Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Iron Maiden

For those of you who don’t know, Iron Maiden is a veteran heavy metal band from England. They’ve been around for over 30 years, they’re most successful period being the mid-80s. As a teenager growing up in those years, I loved them from the beginning...the crunching riffs, intricate guitar solos, soaring vocals, etc. And, of course, there’s the often lurid artwork of their album covers, which enticed kids and outraged parents and conservative groups. But what I really loved were their lyrics, which were a lot different than what most groups chose to sing about.

The band is still around, though the things which outraged so many parents in the 80s seem rather quaint today. I mean, as a parent, would you rather your child listen to a horror-inspired tune like “The Number of the Beast” (which, if you read the lyrics, is not a so-called ‘satanic’ song at all), or a gangsta rap song about killing cops or abusing women?

Being a long-time fan notwithstanding, as an English teacherr, I think that the music of this iconic band even has a lot of educational value, both in and out of the classroom. For those of you who only know the band through their image (depicted mostly by their long-time rotting corpse mascot, Eddie), you should really explore what this group has done. While other heavy metal artists sang of women and partying, Iron Maiden ventured beyond the usual hard rock cliches, writing and performing a lot of songs based on classic literature and/or real life historical figures and events.

They’ve written songs based on the works of Edgar Allen Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Frank Herbert and Allister Maclean, to name a few. They’re written songs about Alexander the Great, infamous battles in various wars, Greek mythology, events depicted in The Bible and the plight of the American Indian. And, as a teenager who’d never previously read The Bible, even their most notorious song (“The Number of the Beast”) inspired me to seek out its famous paraphrased opening passage

As a teacher, I’ve actually used some of their lyrics in the classroom, most notably “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” a 13 minute song based on the Coleridge poem. Keep in-mind I teach 7th graders, and to get them interested in a 300 year old epic poem would seem to be an impossible task. Yet, condensed as a rock song, with lyrics which touch on Coleridge’s themes using more ‘plain’ language than the original (yet still often quoting the poem verbatim), some kids actually want to read the poem on which the song is based.

Aside from literature, Iron Maiden have written numerous songs about war, both real and imagined, about its futility and its glory. They’ve written songs about the advent of the atom bomb (“Brighter Than a Thousand Suns”), battle from a soldier’s perspective (“The Trooper,” “Aces High”), infamous military battles (“The Longest Day,” “Paschendale”) and history (“Run to the Hills,” “Powerslave”).

As such, I would put forth that, more than any other iconic artist, Iron Maiden provides educators with a unique opportunity to introduce students to new ideas and concepts. Yeah, many of the songs are flat-out, aggressive heavy metal, but if one is able to look beyond the music itself, there’s a lot a inspiration to be found in these songs, as well as opportunities for both parents and teachers to challenge reluctant students to think about themes within these songs. Sure, a band like Maiden might seem archaic to a classroom of teenagers, but I'll bet they'd rather hear, read and analyze this tuff than just a lecture or textbook chapter.

I think, for a lot of educators who aren’t life-long headbangers like myself, you just have to get past the album covers (obviously designed to sell records, not educate children). There are a lot of great engaging educational resources to be found on their records if an educator is willing to explore them.

And, no, I am not stating the members of Iron Maiden have an educational agenda. Like all music artists, they write songs which they think their fans will enjoy. I just think, from an educator’s perspective, their music is worth exploring by creative teachers and parents, even if heavy metal isn’t exactly their own personal music of choice.

