Why Iron Maiden LOST the battle for DUNE 🪱 To Tame a Land Reaction
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- Most Iron Maiden fans know that that song To Tame a Land was inspired by Frank Herbert's novel Dune... and so in order of the 2024 movie Dune let's revisited this Iron Maiden classic and discuss how the band entered the fight for Arrakis... well, almost!
In 1983 Iron Maiden release their fourth studio album Piece of Mind, which was simply packed with the many references to movies, poems and other literally work, whether it was on Where Eagles Dare, The Trooper, Quest For Fire or the album’s closing track To Tame a Land.
And while lyrically most of those would be self-sufficient and easily understood by an average Heavy Metal fan, Piece of Mind’s outro was simply packed with seemingly senseless words… or sounds, such as Fremen, Caladan, Gom Jabbar of Muad’Dib… which would make absolutely zero sense to most, as by May of 1984 they were not yet popularised by Hollywood and thus the only way to comprehend the meaning of To Tame a Land would be through familiarising yourself with the novel Dune.
Written by the band’s bassist and founder Steve Harris To Tame a Land was an ode to the fictional world created by the American author Frank Herbert. Interestingly enough in 1984 Steve Harris actually said in one of the interviews, that To Tame a Land "is the best song he’s ever written," adding that he "was really pleased with Phantom, but now he has to say that this is the best…" which let’s be honest here after the release of Number of the beast which featured many songs written by Steve, including Hallowed Be Thy Name was a rather bold statement.
00:00 - An almost obvious reference
01:36 - Original title
04:07 - Iron Maiden strike back
05:07 - The lyrics
06:02 - From 1984 to 1986
06:59 - Not the only reference
08:32 - The rabbit hole
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#IronMaiden #UpTheIrons #Dune
Do you think Iron Maiden should play To Tame a Land live again? Also, posted ALL of the materials used in this episode FOR FREE (you don't have to be a Patreon unless you would like to support the show) here - www.patreon.com/posts/iron-maiden-to-100245152?Link&
I would be great to hear live! 🤘🏻😎
Absolutely! 🤘🏼
@MetalPilgrim - If you look above Herbert Ails you can see Sand Dune Nightclub and grill with arrows pointing to Herbet Ails.
Absolutely! I think it would sound quite nice live.
Since Dune is currently a hit in theaters, now is the perfect time.
To Tame A Land is one of the best Maiden songs EVER!!! Of all their songs, it is a top-10 for me!!! The song has an atmospheric vibe from like a distant planet. The first riff is magical to me!! It never will get old!!!! They need to add the beautiful tune to the U.S. leg of the Future Past tour!!!!!
One of their best songs.
From dynamics to lyrics to instrumentation - precious.
I remember Bruce Dickinson tearing into Frank Herbert's refusal to grant permission to use the title "Dune" on the World Piece Tour gig at the Playhouse in Edinburgh. As a 13 year old I was clueless and only a little less clueless after reading the novel itself. Great song though and a shout out to Dream Theater who did the most amazing cover of the song on the covers disc contained in the deluxe edition of "Black Clouds and Silver Linings".
Did the same rant in Cardiff too !
DT's version is fantastic
No you don't
@@thekaptain1555shut up
@thekaptain1555 May 1983, I assure you I do. First ever gig. Grand Prix were the supporting act and tickets were a fiver.
I borrowed a friend’s copy of Piece of Mind in the 1980s, and when that song came on I was like, “HEY, that’s from Dune!” I had read the book a couple of years before that, and I was so happy to see that Iron Maiden had read the same book. One of the most exciting things about listening to music pre-internet was coming across songs that referenced works from other media like books or movies, or catching something in a book or movie that you recognized from song lyrics, but hadn’t realized was a reference.
This is my favorite iron maiden song period, it’s how I became absolutely obsessed with dune some years back
There's a great video here on YT that syncs the '84 movie with the song. Great stuff! 😅
@@ScottyKirk1 That was the video that led me to finding dune!!
Together with Still Life, To Tame a Land is the song I'd love for them to play again as I sadly have never been able to experience them live.
I saw Maiden in 84 and 21. If you get to see them next time they come close to you. You should do it! I can vouch for the fact that they still rock as hard as they did in the 80s.
Saw them about 15 years ago, a few friends have caught them more recently. Great show but- Bruce came right out and told everybody ‘we’ve got a new album and we’re playing the whole thing!’ Not gonna lie, there was a very low, collective groan from the audience. I hear it’s pretty typical. We got Hallowed and (maybe) run to the hills as encore’s. Place went nuts. The rest was good but I’d never heard any of it.
