IRON MAIDEN - Killers 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Fame Germany Release

This is the FAME Records release of "Killers" and has the FAME logo printed in the top right of the cover ( just below "Killers" ). Killers is the second album by IRON MAIDEN. It was the first of their albums to feature guitarist Adrian Smith, and the last to feature vocalist Paul Di'Anno, who left the band mid-tour due to problems with alcohol and cocaine. This was also the first album produced by veteran producer Martin Birch who went on to produce their next eight albums before retiring after "Fear of the Dark" in 1992 

Album Front Cover Photo of IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany

"Killers" Album Description

Heavy metal history was forged when Iron Maiden unleashed their sophomore album, "Killers," in 1981. While the album's UK release remains the standard, the German "Fame" edition on vinyl offers a unique perspective on this metal masterpiece.

The Fame Factor

Released under the EMI subsidiary "Fame," this German edition boasts enhanced audio quality compared to the original UK pressing. The instruments cut through with more bite, showcasing the band's tighter, more ferocious sound. Di'Anno's vocals feel sharper, while the rhythm section of Harris and drummer Clive Burr packs a stronger punch. This sonic upgrade breathes new life into heavy metal anthems like "Wrathchild" and the relentless title track.

Iron Maiden's Raw Power

Beyond its production refinements and altered sequencing, the German "Killers" is a potent reminder of Iron Maiden's ascendence. The album's raw energy and expanding melodic sensibilities are encapsulated in tracks like "Murders in the Rue Morgue" and the haunting "Prodigal Son".

Featured Song: "Killers" Explained

Iron Maiden's "Killers" isn't just another heavy metal anthem. It's a heart-pounding descent into the mind of a deranged stalker.

The song opens with a chilling atmosphere, punctuated by Steve Harris's bassline mimicking the rhythmic rumble of a subway train. Paul Di'Anno's vocals then take center stage, adopting a menacing tone as he describes the killer's predatory gaze, fixated on an unsuspecting victim.

As the song progresses, the music intensifies, mirroring the rising tension. Guitars screech with a sense of urgency, while Clive Burr's drumming evokes the frantic heartbeat of the hunted. Di'Anno's lyrics become increasingly graphic, detailing the brutal act and the chilling aftermath.

"Killers" isn't just about violence, though. It delves into the psychological horror of being stalked. The constant shift between first and third-person narration creates a sense of disorientation, mirroring the victim's terror.

By weaving a chilling narrative into a powerful metal soundscape, Iron Maiden's "Killers" remains a classic of the genre, a testament to their ability to explore dark themes with both musical fury and unsettling detail.

Killers the Song:

Essential Album Information For: IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany

Music Genre:

Heavy Metal, NWOBHM

Label & Catalognr:

EMI 1C 038-15 7593 1

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

Year & Country:

1981 Made in Germany

IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany Production & Recording Information

Producers:

Martin Birch - Producer

  • Martin Birch – Producer, Sound Engineer Martin Birch was the steady hand behind some of the most powerful rock and metal records of the 1970s and 1980s. As an engineer and producer, he shaped the sound of Deep Purple and Fleetwood Mac before becoming the defining sonic architect for Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Rainbow. His productions balanced clarity with raw force, turning heavy riffs into timeless statements and albums into genre benchmarks.
    Martin Birch Wiki

    • Sound & Recording Engineers:

    Martin Birch - Sound Engineer

    Nigel Hewitt - Sound Engineer

    Nigel Hewitt a British Sound Engineer who has (during the 1980s) engineered vinyl albums for heavy metal bands like: Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Dio, Mammoth and others.

    Recording Location:

    This album was recorded at: Battery Studios, London.

    Battery Studios London has been a key recording centre since the 1970s, known for its high-end equipment and sessions spanning rock, pop, and metal. Countless artists shaped their sound here, leaving a production legacy that still influences modern studio work. Read more.

    Album Cover Design & Artwork:

    Derek Riggs

  • Derek Riggs – Illustrator, Cover Artist Derek Riggs is the artist who gave Iron Maiden its visual soul by creating Eddie, one of the most recognizable mascots in heavy metal history. Since the band’s 1980 debut, his artwork fused sci-fi, horror, and dark fantasy into covers that were as confrontational and imaginative as the music itself. Riggs’ paintings didn’t just decorate records, they built a world that became inseparable from Maiden’s identity.
    Derek Riggs Wiki
    • Photography:

    Robert Ellis - Photographer

    Robert Ellis is a renowned music photographer celebrated for capturing iconic live performances and behind-the-scenes moments of legendary rock and metal bands. His compelling visual storytelling has appeared in countless magazines and album sleeves. Discover more through this dedicated profile.

    Musicians:
    • Clive Burr - Drums
    • Clive Burr – Drums

      The early Maiden groove machine: big feel, sharp fills, and that “Beast-era” punch that still rattles the walls.