The following are just a few great Iron Maiden songs (along with the albums they appear on) which offer more than the usual heavy metal claptrap, some of which could be a fun inclusion for adventurous middle or high school teachers:

“Phantom of the Opera” (from Iron Maiden) - based on the classic story by Gaston Leroux
“Murders in the Rue Morgue” (from Killers) - based on the Edgar Allen Poe story
“Run to the Hills” (from The Number of the Beast) - a song about the plight of the American Indian, told from both perspectives
“Flight of Icarus” (from Piece of Mind) - based on the greek myth
“To Tame a Land” (from Piece of Mind) - based on Frank Herbert’s novel, Dune (Herbert refused to allow the band use of his title because he hated heavy metal. what a dork.)
"The Number of the Beast" (from The Number of the Beast) - inspired by the story, "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
“Aces High” (from Powerslave) - about the German invasion of England during WWII.
“Powerslave” (from Powerslave) - about the Egyption Pharoahs.
“Rime of the Ancient Mariner” (from Powerslave) - based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s epic poem
“Alexander the Great” (from Somewhere in Time) - based on the life of Alexander the Great
“Lord of the Flies” (from The X-Factor) - based on the novel by William Golding
“Paschendale” (from Dance of Death) - inspired by the Battle of Paschendale
“Brighter Than a Thousand Suns” (from A Matter of Life and Death) - about the creation of the first atomic bomb
“The Longest Day” (from A Matter of Life and Death) - about the Battle of Normandy.

Killer Cows update

Just to give an update on the first week of the eBook release of Killer Cows...

One site has posted a review of the novel. It can be found at http://marsneedswriters.com . Once you’re there, go to the ‘Random Things’ link. It was exciting to read this review, which was mostly positive, mainly because these people don’t know me. They aren’t relatives or friends who’d be tempted to simply give me some ‘attaboys’ for writing the book. And I wouldn’t have cared if Mars Needs Writers wrote a good review or not. Like someone once said (probably a rock star), there’s no such thing as bad press.

Here’s the review:
Killer Cows by D.M. Anderson. Guest reviewer: Rachel Ruiz.

This is a well-written book. It's fast-paced, entertaining, with interesting characters. A lot of it is far-fetched but, since we're talking about a sci-fi novel for young adults, it's very forgivable. And it's not as far-fetched as you might think, considering its title.

Not that Killer Cows is a perfect book. Some of the characters had quirks I found annoying but not so much that it detracted from the overall book in a huge way. You know, it wasn't Dean Koontz' magic super dog/perfect amazing gorgeous humble wife/genius psychic-powered kid trifecta annoying -- and it's definitely worth a read if you're into the sci-fi YA thing. In terms of the quality of the read, it wouldn't be out of place among all the traditional paper-published YA stuff you see on the shelves; it's the kind of thing that would have appealed to me back when I was in the target age bracket, if that tells you anything.

I'm the Killer Cows readin' kind of person, I guess. And the non-g usin' kind of person, too. So I give it my recommendation. Thumbs up for Cows!

As I’ve stated before, the ebook can currently be purchased at either www.echelonpress.com or www.omnilit.com for $6.00. As of today, according to Omnilit, Killer Cows is their second best selling young adult novel right now, and the seventh best selling book overall. Granted, I don’t know how that translate in numbers. For all I know, the BEST selling YA novel sold three copies today and Killer Cows sold two, but seeing the cover and title on their charts definitely strokes the ego.

It sure sounds like I’m ballyhooing myself again, doesn’t it?

It’s just that, all my life, my dream was to publish a book. In my youth, I spent a lot more time talking about it than actually trying to do it. It wasn’t until these past few years that I got truly serious about it. My first finished novel was a piece of crap, but at least I took that step to write one after years of simply talking about it. That book remains safely in a desk drawer where it belongs (in fact, I never even tried to submit it anywhere), but at least it gave me the confidence to try again, in a genre I never thought I’d pursue...young adult fiction. And when I finished Killer Cows, I had no illusions as to whether or not I could place it with a publisher. In reality, it’s the first novel I felt was actually worth trying to sell. The fact that, after over a year or submissions and rejections, I did sell it, was the greatest moment of my writing career.

The second greatest moment is what I’ve mentioned already...a few people I don’t even know think my work is worth buying. It gives me incentive to keep it up, that I can do this. And at this point, I’d love to do this for the rest of my life. But until that day comes (if, indeed, it ever does), it sure feels cool knowing I’ve touched a few people.

I personally still think my second YA novel, Shaken, is a better than novel Killer Cows, even though I have yet to place it with a publisher or agent. But over this past year, I’ve learned to never say never.