To Tame a Land is an absolute banger. One of their best IMHO.
The complete opposite with Patrick McGoohan who's response when they were getting permission to use the prisoner was Do It!
_Do it!_ 😂
I caught the World Piece tour stop in Toronto and remember having a good laugh when Bruce introduced the song, tearing a strip off Frank Herbert for not letting them use Dune as the title.
Man , this really takes me back ... 1983 was a long time ago , yes indeed. My dad had a massive stereo in his living room , so all the neighbors got to listen to POM back then as well !!! This is my favorite song from my favorite album , UP THE IRONS ( and the rivit heads too ) !!!
To Tame a Land inspired me to read Dune, now my favorite novel.
Being a Ukrainian not living in Ukraine (US), what I learned from this vid really struck a chord with me. It just tied everything together in some strange way. Very cool feeling.
I had this album on vinyl, and the lyrics for the song printed inside misspelled “Muad’Dib” as “Maud’Dib.”
Fun fact: As a big Maiden fan, "To tame a land" wasn't exactly my favorite song, BUT - because of those "mystical" words I did some research and found out that it is lore from a book called "Dune" by Frank Herbert. OK, so I bought the first book, read it, and bought the second...and the third...and the fourth...to make it short: all six of Herbert's original work. This was some thirty years ago. And to this day, "Dune" has left it's mark in many ways. And if you haven't read it: DO IT! It's very deep, philosophical, and is a perfect canvas to reflect about humanity, ethics, religion and politics alltogether. And makes you appreciate Maiden's song even more!
P.S.: Blind Guardian also made a song about Dune: Traveler in time.
Do you know any more bands that did songs about Dune? 'Cause I'd really love to know!
Best blind guardian song for sure!
As luck would have it, I'm seeing BG a week from now! I would just rather not go to New York. But you got to do what you got to do.
@@Defrezus I'll be seeing them on this tour as well.
@@Defrezus :-D I hear you man, I hear you! Have a good time at their show \m/
That is ironic that you posted this video. I recently watched both the new release of Dune and went back to the 1984 version to juxtapose the difference between the two. To tame a Land is arguably my favorite Iron Maiden song of all time. I love the middle eastern vibe throughout the song and how it is so atmospheric in sound that it transports you into this otherworldly place known as Dune. As a bass player myself I have sat down and learned this song and it is not easy to play the whole way through as it takes a lot of stamina. Especially when it comes to that riff you had highlighted in the video is rather quick and tricky to pull off and do. I knew of the movie Dune back in 1984 and I believe at the time there was an arcade video game of it, but it wasn't until years later I became interested in the source of inspiration behind that song (as well as other Maiden tunes such as Brave New World as an example in which I read also). I think Frank Herbert shot himself in the foot for denying Maiden to use the original song title Dune but in all fairness, I do prefer the (now) alternate title much better as it adds to the intrigue of the song all the more.
Thank you for putting this up! . . .
Around the time this album was released, I was working at a Pizza Restaurant in Diamond Bar California. I was introduced maybe a year or 2 before the album release, to the Dune (Novel) series by a friend in high school (circa 1979), and I also became a fan of Maiden after their debut album. On a AOR FM Station from LA that is now long gone; "KMET 94.7" ("The Mighty Met") was one of the 1st in the nation to have an all Metal program on Fridays in 1983 at 9pm that was hosted by "Jim Ladd" called *The Mighty Metal Shop/kMETAL Shop,* in which I heard TONS of bands that would become classics, and the latest _subgenres_ being debuted throughout the 80's (including MANY Underground bands, and the NWOBHM).
But on the same station, was a segment that came on between commercials called "Off The Record" (which I believe was hosted by DJ "Cynthia Fox") . . . I wish I had taped this on the "Boom Box" that I listened to music with at work, as Cynthia told the story about Frank Herbert and Iron Maiden, and what his Publicist had responded. Which answered the question for me why it wasn't entitled "Dune", because it was my favorite track by Maiden off "Piece of Mind" (and "Where Eagles Dare").
But it continued . . . I am _guessing_ I heard this with my own ears a year or 2 after the release of Piece of Mind, Cynthia Fox actually interviewed Frank Herbert (!!!), and for the "Off the Record" segment, asked Frank if he ever _heard_ the Maiden track? (!!!). And she _played it for him_ . . . and he actually liked it! I can remember he was quite taken by how they put his story and the lyrics together (I'm sure I remember him saying that), and the music itself! I think, as anyone who had no clue what Metal music really was, only had stereotypes & cliches to base what they _thought_ the music would sound like.
