The Number of the Beast ( song ) - wikipedia The Number of the Beast ( song ) `` The Number of the Beast '' Single by Iron Maiden from the album The Number of the Beast B - side 1982 `` Remember Tomorrow '' ( live ) 2005 CD `` The Number of the Beast '' ( live ) `` Hallowed Be Thy Name '' ( live ) 2005 7 '' `` The Number of the Beast '' ( live ) 2005 12 '' `` The Number of the Beast '' ( live ) `` Remember Tomorrow '' Released 26 April 1982 3 January 2005 Recorded 1981 Genre Heavy metal Length 4 : 49 Label EMI Songwriter ( s ) Steve Harris Producer ( s ) Martin Birch Iron Maiden singles chronology `` Run to the Hills '' ( 1982 ) `` The Number of the Beast '' ( 1982 ) `` Flight of Icarus '' ( 1983 ) `` Run to the Hills '' ( 1982 ) `` The Number of the Beast '' ( 1982 ) `` Flight of Icarus '' ( 1983 ) `` Rainmaker '' ( 2003 ) Rainmaker 2003 `` The Number of the Beast '' ( 2005 ) The Number of the Beast2005 `` The Trooper '' ( live ) ( 2005 ) String Module Error : Match not found2005 The Number of the Beast track listing `` 22 Acacia Avenue '' ( 4 ) `` The Number of the Beast '' ( 5 ) `` Run to the Hills '' ( 6 ) For other uses, see Number of the Beast ( disambiguation ). `` The Number of the Beast '' is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It is Iron Maiden 's seventh single release, and the second single from their 1982 studio album of the same name. It was reissued in 2005 and also prior to that in 1990 in The First Ten Years box set on CD and 12 '' vinyl, in which it was combined the previous single, `` Run to the Hills ''. Upon release in 1982, the song caused controversy in the United States where its religious subject matter caused outrage amongst religious groups. In spite of this, it remains one of the band 's more popular songs, reaching No. 18 in the UK singles charts, and has been performed on almost all of their concert tours. Additionally, the song has been covered numerous times and has appeared in several video games and films. Contents 1 Writing and recording 2 Single details 3 Legacy 4 Controversy 5 Track listing 6 Personnel 7 Chart performance 7.1 Notes 8 References Writing and recording According to the song 's writer, bassist and band - founder Steve Harris, it was inspired by a nightmare he had after watching the film Damien : Omen II, in addition to the poem Tam o ' Shanter by Robert Burns. The song opens with a spoken word passage, read by English actor Barry Clayton, which quotes Revelation 12 : 12 and Revelation 13 : 18. According to lead vocalist, Bruce Dickinson, the band originally asked Vincent Price to read the intro, but decided to hire Clayton after Price refused to do it for anything less than £ 25,000. The track is known for its very long, high - pitched and guttural wail at the end of the intro, which AllMusic describes as `` the most blood - curdling Dickinson scream on record ''. In the Classic Albums documentary based on The Number of the Beast album, Dickinson states that it came about through frustration with producer Martin Birch, who forced him to sing the introduction repeatedly for hours on end. Single details The single 's cover is the last of three singles to feature Riggs ' depiction of Satan, which debuted on the cover of the `` Purgatory '' single. The cover of The Number of the Beast is the aftermath to the cover of the `` Run to the Hills '' single where Eddie and Satan are depicted in battle. The single was also released in red vinyl. The live version of `` Remember Tomorrow '' was recorded during the Killer World Tour in Padua, Italy on 29 October 1981 with Bruce Dickinson on vocals. Dickinson had sung live for the first time on an Iron Maiden tour only three nights earlier, on 26 October in Bologna, a month and a half following the dismissal of previous vocalist Paul Di'Anno. It is also the last single to feature Clive Burr on drums, as he was replaced by Nicko McBrain at the end of The Beast on the Road tour in 1982. In 2005, to tie in with the 2004 DVD The History of Iron Maiden -- Part 1 : The Early Days, `` The Number of the Beast '' was re-released, along with live versions of the song and `` Hallowed Be Thy Name '', recorded in 2002. Legacy `` The Number of the Beast '' is one of the band 's most popular songs, appearing at No. 7 on VH1 's 40 Greatest Metal Songs and No. 6 in Martin Popoff 's book `` The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of All Time '', in the list was compiled from 15,000 votes submitted by musicians, music journalists and the general public. Since its release, the song has been covered by Avulsed, Iced Earth, Sinergy, Powderfinger, Djali Zwan ( whose version was used for the soundtrack of the cult film Spun ), The Iron Maidens and many other bands. In addition, it was covered on a String Quartet Tribute to the band. This song has featured in video games, such as Tony Hawk 's Pro Skater 4, Guitar Hero III : Legends of Rock, and can be downloaded to Rock Band ( originally offered as a cover version, the original master recording