Killer Cows eBook now available at www.echelonpress.com and www.omnilit.com

Things are really exciting right now. Killer Cows is now available to order as an eBook at www.echelonpress.com , and now I’m going into self-promotion mode, which is something I’ve never really done before. Ballyhooing my own self. Still, it’s part of the game for a new author these days. Like I’ve said before...I’m not exactly Stephanie Meyer yet.

But it’s been fun, posting the cover, sending the sell-sheet to friends, keeping this blog and my Facebook page updated, sending review copies to those who requested it (thanks, by the way).

I loved seeing my own IBSN number, loved seeing the retail price listed on the sell-sheet, loved it all so far.

I just spent the last two days sending emails of the sell-sheet and pre-order form to every independent bookstore with a web presence on the West Coast. I don’t know if this is the right way to create awareness of my book, but it seems like it. I’m halfway through the list of shops in California, and plan on branching out east over the next several days.

I had my first interview the other day, by the school newspaper where I teach. It was actually kind of amusing. I teach 7th grade, and it’s always amusing what kids want the answers to. I had more questions about my hair (which is pretty long) than about the book. Still, it was fun.

One of my colleagues bought a copy of the eBook, then printed, trimmed and bound it, then asked me to sign the cover. My first honest-to-goodness autograph. I could get used to that.

A blogsite called marsneedswriters.com asked for a review copy of the book. They, too, have a YA title coming out from Echelon at roughly the same time. They also asked why I chose Echelon Press. My response was posted this week...the first promo for Killer Cows that wasn’t originated by me. Cool!

I love seeing Killer Cows offered among the other YA titles on the Echelon website, where you can now order it by going to www.echelonpress.com Also cool was seeing it available at www.omnilit.com, which specializes in electronic fiction. The cost is $6.00 at either site.

Still, a have a lot of friends, students and colleagues who’d rather have it in paperback, which will be available this summer. I prefer paperbacks, too (love the smell and feel of them in my hand), and it can be pre-ordered right now by writing to Echelon at orders@echelonpress.com. The paperback is $13.99, though there are discounts for retailers and libraries, hence my efforts to email as many of them as I can with ordering info. By pre-ordering before April, you’ll get the book long before it’s likely to appear in stores.

The Killing Spring, Part 8

The slaughter continued. The death toll mounted...Rachel, Ashton, Coach Radley, who suspended him a game for showing up late for practice - it was unavoidable...I had dirt under my nails!, Ms. Stinson, who refused to give him a grade for his persuasive thesis on why death row inmates should be processed as food to end world hunger, the burger-flipper at Carl’s Jr. who took too long with Gene’s order the other day - probably spit on my burger before he wrapped it, too!

And so many more. All dead.

Gene showed no mercy, gave no quarter.

He spotted one last slug trailing away, making a slow retreat from the carnage littering the ground. The dark spots on it’s glistening back resembled black butterflies.

Mom.

Gene remembered his promise...

You go on. Make your escape.

After watching the slug retreat to safety, Gene surveyed his work. Countless corpses littered the killing field. The sun now glared down from high in the sky, offering life-giving rays to the plants and flowers in the garden, drying up was left of the morning rain. Soft steam arose from the bricks he knelt on.

Exhausted, Gene stood and tossed the empty salt container away, promising himself to pick it up before Mom and Dad got home later that week. He partially unzipped his overalls, allowing the soft spring breeze to cool the sweat clinging to his chest.

Despite a rough start, it turned out to be a good day. A productive day.

Something brushed his calf. Gene looked down. There was Stinky, staring up at him with a dead mouse in her jaws. She dropped it at his feet, sat proudly before her kill and meowed. For the first time since Mom brought home the stupid cat, Gene reached down and scratched her behind the ears.

“Not bad,” he said, running an hand across her back as she loudly purred. “Maybe we have something in common after all.”

Suddenly, the mouse twitched. Stinky snatched up her prey, scurried a few feet away and proceeded to eat it. Gene winced at the thought of eating his own kills, then spun around to head inside, hand slapped over his mouth and trying not to vomit.