Believe me, I have scoured the Internet and Yt to find it to no avail :(. I may even go to lengths to see if I can contact _Cynthia_ to in-fact confirm that I didn't dream this up :P. But I thought I'd share this with fellow Maiden & DUNE fans. Maybe someone here in SoCal will also remember hearing it.
Note, there have been PLENTY of Metal bands taking a crack at the DUNE storyline as well . . .
mavearworx.weebly.com/blog/m-a-v-e-a-r-w-o-r-x-track-to-track-playlist-4-d-u-n-e
- Thanks again Metal Pilgrim, and taking time to read \m/.
Once, traveling on my motorcycle from Belgrade to Stuttgart, most of the time I did the Tun-ah-tunah-ttunah-tuna... drlinnng, drlinnng! in my helmet. Such a great song. Thanks again and I hope you have your city back soon. 💪
That must have been an amazing trip! I've been in both Belgrade and Stuttgart, but not from one to the other - and certainly not on a motorcycle. Cheers!
@@GBCR It was - especially as I was basically a kid. 😊 Cheers!
Woww Man, Im spanish and I didnt know the fact that the band incorporated that riff based in Isaac Albeniz! I've always listened and reminded me a lot, but never thought it was played with that intention! Great video as well!!!
Serious : it hardly sounds intentional. And Pilgrim will never know until Harris admits it. This channel is always so full of BS.
Thanks for the insight! It was only a few months ago, after listening to this song for all those years, did I realise it was about Dune. I was sat listening to it in the car when the penny dropped. What a great song.
Great Video. Worth a sub. I remember Bruce telling that story about Frank Herbert's refusal to let them use the name when they played it on the Piece of Mind tour. He was the best storyteller. I have been playing To Tame a Land for my 11-year old son and we are going to watch the first Dune movie next week. Would love to see a video about his Revelations rap on the same tour about Samuel Taylor Coleridge, hemp, and Queen Victoria.
Inspired by Dune , I recommend "Traveller in Time" by Blind Guardian
I'm not sure what's more shocking.. The fact that Frank Herbert denied Maiden or that people still haven't subscribed to your channel!! 🤘🏻😎🙏🏻💥
I read the dune books as a teenager, and never made the connection. It wasn't until I mentioned to someone that it was a shame Maiden had never done a song about Dune as I figured it would be a perfect fit that it was pointed out to me that To Tame a land was in fact Dune. Something of a Revelation.
Question, there are so many high quality clips from the piece of mind era in this video, where did you got them? I always struggle to find good videos of that tour.
Also, as always, great video! This song is so awesome, its the perfect precursor to the Powerslave era imo.
Hey man, just posted all of the links here (you don't have to be a Patron) - www.patreon.com/posts/iron-maiden-to-100245152?Link&
would love to hear to tame a land live! Since I'm born in 83 it was hard for me to catch that tour...so even after my 25th iron maiden show in wacken ( I did try to find you btw would've been nice to talk) I still haven't heard that song...next time I meet steve I'll ask about it for sure now that alexander the great been played let's go for a return of to tame a land :P
My favorite song on the Piece Of Mind album back when it came out :) Much because it is co-written with Dave Murray
It's kind of super crazy. I have loved this song since first hearing it and it is one of my favorite Maiden tracks. I had never read the novel but did talk to people who had and they gave me the gist of it. I saw the original movie in 1985 and hated it. It was just to bizarre back then. Fast forward to a couple of years ago when the new Dune movie comes out. Right before that movie I listened to the Dune book on audio and fell in love with it. I wasn't super impressed with the movie and now feel the 84 version is better. I then read/listened to the Frank Hebert biography. This story is in there. Now I've read Dune Messiah and Children of Dune and seen the new movie and kind of hated it too. I went back and reread chapters 38 to the end of the book, the plot of this movie, and they took to much out. The movie is really the things they don't talk about in the book. There would be one line about a battle but no description and the movie of course fleshed that out. Which was good but they took away some of the best parts of the book. Sorry, a bit of the rant at the end. I love this song.
7:57 this sounds more like that one part in "mother Russia" from no prayer for the dying
Awesome Vlad. Cheers
Rime of the ancient mariner, one of the best metal pieces ever written. They honor the horror tale said to be one of the first ever written.
🤘🏻🇸🇪
I remember trying to read the novel when I was younger, and couldn't get into it so gave up,Years later after listening to TTAL(many times over the years)I gave the books another go,and really enjoyed them, And the song made more sense as well.
To Tame A Land is great, Dune is great.... and Piece Of Mind is my favourite Maiden album! (Somewhere In Time is a close second).
