Virus (Iron Maiden song)

"Virus" is a single from Iron Maiden, released in 1996. It is the first single since 1980's "Women in Uniform" that does not appear on any official Iron Maiden studio album. It was, however, featured as a brand new track on the band's first ever career retrospective — 1996's double-disc Best of the Beast. It is the only Iron Maiden song to be credited to both of the band's guitarists. It has yet to be performed in Iron Maiden concerts featuring Bruce Dickinson on vocals.

In order to celebrate the band's 21 years, the single was released in three different formats. The first format features the same B-sides as the "Lord of the Flies" single from 1996, which included covers from The Who and UFO. The second features songs from the 1979 compilation album Metal for Muthas, which marks the only studio recordings to feature former guitarist Tony Parsons. The third features two songs from Maiden's legendary 1978 demo recordings, The Soundhouse Tapes.

On the EP Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada by Instrumental rock group Godspeed You! Black Emperor, the track "BBF3" features the eponymous vox pop performer reciting a poem made from the lyrics from "Virus", written by Blaze Bailey (no relation).

The intro riff was re-used by Bristol-based trio Kosheen for their song I Want It All from their 2001 album Resist.

Track listing

CD 1

1. "Virus (Short Version)" (Blaze Bayley, Janick Gers, Steve Harris, Dave Murray) - 3:54
2. "My Generation" (The Who cover) - 3:38
3. "Doctor Doctor" (UFO cover) - 4:50

CD 2

1. "Virus" (Bayley, Gers, Harris, Murray) - 6:14
2. "Sanctuary" (from the 1979 compilation album Metal for Muthas) - 3:34
3. "Wrathchild" (from the 1979 compilation album Metal for Muthas) - 3:07

12" disc

1. "Virus" (Bayley, Gers, Harris, Murray) - 6:14
2. "Prowler" (from the 1978 demo The Soundhouse Tapes) - 4:20
3. "Invasion" (from the 1978 demo The Soundhouse Tapes) - 3:07

Promotional CD for radio stations

1. "Virus" - 3:53
2. "Man on the Edge" - 4:11
3. "Afraid to Shoot Strangers (Live) - 6:48
4. "2 Minutes to Midnight" - 6:02
5. "The Trooper" - 4:13
6. "The Number of the Beast" - 4:52
7. "Wrathchild" - 2:54
8. "Strange World" - 5:22
9. "Iron Maiden" - 4:01

Personnel

"Virus", "My Generation", "Doctor Doctor"

• Blaze Bayley – vocals
• Dave Murray – guitar
• Janick Gers – guitar, backing vocals
• Steve Harris – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Nicko McBrain – drums

"Prowler", "Invasion"

• Paul Di'Anno – vocals
• Dave Murray – guitar
• Steve Harris – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Doug Sampson – drums

"Sanctuary", "Wrathchild"

• Paul Di'Anno – vocals
• Dave Murray – guitar
• Tony Parsons - guitar
• Steve Harris – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Doug Sampson – drums

Chart performance

References