IRON MAIDEN – Killers (1981) 12" Vinyl LP Album

- The Dutch Pressing That Captured Maiden’s Most Dangerous Era

Album Front Cover Photo of IRON MAIDEN – Killers Visit: https://vinyl-records.nl/

This Dutch pressing of “Killers” feels like stumbling onto Iron Maiden right as they’re leveling up — a snapshot of 1981 when the band still had street grit under their nails but were already gearing up for world domination. The combo of Adrian Smith’s fresh fire and Paul Di’Anno’s last stand gives the album this wild, transitional energy, like a machine mid-transformation. The Netherlands edition captures that moment perfectly: raw, hungry, and swaggering with the kind of attitude you only get once in a band’s lifetime — before polish, before stadiums, just pure, accelerating momentum.

Table of Contents

"Killers" Album Description:

Iron Maiden’s 1981 album “Killers” catches the band at a defining crossroads, sharpening their sound while accelerating their rise across Europe. This period saw the arrival of guitarist Adrian Smith, whose melodic precision strengthened the twin-guitar identity, and marked the final chapter of Paul Di’Anno, whose raw edge still fuels the album’s intensity.

“Killers” shows a band transforming fast, moving from rough, street-level NWOBHM toward the more structured, dramatic style that would define their later albums. Tracks like “Wrathchild” and the title track carry the ferocity of early Maiden, while pieces such as “Prodigal Son” introduce a more melodic, reflective side.

The Netherlands edition reflects the band’s growing international presence at the time, capturing a key moment as Iron Maiden expanded beyond the UK and built momentum across Europe.

For collectors, this pressing represents a snapshot of Maiden refining their identity—part farewell, part launchpad—before entering the landmark years with Bruce Dickinson. It remains an essential document of a band pushing forward with confidence and creative fire.

Vinyl Identification 101: All You Need to Know on: Killers

To identify this particular pressing:

 

Album Packaging:

The original custom inner sleeve is black WITHOUT any text

Album Back Cover:

There is NO barcode on this album

1) Notice that the top right corner has a single catalognr. Other versions may have multiple catalognrs in this position.
2) The bottom left corner has "PRINTED IN HOLLAND" this does NOT always appear in other releases

Top right corner:
1A 062.07450

Bottom Left Corner:
1981 ORIGINAL SOUND RECORDINGS MADE BY EMI RECORDS LTD
Marketed, Manufactured and distributed by EMI-logo
PRINTED IN HOLLAND

Bottom Right Corner:
PRODUCED, ENGINEERED AND BULLIED BY MARTIN "HEADMASTER" BIRCH RECORDED AT BATTERY STUDIOS, LONDON SECOND ENGINEER: NIGEL HEWITT FRONT COVER ILLUSTRATION: DEREK RIGGS ALL PHOTOGRAPHS: ROBERT ELLIS IRON MAIDEN ARE MANAGED BY ROD SMALLWOOD FOR SANCTUARY. 165-167 WILLESDEN HIGH RD. LONDON NW10 IRON MAIDEN FC.: S.A.E. TO 165-167 WILLESDEN HIGH ROAD. LONDON NW1O

Inner Sleeve:

This album comes with custom inner sleeves which contain production details, tracklisting, musician information, photos, artwork

Matrix/Stamper Codes:

Side One: 062-07450-A //47197-1-Y

Side Two: 062-07450-B //47198-1-Y

Record Label Information:

Label Side One:

Remark: Labels on this version have NO Label Code

Above center-hole:
1A 062-07450
STEREO
STEMRA
Side 1

Below center-hole:
(062-07450 A)
(p) 1981 Original Recording
Sound Recording
Made by EMI
Records Ltd

Label Side Two:

Above center-hole:
1A 062-07450
STEREO
STEMRA
Side 2

Below center-hole:
(062-07450 B)
(p) 1981 Original Recording
Sound Recording
Made by EMI
Records Ltd

 

Album Key Details: Genre, Label, Format & Release Info

Music Genre:

NWOBHM, British Heavy Metal

Label & Catalognr:

EMI 1A 062-07450

Album Packaging

Standard sleeve.

No custom inner sleeve included.

Media Format:

12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Weight: 230g

Year & Country:

1981 – Netherlands

Production & Recording Information:

Producers:
  • Martin Birch
  • 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
    Aside from producing, Birch engineered many of Iron Maiden’s early recordings, shaping their tight, aggressive studio sound through his trademark clarity and punch.
  • Nigel Hewitt
    Nigel Hewitt is a British sound engineer whose precision helped define the sound of 1980s heavy metal. Working at major studios such as London’s renowned Battery Studios, he engineered albums for Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Dio, Mammoth, and others, blending raw stage power with meticulous studio craft.
Recording Location:

Battery Studios – London, UK

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.

Mixing Studio & Location:
Official mixing studio details for this Dutch pressing are not documented, but Iron Maiden’s early albums were typically mixed quickly under Birch’s tight production schedule, focusing on capturing the raw energy of the band.
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
    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.

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Line-up:
  • 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
  • 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

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. The Ides of March (1:48)
  2. Wrathchild (2:54)
  3. Murders in the Rue Morgue (4:14)
  4. Another Life (3:22)
  5. Genghis Khan (3:02)
  6. Innocent Exile (3:50)
Video: Iron Maiden - Wrathchild (Live At The Rainbow)
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Killers (4:58)
  2. Prodigal Son (6:06)
  3. Purgatory (3:18)
  4. Drifter (4:47)
Video: Iron Maiden Killers live 1980 (Paul Di'Anno)

Disclaimer: Track durations shown are approximate and may vary slightly between different country editions or reissues. Variations can result from alternate masterings, pressing plant differences, or regional production adjustments.

Album Front Cover Photo
The album cover for Iron Maiden's 'Killers' shows the band’s mascot Eddie standing under a yellow streetlamp in a dark, stormy urban alley. Eddie has wild, pale hair, hollow black eyes, and a skeletal grin. He grips a blood-stained axe in his right hand while pulling the shirt of an unseen victim with his left. Behind him, row houses with glowing colored windows line the night scene, with silhouetted rooftops and antennas against the gloomy sky. The gritty neon-lit street and the intense horror-comic art style create a violent and dramatic atmosphere.

The cover art features Iron Maiden’s iconic mascot Eddie standing beneath a harsh yellow streetlamp on a storm-clouded urban night. His hair is wild and electric blond, fanning outward as though caught in a sudden wind. His skin is stretched tight over a skeletal frame, his eyes nothing but dark, predatory pits, and his mouth fixed in a twisted, triumphant grin.

Eddie grips a blood-soaked axe in his right hand, the weapon still dripping with bright red streaks. His left hand pulls up the shirt of an unseen victim whose arm emerges from the bottom edge of the frame, conveying a violent struggle frozen mid-moment. His black T-shirt clings to his sharp, angular torso, emphasizing the sinewy, undead energy characteristic of Derek Riggs’ artwork.

Behind him stretches a row of dark city buildings, their windows glowing in reds, greens, and blues—each window hinting at silhouettes and shadowy figures inside. Rooftops are studded with antennas and chimneys, adding to the gritty, nocturnal atmosphere. The sky is heavy with dark storm clouds, contrasting the bright yellow moon and lamp that cast dramatic highlights across Eddie’s figure.

The band’s bold red-and-white logo dominates the top left corner, while the album title Killers appears in jagged blood-red lettering to the right. The entire composition blends horror, comic-book intensity, and raw heavy-metal energy, creating one of the most recognizable and menacing album covers in rock history.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of Iron Maiden's 'Killers' Netherlands 12-inch LP featuring a dramatic live concert photo under blazing stage lights, with Paul Di’Anno singing at center, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith on guitars, Steve Harris on bass, and the glowing Eddie backdrop looming behind smoke. The crowd appears in silhouette, and the lower section shows musician portraits, track titles, production credits, the catalog number 1A 062-07450, and Dutch-specific identifiers including PRINTED IN HOLLAND and EMI marketing/manufacturing information unique to this edition.