Cheers from Portugal 💪🤘
Aussie 70's hard rock band Buffalo had a song called Dune Messiah.
Dang you are right. Is it about Dune though?
I came to IM after Powerslave, so To Tame a Land was already in play, and I had seen Dune a couple of times before catching up to Piece of Mind. I was blown away at first listening, although my friend at the time was clueless about all the lyrics, asking me what the hell was a gom jabber (that's how he said it). I told him all about it and felt like I knew a thing. Much different from now, where I never feel like I know anything. Still one of my favorites, and still stands out against a backdrop of an album of great, great songs.
Stay safe out there.
Bein an avid reader most of my life (mostly sci-fi) I read the Dune books long before Iron Maiden turned it into a song and knowing what they were singing about just added to the joy of experiencing that album shortly after it came out. Yep, I'm old.
Great vid, hohol 😂 ❤
Thanks for sharing.
I didn't really get into To Tame A Land till I'd read Dune. That book is amazing and at the same time it's not a easy read. Listening to Iron Maiden has certainly broadened the type of books I read, that's for sure.
How were they allowed to namedrop so many words invented by Herbert? They could have made a subtle tribute to Dune, but they decided to make it extra obvious and I'm really curious how they didn't get into trouble for it
Pretty sure more people came to know the world of dune from the books rather then from the 1984 movie. It is the best selling Science Fiction novel of all time.
I love it! It’s a bit lyrically awkward at times, and from a bass player’s point of view it’s a sod to play, but it’s a classic for sure!
Still have my bootleg double CD of the Hammersmith '83 show. Incredible concert! Always enjoyed the story Bruce tells the audience about trying to get the song title from Herbert. 😅 😎
My first concert 🤘 Dave extended the songs guitar outro by a few minutes, taking it to a sophisticated level.
Finally a Video about my favourite Song.
You didn't hear Samuel Taylor Coleridge making a stink about it.
Haha! :P
As if to prove Steve right about popularising the film Dune, this is the first time i knew the song was about dune.
Hey Metal Pilgrim, first of all, UP THE IRONS, 2nd of all, do you have a link to that interview you used at 6:04?
czcams.com/video/aa7E4lh2KOw/video.htmlsi=SSiOy41hYAjQk9yD
Hey! here you go - www.patreon.com/posts/100245152 Posted everything here
Of course Maiden should play it live. To Tame A Land is heavy. It's epic. It's always been a personal favorite. It's like several songs in one with all the different riffs and time changes and moods. A spectacular Maiden masterpiece. It would have been amazing had they put it on Live After Death too. UP THE IRONS!!!!
Much better title than Dune anyway. Steve was on fire writing epics in the 80s. I don't even mind the weird lyrics. Incredible tune!
Luckywise i had the chance to see/hear it live in 1984 in Kerkrade , Netherlands and even there Bruce had some "nice words" for Frank Herbert
Saw this tour in 83 at the Garden with Quiet Riot Absolute Favorite Maiden song
Iron Maiden has been a huge part of my life. I don't think I've ever seen Dune (though I probably should). Thanks for a very interesting post. And God be with you. I'm so disgusted that my country (USA) is using the war as a political football. You and your countrymen (and ladies) deserve far better. My heart goes out to you.
One of my all time favorite Maiden tracks, I love the darkness , guitar riffs and bass lines are fantastic 🤘🇨🇦🇺🇦
So many Maiden songs go E - C - D - E or some variation of that (and I love it), but this song shows how much of a genius Steve Can be.
This is my absolute favorite song by Maiden, but I still have yet to read the nove.
I remember Bruce having a go at Herbert when they played Nottingham on the world piece tour.
Masterpiece🤘🤘
Mmmm, unlike most of the Heavy Metal fans at that time who, as you said had no idea that the lyrical content of “To Tame a Land” was not just a bunch of words strung together. I was fortunate to have a friend who immediately recognized the subject of the song during one of our ( first listen to an album after purchase session ) having read “Dune” by Frank Herbert multiple times at that point. On another note, I also think that “Still Life” is my favorite song from that release with “To Tame a Land” a very close second.
I am not a special fan of Maiden, but this is my fav song of metal realms ever. Simply a perfecte song
I followed maiden on the peace of mind tour to 3 different cities and met Steve Harris in Fresno, good times
phantom of the Opera clocked in at 8 min & the longest song they ever recorded is empire of the clouds clocking in at 18 minutes
7:22 thats adrians les paul!! Just now noticed that!
