Watch IRON MAIDEN Crash A Polish Wedding And Play “Smoke On The Water” For Surprised Guests

On September 3, 1984, Iron Maiden unleashed Powerslave, their fifth studio album and a document that may outline an period for the band. The album opens with the electrifying “Aces Excessive” and closes with the bold, 13-minute progressive steel journey, “The Rime Of The Historic Mariner.” It was Iron Maiden‘s boldest creation but, and it set the stage for a good greater spectacle: the monumental World Slavery tour.

The tour started on August 9, 1984, almost a month earlier than Powerslave‘s launch. Its start line was surprising — Poland, nonetheless firmly behind the Iron Curtain. Whereas a number of Western rock bands, like 70s rockers Budgie, had ventured into Jap Europe, Iron Maiden grew to become the primary main steel band to interrupt this barrier. They embraced the second, performing 5 reveals in six days and even indulging in native tradition.

In an unforgettable detour – as described by Metal Hammer – the band gatecrashed a Polish wedding ceremony. There, they took the stage to cowl Deep Purple‘s traditional “Smoke On The Water” for a crowd of 300 delighted visitors. Bassist Steve Harris later shared, “We would had a number of drinks beforehand and simply thought, ‘Oh, why not?’ Everybody was so pissed from the marriage anyway, they did not appear to care. It was nice enjoyable!”

Drummer Nicko McBrain added to the story: “Rod [Smallwood, Maiden‘s manager] and I disappeared and did not come again till 6 or 7 within the morning. We had our arms round one another, shouting, ‘Smoke on the water!’, weaving backwards and forwards throughout the highway.”

Their short-lived stint as a marriage band was only a facet be aware on a tour that may span 189 reveals throughout 5 continents. It was an intense journey, one which vocalist Bruce Dickinson later described as “essentially the most grueling expertise of his life.” But, this grueling expertise solidified Iron Maiden‘s place within the pantheon of rock legends.