According to a recent report by Forbes, Iron Maiden’s iconic live album Live After Death has reached a major milestone, returning to multiple charts in the United Kingdom, where the band originated, thanks to a special vinyl reissue. This release has propelled the album to the top spot on several charts, earning Iron Maiden a brand new #1 spot.
Live After Death has re-entered the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart, and for the first time in its history, it has claimed the #1 position. Initially, the album debuted at #31 over 20 years ago and has since spent only 16 weeks on the UK’s list of bestselling rock and metal albums.
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Precisely 40 years after its initial release, BMG has announced a stunning, limited collector’s 2LP color vinyl edition of Iron Maiden’s Live After Death. This exclusive title is available for order in the US as a Walmart exclusive.
This beautifully packaged edition features the original gatefold sleeve artwork and includes two 140g vinyls, one in blue and the other in yellow, with the 2015 audio remastering. The package also comes with a replica 24-page World Slavery Tour program, reviving the original tour program for new generations.
In addition to the vinyl, the package includes a replica tour pass and a glossy 12-page booklet. The booklet contains the original eight-page booklet, along with an exclusive and brand-new essay entitled Rime And Punishment: Celebrating 40 Years Of Live After Death. In this essay, Iron Maiden fan club editor Alexander Milas interviews Steve Harris, Nicko McBrain, Rod Smallwood, and acclaimed illustrator Derek Riggs about the legendary album.
Reflecting on that time, Steve Harris explains, “We were touring non-stop. It was literally just, ‘record, tour, record, tour’ – we didn’t stop. Rod was pushing us hard, and that was the right thing to do. I mean, we were totally up for it, it’s not like we were doing stuff that we didn’t want to do. You think you’re invincible – ‘Yeah, we’ll take that on, no problem.’ That’s the way to crack it. It’s the only way for a band like us because we had no radio play whatsoever back then.”
Live After Death is widely regarded as not only the greatest heavy metal live album of all time but also one of the most iconic live releases in any musical genre. The album was recorded primarily during the four nights Iron Maiden played at Los Angeles’ Long Beach Arena in March 1985. The final side of the double album was recorded during the four nights the band played at Hammersmith Odeon in October 1984.
Both sets of concerts were part of the groundbreaking World Slavery Tour, which supported the band’s 1984 album Powerslave. The tour began in Poland and featured 187 concerts across 331 days, firmly establishing Iron Maiden as one of the most exciting live bands on the planet, a reputation they still maintain today.
Now in their 50th year, Iron Maiden has released 17 studio albums and sold over 100 million records worldwide, played almost 2,500 live shows across 64 countries, and received numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award and a Brit Award. Most recently, they joined the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd with their very own Royal Mail stamp set and were honored by the Royal Mint with a collection of official coins released in 2025.
Their beer, Trooper Beer, is now in its twelfth year and has sold over 40 million pints, distributed in 68 countries, including six local variants in the USA, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Sweden, and Australia. 2025 marks the band’s official 50th year, celebrated by a two-year world tour entitled Run For Your Lives and a range of events and products, including their first-ever official hardcover visual history book, Infinite Dreams.
A documentary film about Iron Maiden by Universal Pictures Content Group will be released in early 2026, and the band will continue their two-year Run For Your Lives World Tour through Europe and beyond. The tour includes a huge and historic performance at Knebworth Park in the UK on July 11th, 2026.
(Top photo – Moshe Bracka)