To Tame a Land is also one of my favourite Maiden songs. I was slightly (but not unexpectedly) disappointed that they didn't use the song for the closing credits of the movie. Given the water that has passed under the bridge, and the passing of Herbert, this would have been possible, even if improbable.
The arrow @4:18 confused me a bit since it was pointing to Clive Burr (former drummer). Frank Herbert is further up in the credits.
Yeah, sorry about that ;) Accidentaly moved it haha
Iron Maiden and Ana Vidovic. The cross over I was not expecting!
Dream Theater's cover of To Tame a Land is pretty epic as well.. John Myung killing it on the bass as always.
I didn't even think about reading any Herbert's works until Iron Maiden made that song. The only battle Frank Herbert won was the battle against himself. Who the hell doesn't like Iron Maiden? What was wrong with that guy?
A lot of things. Dude was also such a raging homophobe that he not only disowned his son Bruce for being gay, Frank also kept him from being able to see his mother *on her deathbed.*
All in all, a world class prick.
Heaviest Maiden Riff when the Metal kicks in!
4:18 yeah full appreciation 😂
Iron Maiden were so correct. Had I had known this was about the story Dune, I would have totally gone out and bought the book.
Considering a movie came out in 1984, I wonder if that has more to do with it. Frank or the publication thought it was riding on the productions coat tails rather than standing on its own.
Yeah that'd be exciting being at a concert with Bruce explaining their legal spats
I did a cover/play along with To Tame a Land, and I have a map of Middle Earth in the background too. Ha. It's one of their best!
They just needed to call the song June. Sorted.
They could play it after the ides of march.
though I know the whole story in detail, I love your narration and probably would listen to you if you were to report weather forecast instead
To Tame a Land is probably my favourite song of theirs in all time. Most metal heads actually read so I don’t know why anyone can have any issue with it.
Amazing song. The reason I read the book.
Same.
Same.
Apparently Tolkien disliked Dune. I believe he was asked to provide an endorsement for it, but declined.
Can't say I blame him.
It's a good story with a ton of world building, but GOOD GRIEF, getting through Herbert's prose was like trying to walk through quicksand while carrying cinderblocks after getting dosed with trazodone.
It's a tight track to play to...a deceptive challenge for guitarists. It has many modulations and is important for that reason for Maiden and Steve as it shows their musicianship competence!
To me this is the definitive album and to tame a land is one of the best tracks on it
POM is one of my favorite Maiden albums. Just a masterpiece.
I used to really like this song when I was 12-13 but it doesn't go anywhere near Hallowed or Revelations or Phantom. I'm not a Dune fan though.
Awesome video, liked+subbed. Слава Україні
I was lucky enough to see the world piece tour.
I wanted them to play it at the end of the first dune movie
ALL I CAN SAY STEVE HARRIS IS AWESOME HE'S SUCH PROLIFIC SONGWRITER ONE OF BEST BASSTS IN THE WORLD❤
Epic song!
If I was the band, I would have called it 'Plan it Doon" I'm sassy that way. I would have probably been sued into oblivion of course LOL!
Most definitely they should play this live again and they should play it right after Alexander the Great 🤘
I would have never known about Judge Dredd if not for Anthrax
Amazing song
To Tame a Land is better Dune adaptation than 84’ movie. Vibe is unmatched
@metalpilgrim Is it me or is to tame a land sound more like it should be cultivate the land which factually means kind of the same thing
I didn't know that. Man, 'To Tame A Land' totally got me into Dune. Frank Herbert was a dunce for being so short with Steve Harris. I can only imagine how many fans Iron Maiden made of the Dune books... I suppose its a tired old stereotype to think that Heavy Metal and its fans are idiots. What a stupid idea!
Such a pity Maiden had dropped To Tame A Land way too early, They should have played it live longer, So is big regret they never played Sun And Steel
Three words: ION MAIDEN irony ;)
I definitely prefer "to tame a land" to "dune"
Definitely a top 10'r for me. It would be hard to rank it the highest. There are just so many to choose from. I still think I like mariner a little better among their "epic" songs. Both songs are top 10 if not top 5.
With all its lyrical content, the last song off the Piece Of Mind album is: Dune. It’s rather ridiculous, really! With all those names and references and the storyline?! Come on, bullocks! It’s Dune, and that’s how Bruce presented the song! What a bunch of crap.
By the way, that Dream Theater cover is amazing. Off the special edition of the Black Curtains And Silver Linings record and their Kerrang cover compilation, which has a pretty neat song and band selection. Would that make an interesting set list for Maiden? Damn sure it would!
It was a dick move. The song encapsulates the book better than all three (four) DUNE films. Song is as good as the book.