Make ' At Least One More Album, ' Says Bruce Dickinson ''. Blabbermouth.net. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2012. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden : More ' The Trooper ' Single Details Revealed ''. Blabbermouth.net. 27 July 2005. Retrieved 28 September 2014. Jump up ^ `` Various Artists - A Call to Irons : A Tribute to Iron Maiden, Vol. 1 ''. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Producer Bob Kulick Discusses Iron Maiden Tribute Album Numbers From The Beast ''. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 29 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Various Artists - A Tribute to the Beast ''. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Metallica, Machine Head, Avenged Sevenfold, Dream Theater featured on Maiden Heaven CD ''. Blabbermouth.net. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Threshold, Within Temptation Members Record Acoustic Versions Of Iron Maiden Classics ''. Blabbermouth.net. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` The Iron Maidens ''. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Sentenced - The Trooper ''. Metal Storm. Retrieved 3 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Hellsongs - Hymns in the Key of 666 ''. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Various Artists - Metalliska ''. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Highland Glory - Forever Endeavour ''. Discogs. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Radio Cult Catalogue ''. Radio Cult. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Stryper : The Covering Album Pushed Back To Early 2011 ''. Blabbermouth.net. 24 October 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iced Earth - Dystopia Tour Edition To Be Available At Merch Stands On North American Tour ''. Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2012. Jump up ^ `` 2Cellos Create A New Dimension With Celloverse Album ''. PR Newswire. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2015. Jump up ^ Bozon, Mark ( 5 May 2009 ). `` Guitar Hero Smash Hits : The Full Track List ''. IGN. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden Rock Band Downloadable Content Due In June ''. Blabbermouth.net. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2012. Jump up ^ Daniels, Neil ( 10 April 2014 ). Killers The Origins of Iron Maiden, 1975 - 1983 ( 1st ed. ). Soundcheck Books. p. 139. ISBN 0957570023. Retrieved 17 December 2016. Jump up ^ http://www.ironmaidenbeer.com/ Jump up ^ Mural directory from Conflict Archive on the Internet Jump up ^ Union Jack Fury of Iron Maiden Fans ; Point Crowd Boo at Flag Waving Jump up ^ `` The Trooper '' 7 Inch Single ( Media notes ). Iron Maiden. EMI. 20 June 1983. ^ Jump up to : `` Search the Charts ''. IRMA. Irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive 9 July 1983 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive 24 March 1990 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden Billboard Singles ''. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 3 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden - ' The Trooper ' ( song ) ''. Tracklisten. Danishcharts.com. Retrieved 26 April 2013. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden - ' The Trooper ' ( song ) ''. The Official Finnish Charts. Finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 26 April 2013. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden - ' The Trooper ' ( chanson ) ''. SNEP ( in French ). Lescharts.com. Retrieved 26 April 2013. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden Songs ''. FIMI. Italiancharts.com. Retrieved 3 October 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` Iron Maiden - ' The Trooper ' ( Song ) ''. PROMUSICAE. Spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 26 April 2013. Jump up ^ `` Discography Iron Maiden ''. Sverigetopplistan. Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 20 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden - ' The Trooper ' ''. Swiss Hitparade. Retrieved 3 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive 27 August 2005 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2011. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Iron Maiden Steve Harris Dave Murray Adrian Smith Bruce Dickinson Nicko McBrain Janick Gers Doug Sampson Paul Di'Anno Dennis Stratton Clive Burr Blaze Bayley Studio albums Iron Maiden Killers The Number of the Beast Piece of Mind Powerslave Somewhere in Time Seventh Son of a Seventh Son No Prayer for the Dying Fear of the Dark The X Factor Virtual XI Brave New World Dance of Death A Matter of Life and Death The Final Frontier The Book of Souls Live albums Live After Death A Real Live One A Real Dead One Live at Donington Maiden England A Real Live Dead One Rock in Rio BBC Archives Beast over Hammersmith Death on the Road Flight 666 En Vivo ! The Book of Souls : Live Chapter Extended plays The Soundhouse Tapes Live ! ! + one Maiden Japan No More Lies Compilations Best of the Beast Ed Hunter Best of the ' B ' Sides Edward the Great The Essential Iron Maiden Somewhere Back in Time From Fear to Eternity Box sets The First Ten Years Eddie 's Head Eddie 's Archive Video albums Live at the Rainbow Video Pieces Behind the Iron Curtain Live After Death 12 Wasted Years Maiden England The First Ten Years ( From There to Eternity ) Donington Live 1992 Raising Hell Classic Albums : Iron Maiden -- The Number of the Beast Rock in Rio Visions of the Beast The History of Iron Maiden -- Part 1 : The Early Days Death on the Road Flight 666 En Vivo ! The Book of Souls : Live Chapter Singles `` Running Free '' `` Sanctuary '' `` Women in Uniform '' `` Twilight Zone '' `` Purgatory '' `` Run to the Hills '' `` The Number of the Beast '' `` Flight of Icarus '' `` The Trooper '' `` 2 Minutes to Midnight '' `` Aces High '' `` Wasted Years '' `` Stranger in a Strange Land '' `` Can I Play with Madness '' `` The Evil That Men Do '' `` The Clairvoyant ( live ) '' `` Infinite Dreams ( live ) '' `` Holy Smoke '' `` Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter '' `` Be Quick or Be Dead '' `` From Here to Eternity '' `` Wasting Love '' `` Fear of the Dark ( live ) '' `` Hallowed Be Thy Name ( live ) '' `` Man on the Edge '' `` Lord of the Flies '' `` Virus '' `` The Angel and the Gambler '' `` Futureal '' `` The Wicker Man '' `` Out of the Silent Planet '' `` Wildest Dreams '' `` Rainmaker '' `` The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg '' `` Different World '' `` El Dorado '' `` Speed of Light '' `` Empire of the Clouds '' Other songs `` Satellite 15... The Final Frontier '' Tours `` Iron Maiden Tour '' `` Killer World Tour '' `` The Beast on the Road '' `` World Piece Tour '' `` World Slavery Tour '' `` Somewhere on Tour '' `` Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour '' `` No Prayer on the Road '' `` Fear of the Dark Tour '' `` Real Live Tour '' `` The X Factour '' `` Virtual XI World Tour '' `` The Ed Hunter Tour '' `` Brave New World Tour '' `` Give Me Ed... ' Til I 'm Dead Tour '' `` Dance of Death World Tour '' `` Eddie Rips Up the World Tour '' `` A Matter of Life and Death Tour '' `` Somewhere Back in Time World Tour '' `` The Final Frontier World Tour '' `` Maiden England World Tour '' `` The Book of Souls World Tour '' `` Legacy of the Beast World Tour '' Related Members Discography Songs Awards and nominations Eddie Tribute albums Urchin Psycho Motel Samson The Entire Population of Hackney The Iron Maidens Derek Riggs Rod Smallwood Andy Taylor Book Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Trooper&oldid=831140407 '' Categories : Iron Maiden songs 1983 singles 2005 singles Crimean War Songs about the military Songs written by Steve Harris ( musician ) Hidden categories : CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) Music infoboxes with Module : String errors Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Track listings with deprecated parameters Talk Contents About Wikipedia Български Ελληνικά Español Euskara Français Íslenska Italiano Magyar Nederlands Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Русский Српски / srpski Suomi Svenska Türkçe 8 more Edit links This page was last edited on 18 March 2018, at 23 : 44. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: what iron maiden album is the trooper on
Answer: Piece of Mind