Iron Maiden - Women in Uniform

All Music Guide

Certainly one of the oddest of Iron Maiden's many single releases, "Women in Uniform" was meant to be a treat for the band's growing fan base and to serve as a stop-gap between the end of a very successful European tour in support of Kiss and sessions for their second album, Killers. A rare cover version, it was also the last Iron Maiden release to feature guitarist Dennis Stratton, whose brief tenure with the band had recently soured over both musical and personality clashes. In fact, Stratton became suspicious that his days were numbered while filming this song's video when he noticed that none of the cameras seemed to be pointing his way. Released in October 1980, backed with the rather average "Invasion" and a live recording of the classic "Phantom of the Opera," the maxi-single's artwork also redressed the controversy over Margaret Thatcher's brutal execution at the hands of Eddie in an earlier cover, by placing the Uzi in Maggie's hands this time around.

- Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide