The Number of the Beast is the third studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, <br /> released in March 1982. It saw the debut of vocalist Bruce Dickinson, and the final appearance of drummer Clive Burr. <br /> The Number of the Beast met with considerable critical and commercial success and was a landmark release for the band, becoming their first album to reach No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart, and be certified platinum in the US. <br /> The album also produced the singles "Run to the Hills" and "The Number of the Beast", the former of which was the band's first top-ten UK single. <br /> The album was also controversial – particularly in the US – due to the religious nature of its lyrics and its artwork.
