Iron Maiden "The First Ten Years III: Purgatory/Maiden Japan (EP)"

"Purgatory" is Iron Maiden's fifth single, released on 15 June 1981, and would be their last with singer Paul Di'Anno. It served as the second single from Killers, though the preceding single, "Twilight Zone", was not included on the album's original pressings outside from the US. The single was reissued in 1990, on the same CD and 12" vinyl as the EP Maiden Japan, in the First Ten Years box set.

According to drummer Nicko McBrain, the track is a remake of one of the band's earlier songs, entitled "Floating", of which "Purgatory" is a faster re-arrangement. It was the group's least successful single as it failed to break into the Top 50 in the UK charts, although the group's manager, Rod Smallwood, states that this was because "it wasn't really a single, it was just lifted off the album which the fans already had."

Most notably, the single's original cover artwork was withdrawn for use on the band's next studio album, The Number of the Beast. Smallwood recalls that, on being presented with the original cover, "we said, 'No, that's much too good,' so we kept it for the album. We had the artwork months before we had the music." This meant that the band's artist, Derek Riggs, had to come up with a replacement, this time illustrating the Devil's face rotting away to reveal the band's mascot, Eddie's, face underneath.

Maiden Japan, also known as Heavy Metal Army, is a live EP by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The title is a pun of Deep Purple's live album Made in Japan.

There are at least two different versions of this EP; all tracks were recorded at the Aichi Kosei Nenkin Kaikan in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan on 23 May 1981. It was lead singer Paul Di'Anno's final recording with the band. The original Japanese pressing features only 4 tracks and the record speed is 45RPM, but the other version has 5 tracks. It was never the band's intention to release this album, but Toshiba-EMI wanted a live album.

The original cover depicted the band's mascot, Eddie, holding the severed head of singer Paul Di'Anno. The replacement cover was done on very short notice after Iron Maiden's manager, Rod Smallwood, received a proof for review, and became agitated at Di'Anno's depiction because the band were looking to replace him. Maiden Japan was released in Venezuela in 1987 with the original cover and has become a collector's item.

Part 3 of the The First Ten Years EP re-issues. 

Includes a numbered voucher which (after collecting the other 9 of the series) could be sent by mail to receive a special limited edition illustrated box.

Tracks 1-2 taken from the single "Purgatory".

Tracks 3-6 taken from the EP "Maiden Japan".

Recording information:

Tracks 3-6 recorded live on May 23rd, 1981 at Kosei Nenkin Hall in Nagoya, Japan.

Co-produced & co-mixed by Iron Maiden.

Mixed at Nimbus 9, Toronto.