The most striking collector-specific markers of this Dutch pressing appear immediately: the catalog number 1A 062-07450 printed in the upper-right corner, and the unmistakable “PRINTED IN HOLLAND” manufacturing line paired with EMI’s marketing statement in the lower-left. These two identifiers make this Netherlands edition instantly distinguishable from UK, German, Japanese, and other international releases.

The main artwork above these details shows Iron Maiden captured mid-performance in a blazing wall of red, yellow, and green stage lights. A cloud of thick smoke rises from behind the drum kit, glowing as it diffuses the lights into fiery halos. The giant illuminated Eddie stage backdrop peers through the fog, its glowing eyes adding a haunting presence to the scene.

At the center of the stage stands Paul Di’Anno, gripping the microphone with a hunched, aggressive stance. To his sides, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith push forward with their guitars, limbs caught in motion by the intense lighting. On the right, Steve Harris strikes a commanding pose with his bass, while drummer Clive Burr remains partially obscured in a haze of light and smoke. The foreground is a sea of raised hands in silhouette, forming a jagged, energetic border that grounds the live atmosphere.

Beneath the main photo, five portrait shots present the band members individually, each identified by name and role. A block of production credits follows, highlighting producer and engineer Martin “Headmaster” Birch, along with a bold red track list stretching across the middle. The overall layout blends documentary clarity with the raw excitement of a heavy metal performance, making this back cover an essential part of the album’s visual identity.

Close-up of Side One Record Label
Close up of Side One record’s label
Close-up of the Side One label of Iron Maiden’s ‘Killers’ Netherlands pressing, showing the 1A 062-07450 catalog number, STEMRA rights society, and a grey/brown textured background with the Iron Maiden logo in red on the left. On the right is a screaming Eddie illustration with glowing red eyes and spiked white hair. The tracklist is printed in clean white text below the spindle hole, and rim text around the edge details broadcast and copying restrictions. Produced by Martin Birch and made by EMI Records Ltd.

This close-up reveals the Side One label of the Dutch pressing of Iron Maiden’s Killers, distinguished by its gritty grey-brown background texture and stark, high-contrast artwork. The label is printed with the catalog number 1A 062-07450 at the top center, followed by the format designation STEREO and the rights society STEMRA, identifying the pressing as a Netherlands edition.

The left side features the classic vertical Iron Maiden logo in bold red lettering, printed along the rim. On the right, an intense illustration of Eddie is integrated directly into the label background: wide-mouthed, skeletal, with violently spiked white hair and glowing red eyes that stare directly outward. This artwork is a direct miniature version of the album’s cover iconography, serving as both branding and thematic reinforcement.

Beneath the spindle hole, the track listing for Side One is printed in clean white text, each title followed by its duration. A short copyright block appears above it, reading “℗ 1981 Original Sound Recording Made by EMI Records Ltd.” At the very bottom, the production credit explicitly names Produced by: Martin Birch, mirroring the heavy-metal production identity of early Maiden.

The circular rim text, printed in fine white lettering, contains standard EMI restrictions on copying, public performance, and broadcasting. The combination of STEMRA, the specific Dutch catalog number, and the metallic brown/grey background makes this label unique to the Netherlands release and instantly identifiable to collectors. The artwork, typography, and text arrangement form an iconic early-’80s EMI label design used specifically for Iron Maiden releases of the period.

EMI, Netherlands Label

This EMI label variant was used on Dutch Iron Maiden vinyl releases in the early 1980s and is distinguished by its aggressive artwork integration, metallic brown/grey background tone, and large red vertical Maiden logo. It is specific to Netherlands STEMRA-regulated editions.

