UK Edition
Heavy metal legends Iron Maiden shelve fans' favourite song over legal dispute
To fans of heavy metal legends Iron Maiden it is the centrepiece of every concert.
But the band says it has been forced to drop its anthemic number Hallowed Be Thy Name from its tour after it became embroiled in a legal battle over who wrote it.
Retired rock band manager Barry McKay is taking Steve Harris and Dave Murray, two musicians from Iron Maiden, to court over the song.
He claims it reproduces major parts of another song "Lying in my Shadow", written by musician Brian Quinn, under the name Brian Ingham.
Mr McKay, from Hampstead, north London, said: "There was no need for Iron Maiden to withdraw the song from their set. But if they wish to do the right thing, they are welcome to contact either myself or my lawyers and reach a simple agreement to perform “Hallowed Be Thy Name”.
"I have never wanted to stop fans hearing their favourite Maiden song."
After being made aware of the legal claim Iron Maiden took the decision to drop the song from their set - including at tonight’s concert at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle - until the dispute was resolved.
In a statement the band, which has recorded more than a dozen albums since it was formed in 1975, said: “As previously announced for the current second leg of the Book of Souls tour a couple of changes to the set list were due to be made. The first was including a different track from the new album and having been made aware of a legal claim, the second change was to replace Hallowed Be Thy Name.”
Phantom Management added on behalf of the Iron Maiden: “The dispute concerns the song Life’s Shadow, a song originally written in the early 1970s, credited to Robert Barton and Brian Ingham, and recorded by the band Beckett.
“Steve Harris was a fan of Beckett and some six lines from Life’s Shadow were referenced in Steve’s song, Hallowed Be Thy Name.
“As far as Steve is concerned, this matter was settled some years ago by agreement with Robert Barton. Any evidence presented by Mr McKay will be looked at very closely and a Defence at court will be submitted in due course.”
Mr McKay added: "Hallowed be Thy Name isn't just an Iron Maiden song. It's the song that has defined the band.”
He added: “Hallowed is heavily influenced by "Life's Shadow"."
A statement from Iron Maiden's management read: "There now appears to be a dispute between the two original writers as to their respective shares in Life’s Shadow. Further, an individual called Barry McKay in taking this action now claims to publish Robert Barton’s interest in Life’s Shadow, despite so far being unable to come up with a publishing agreement and showing little or no evidence in his claim of any interest in Mr Barton’s songs in approximately 40 years.
"Mr McKay also states that he entered into a publishing agreement with Brian Quinn (aka Ingham) on 29 March 2017, two days before the claim was served. Mr Barton maintains he was the writer of the lyrics of Life’s Shadow and recently said: 'I wrote the lyrics of Life’s Shadow and am happy with how Iron Maiden have, and are, dealing with this matter.'"