complete with spoken introduction was also uploaded along with `` Run to the Hills '' and a live performance version of `` Hallowed Be Thy Name '' ). On top of this, it can be heard in the film Murder by Numbers and the British TV series Sherlock. Controversy In addition to the album 's artwork and title, the song was a prominent target of religious groups in the United States who accused Iron Maiden of being a Satanic group. The controversy led to organised burnings of the group 's albums as well as several protests during their 1982 tour, although this would only serve to give the band more publicity. Steve Harris has since commented that the accusations made against them were `` mad. They completely got the wrong end of the stick. They obviously had n't read the lyrics. They just wanted to believe all that rubbish about us being Satanists. '' On their following album, Piece of Mind, the band placed a backmasked message at the beginning of the song `` Still Life, '' in which the band 's drummer, Nicko McBrain, gives a drunken impression of Idi Amin. According to McBrain, the message, in which he says `` Do n't meddle wid t'ings yo do n't understand '', was directed at those who had labelled Iron Maiden as devil worshippers, commenting, `` We thought, if people were going to be stupid about this sort of thing, we might as well give them something to be really stupid about, you know ? '' On top of the accusations of Satanism, when `` The Number of the Beast '' 's music video was first shown on MTV, Eddie 's appearance at the end was edited out after complaints from frightened viewers. Track listing 1982 7 '' UK single ( EMI 5287 ) 1990 CD single Also on red or clear vinyl ( EMI 5287 ), 12 '' ( 1A K052 - 1076386 ) & cassette ( EMI TC IM3 ) Side one No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` The Number of the Beast '' Steve Harris 4 : 49 Side two No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Remember Tomorrow '' ( live in Padua, Italy, 29 October 1981 ) Harris, Paul Di'Anno 5 : 26 2005 Enhanced CD ( EMS 666 ) Compact Disc No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` The Number of the Beast '' Harris 4 : 53 2. `` The Number of the Beast '' ( live at the Brixton Academy, London, 19 -- 21 March 2002 ) Harris 4 : 48 3. `` Hallowed Be Thy Name '' ( live at the Brixton Academy, London, 19 -- 21 March 2002 ) Harris 7 : 39 4. `` The Number of the Beast '' ( VIDEO ) Harris Unknown 5. `` The Number of the Beast '' ( VIDEO - live at the Brixton Academy, London, 19 -- 21 March 2002 ) Harris 4 : 48 2005 7 '' Red Vinyl ( EM 666 ) Side one No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` The Number of the Beast '' Harris 4 : 49 No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` The Number of the Beast '' ( live at the Brixton Academy, London, 19 -- 21 March 2002 ) Harris 4 : 48 2005 12 '' Picture Disc ( 12EM 666 ) Side one No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` The Number of the Beast '' Harris 4 : 49 Side two No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` The Number of the Beast '' ( live at the Brixton Academy, London, 19 -- 21 March 2002 ) Harris 4 : 48 2. `` Remember Tomorrow '' Harris, Di'Anno 5 : 26 Personnel Production credits are adapted from the 7 inch vinyl and reissue picture disc covers. Iron Maiden Bruce Dickinson -- lead vocals Dave Murray -- guitar Adrian Smith -- guitar Janick Gers -- guitar ( live - 2005 ) Steve Harris -- bass guitar Clive Burr -- drums Nicko McBrain -- drums ( live - 2005 ) Production Martin Birch -- producer, engineer Derek Riggs -- cover illustration Kevin Shirley -- mixing ( live - 2005 ) Tony Newton -- mixing ( live - 2005 ) Chart performance Single Chart ( 1982 ) Peak position Album `` The Number of the Beast '' UK Singles Chart 18 The Number of the Beast Irish Singles Chart 19 Single Chart ( 1990 ) Peak position Album `` Run to the Hills / The Number of the Beast '' UK Albums Chart -- Single Chart ( 2005 ) Peak position Album `` The Number of the Beast '' Finnish Singles Chart -- French Singles Chart 78 German Singles Chart 76 Irish Singles Chart 11 Italian Singles Chart 5 Norwegian Singles Chart 13 Swedish Singles Chart 40 Swiss Singles Chart 42 UK Singles Chart 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. Jump up ^ Re-release of original studio version along with 2002 live version. References Jump up ^ Wall, Mick ( 2004 ). Iron Maiden : Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography ( 3rd ed. ). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 224. ISBN 1 - 86074 - 542 - 3. ^ Jump up to : Classic Albums : Iron Maiden -- The Number of the Beast ( DVD ). Eagle Vision. 4 December 2001. Jump up ^ `` The 10 Mightiest Intros in Metal ''. NME. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2016. Jump up ^ `` Bruce Dickinson : Iron Maiden on tour in 2005 ''. Blabbermouth.net. 8 June 2004. Retrieved 9 January 2012. ^ Jump up to : Huey, Steve. `` Review : The Number of the Beast ''. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 1 January 2011. Jump up ^ Daniels, Neil ( 2014 ). Killers : The Origins of Iron Maiden 1975 - 1983. Soundcheck Books. p. 115. ISBN 978 - 0 - 9575700 - 2 - 3. Jump up ^ Wall, Mick ( 2004 ). Iron Maiden : Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography ( 3rd ed. ). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 219. ISBN 1 - 86074 - 542 - 3. Jump up ^ Wall, Mick ( 2004 ). Iron Maiden : Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography ( 3rd ed. ). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 240. ISBN 1 - 86074 - 542 - 3. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden To Release ' The Number of the Beast ' ''. Blabbermouth.net. 16 November 2004. Retrieved 28 September 2014. Jump up ^ `` VH1 40 Greatest Metal Songs '', 1 -- 4 May 2006, VH1 Channel, reported by VH1.com ; last accessed 10 September 2006. Jump up ^ Popoff, Martin ( 1 October 2002 ). The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of All Time. ECW Press. Jump up ^ `` Avulsed - Discography ''. Metal Storm. Retrieved 18 February 2013. Jump up ^ `` A Tribute to the Gods ''. Iced Earth. Retrieved 13 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` A Tribute to the Beast ' ''. Amazon.com. Retrieved 6 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` ' Metre ' : Powderfinger ''. Amazon.com. Retrieved 8 March 2008. Jump up ^ `` Djali Zwan Official Myspace ''. Myspace. Retrieved 13 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` The Iron Maidens discography ''. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 4 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` Anatomy of Evil : A string quartet tribute to Iron Maiden ''. Amazon.com. Retrieved 24 September 2011. Jump up ^ `` Tony Hawk 's Pro Skater 4 soundtrack ''. GameSpot. Retrieved 24 September 2011. Jump up ^ `` Guitar Hero 3 ''. Amazon.com. Retrieved 13 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden ''. RockBand.com. Retrieved 24 September 2011. Jump up ^ `` Murder by Numbers Soundtrack ''. IMDb. Retrieved 24 September 2011. Jump up ^ Louisa Mellor ( 17 January 2017 ). `` Sherlock : 38 nerdy spots in The Final Problem ''. Den of Geek. ^ Jump up to : Young, Simon. `` Raising Hell ''. Kerrang ! Legends ( 2 ) : 32. Jump up ^ The History of Iron Maiden -- Part 1 : The Early Days ( DVD ). EMI. 23 November 2004. Jump up ^ Wall, Mick ( 2004 ). Iron Maiden : Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography ( 3rd ed. ). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 228. ISBN 1 - 86074 - 542 - 3. ^ Jump up to : Wall, Mick ( 2004 ). Iron Maiden : Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography ( 3rd ed. ). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 246. ISBN 1 - 86074 - 542 - 3. Jump up ^ Various dates in Iron Maiden history Jump up ^ `` The Number of the Beast '' 7 Inch Single ( Media notes ). Iron Maiden. EMI. 26 April 1982. Jump up ^ `` The Number of the Beast '' Reissue Picture Disc ( Media notes ). Iron Maiden. EMI. 3 January 2005. ^ Jump up to : `` Iron Maiden Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 August 2012. Jump up ^ `` Search the charts ''. IRMA. Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 3 October 2008. Jump up ^ `` UK Albums Archive - 17 March 1990 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden discography ''. Finland 's Official List. finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden discography ''. SNEP. lescharts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden German singles ''. Media Control Charts. Musicline.de. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden discography ''. IRMA. Irish - charts. con. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden discography ''. FIMI. Italiancharts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden discography ''. VG - lista. Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden discography ''. Sverigetopplistan. Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Iron Maiden - ' The Number of the Beast ' ''. Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 11 October 2011. 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_Number_of_the_Beast_(song)&oldid=821510169 '' Categories : 1982 singles Iron Maiden songs Songs about the Devil Songs written by Steve Harris ( musician ) Music based on the Bible 1981 songs EMI Records singles Obscenity controversies in music Hidden categories : Music infoboxes with Module : String errors Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Track listings with deprecated parameters Track listings with input errors Talk Contents About Wikipedia Български Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Euskara Français Hrvatski Italiano Magyar Nederlands Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska Türkçe 9 more Edit links This page was last edited on 20 January 2018, at 22 : 47. 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Question: who does the intro to number of the beast
Answer: English actor Barry Clayton