“Then again, maybe not.”

The Killing Spring, Part 7

Spring Break. Time to kill again.

Yes! It’s about freaking time!

Gene, donned in his stolen overalls and fresh Nikes, gleefully bounded down the stairs, nearly stumbling on the last step.

Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!

He leaped into the kitchen for his ammo, throwing open the cupboards over the stove. Tossing aside sauce packets, spice jars, a bottle of olive oil and a pound of flower, which exploded in a milky white cloud when it hit the floor, Gene clutched his weapon of choice, a half-empty Morton Salt container. Grains of loose salt billowed from the metal spout while he jumped up and down, shaking the container as he clutched it tightly with both hands.

Leaving the kitchen, Gene ran to his parents’ home entertainment system, which took up most of the wall in the living room. He threw open the cabinet that held the CDs, quickly running a finger over the labels until he found what he has looking for.

There it was...ABBA’s Greatest Hits, one of the few CDs Mom ever bought, wedged among Dad’s collection of classic rock. The ultimate soundtrack for death, the angelic vocals and driving disco of ABBA stirred his murderous instincts like no other music in the world, including the death metal and gangsta rap which occupied most of his iPod playlist. But those songs were mostly just to impress his so-called friends. They’d laugh in his face if they knew what he really loved was to dance along with the same 1970s bubblegum pop his mother dance to at her prom.

After slapping in the disc and hitting the play button, Gene cranked up the volume, ran to the glass door leading to the back yard and threw it wide open. “Dancing Queen” pummeled from the speakers. Grinning joyously, Gene danced his way outside. He aimed his face to the mid-morning sun and sang along, hips swaying to the music as he worked his way down the rain-soaked path toward Mom and Dad’s garden.

The smell of rain still hung in the air.

The sun’s heat felt wonderful.

Gene felt the same...

...because the time to kill was now.

He boogied his way to a patch of recently-planted tomato plants; the fruit was still green, but shiny and healthy. They’d be big, red and juicy in no time. Mom always did have a knack for growing veggies. A gentle breeze made the leafy stems sway left and right, almost in time with the music.

Normally, Gene hated tomatoes, always picking them out of the sauce whenever they had spaghetti for dinner. But now, watching them dance as though they were down with Gene’s killing plans...part of him had to love them.

They also made the perfect bait.

Carefully crouching down and pushing aside a leafy stem, he spotted his first victim, a large brown slug dining greedily on one of the bigger tomatoes.

“Enjoying the meal, Dad?” he smirked as he pulled open the spout of his salt. “I hope so...’cause it’s your last.”

Gene held the salt container over the slug and generously poured. He giggled as it slowly turned snotty yellow and shriveled, it’s life-giving moisture being sucked from its slimy body. Its optical tentacles retreated into its head, just before falling off of the tomato and plopping to the ground. He was scarcely aware he’d been holding his breath this whole time, watching in awe at the creature’s agonizing death.

“Serves you right, Dad. Treating Mom like you do.”

Certain it was now dead, Gene slowly exhaled, feeling the same relief he always did when finally getting to use a bathroom after long trips to Grandma’s, usually because Dad was too obsessed with making good time to occasionally pull into a gas station.

As ABBA burst into another joyous tune - “Knowing Me, Knowing You” - Stinky sauntered up and brushed against him. But Gene had no time for that, pushing the cat away as he spotted his next kill slithering slowly across the muddy earth. It looked suspiciously like the cop who pulled him over this morning.

“Oh, I definitely know you, officer.” Gene leaned over and tapped salt on its back. “But you don’t know me. Here’s a little sodium death, to deal with your crappy coffee breath.” He chortled loudly at his gift of rhyme.

Like his Dad, the slug fizzled and died.

On to the next kill.

Spotting his ex-best friend, Clay Walker, oozing his way up a vine a few feet away, Gene crept over and attacked. Stinky followed close behind, apparently undaunted by his early brush-off.