      Clive Burr (8 March 1957 – 12 March 2013) is one of those drummers who didn’t just keep time—he gave a band its early backbone. I mainly hear him as Iron Maiden’s rocket fuel from 1979–1982, laying down that urgent, swinging drive on their first run of classic records and helping make the whole NWOBHM thing feel dangerous instead of polite. Before that, he did the London grind with Samson (1977–1978). After Maiden, the timeline gets gloriously nomadic: Trust (1983–1984), a blink-and-you-miss-it week with Alcatrazz (1983), his own Clive Burr’s Escape (1983–1984) evolving into Stratus (1984–1985), the supergroup cameo in Gogmagog (1985), Desperado (1988–1990), and later work with Praying Mantis (1995–1996). His later years were brutally shaped by multiple sclerosis, but the playing legacy stays loud, human, and unmistakably his own—Clive Burr Wiki

    • Dave Murray - Guitars
    • Dave Murray – Guitar

      Maiden’s calm killer: smooth leads, twin-guitar harmony for days, and that melodic bite that makes the “gallop” feel cinematic instead of chaotic.

      Dave Murray (born 23 December 1956, Edmonton, Middlesex, England) is one of the defining lead guitar voices of heavy metal, and in my book he’s the melodic “second spine” of Iron Maiden. His timeline with the band starts early: joining in 1976, getting briefly pushed out in 1977, then returning in 1978 and staying locked in ever since—making him one of the longest-serving members in the whole Maiden saga. During that 1977 gap he spent around six months with Urchin (Adrian Smith’s band), which is a fun little historical glitch in the matrix if you like your Maiden lore messy and human. Beyond the main band, his most notable “outside the mothership” credit is the all-star charity metal project Hear ’n Aid (1985), because apparently even guitar lifers sometimes leave the bunker to do side quests. Dave Murray Wiki

    • Paul Di'Anno - Lead Vocals
    • Paul Di'Anno – Vocals

      The OG Iron Maiden throat: street-level grit, punk heat, and zero “polite” in the delivery.

      Paul Di'Anno, (17 May 1958 – 21 October 2024) locked himself into metal history by fronting Iron Maiden from 1978–1981, putting that snarling, rough-cut voice on the band’s early landmark releases. After Maiden, the timeline turns into a proper tour-bus saga: Di’Anno (1983–1985, then revived in the 1998–2001 era), the short, star-stacked Gogmagog detour (1985), Battlezone (1985–1989, back again 1997–1998), a notable studio cameo with Praying Mantis around 1990, and Killers (1990–1997, returning 2001–2003, plus a 2013 regroup). Later chapters include the Brazil-based Rockfellas run (2008–2010) and Architects of Chaoz (2014–2016). The common thread never really changed: that unmistakable, no-varnish vocal attitude that made early NWOBHM feel dangerous in the first place.

      Paul Di'Anno Wiki
    • Steve Harris - Bass
    • Steve Harris – Bass Guitar, Songwriter

      Iron Maiden’s engine room: galloping bass lines, history-nerd lyrics, and “captain of the ship” energy baked into every riff.

      Steve Harris (born 12 March 1956, Leytonstone, England) is the rare bassist who doesn’t just hold the floor—he draws the whole blueprint. In my book, he’s the founder and primary songwriter who’s kept Iron Maiden on its rails from 1975–present, with that instantly recognizable “gallop” driving huge chunks of the catalogue. The pre-Maiden grind matters too: first band days in Influence/Gypsy’s Kiss (1973–1974, including a documented gig run in 1974), then the older, blues-leaning Smiler period (1974–1975) where his more ambitious writing basically forced the next step: forming Maiden. Outside the mothership, he’s fronted his own hard-rock outlet British Lion (2012–present), a project that grew out of connections going back to the early 1990s and finally hit the world as his solo debut in 2012.

      Steve Harris Wiki
    • Adrian Smith - Guitars
    • Adrian Smith – Guitarist, Songwriter Adrian Smith is one of those players I always associate with Iron Maiden’s classic sound and its later revival. Joining in 1980, leaving in 1990, and returning in 1999, his melodic solos and sharp songwriting helped define albums from The Number of the Beast to Brave New World and beyond.
      Adrian Smith Wikipedia
    Tracklisting Side One:
    1. The Ides of March
    2. Wrathchild
    3. Murders in the Rue Morgue
    4. Another Life
    5. Genghis Khan
    6. Innocent Exile
    Tracklisting Side Two:
    1. Killers
    2. Prodigal Son
    3. Purgatory
    4. Drifter

    IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany High Resolution & Quality Photos

    Front Cover Photo Of IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany
    Front Cover Photo Of IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany

    Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone )

    Photo Of The Back Cover IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany
    Photo of album back cover IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany
    Close up of IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany record's label
    Photo of record label of IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany
    Photo of Side One: IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany
    Photo of record 1 of IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany
    Photo of Side Two: IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany
    Photo of record 2 of IRON MAIDEN - Killers Fame Germany

    IRON MAIDEN - Vinyl Records Discography Home Page