Colours
Metallic grey-brown background, red band logo, white text
Design & Layout
Vertical logo left, Eddie artwork right, tracklist center
Record company logo
EMI lettering appears in rim text and copyright block
Band/Performer logo
Red vertical “IRON MAIDEN” logo aligned to left rim
Unique features
STEMRA rights society, Dutch catalog 1A 062-07450, Eddie head illustration printed directly on label
Side designation
“Side 1” printed beneath STEMRA
Rights society
STEMRA (Netherlands)
Catalogue number
1A 062-07450
Rim text language
English, EMI standard legal warning
Track list layout
Centered white text, durations shown, all written horizontally under spindle hole
Rights info placement
Directly below catalog block, above track list
Pressing info
“Made by EMI Records Ltd.”
Background image
Faded grey-brown gradient with full Eddie head illustration on right side
Close up of Side One record’s label
Close-up of the Side One label of Iron Maiden’s ‘Killers’ Netherlands pressing, printed with catalog number 1A 062-07450, the STEMRA rights society, and a gritty grey-brown background texture. The red vertical Iron Maiden logo runs along the left rim. On the right side, an illustrated screaming Eddie head with glowing red eyes and spiked white hair appears as part of the label artwork. The tracklist for Side One is printed beneath the spindle hole, alongside copyright notice and the ‘Produced by Martin Birch’ credit. Rim text circles the edges with EMI manufacturing and anti-piracy warnings.

This close-up of the Side One label from the Netherlands pressing of Iron Maiden’s Killers reveals a striking design that blends textual information with bold, integrated artwork. The label features a rough grey-brown textured background, consistent with early-80s Dutch EMI heavy-metal issues. At the very top sits the catalog number 1A 062-07450, identifying this pressing as the Netherlands variant, followed by the format indication STEREO, the rights society STEMRA, and the side marking “Side 1”.

Along the left rim, the classic Iron Maiden logo appears vertically in bold red lettering, instantly recognizable and used consistently on Maiden vinyl releases of the era. On the right-hand side, a fierce illustration of Eddie — screaming, hollow-eyed, with violently spiked hair — is printed directly into the label background. His glowing red eyes and sharp, skeletal expression reinforce the dark, aggressive theme of the album and serve as a form of artistic branding that ties the label visually to the album cover.

Beneath the spindle hole, the full Side One track list is presented in white print, each entry including its duration. The copyright block above it reads “℗ 1981 Original Sound Recording Made by EMI Records Ltd.,” confirming its UK-based production origin despite the Dutch pressing. At the bottom of the label, “Produced by: Martin Birch” is printed, anchoring the recording in the sonic legacy of one of metal’s most influential producers.

Encircling the outer black rim is the standard EMI legal text, printed in fine white lettering, warning against unauthorized broadcasting, copying, and performance. The combination of the STEMRA rights society, unique 1A catalog number, heavy-metal-themed Eddie artwork, and Dutch market identifiers makes this label a distinctive and easily authenticated Netherlands pressing from 1981.

EMI, Netherlands Label

This EMI label variant was issued on Dutch Iron Maiden vinyl releases in the early 1980s and is identifiable by its textured grey-brown background, integrated Eddie artwork, and vertical red Iron Maiden logo. It reflects EMI’s heavier visual branding strategy for metal releases during this period.

Colours
Grey-brown textured background, white text, red band logo, black rim
Design & Layout
Vertical red logo on left, Eddie illustration on right, centered track list
Record company logo
Appears in rim text and in the copyright block as “EMI Records Ltd.”
Band/Performer logo
Vertical “IRON MAIDEN” printed in red along left side
Unique features
Eddie artwork printed on label; STEMRA rights society; Dutch catalog 1A 062-07450
Side designation
Printed as “Side 1” beneath STEMRA
Rights society
STEMRA (Netherlands)
Catalogue number
1A 062-07450
Rim text language
English, EMI standard anti-piracy text
Track list layout
White text centered, durations shown, all beneath spindle hole
Rights info placement
Directly above track list, left-aligned
Pressing info
“Made by EMI Records Ltd.”
Background image
Gradient grey-brown backdrop with full Eddie head illustration

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