Barry Clayton, the man behind the spoken word introduction to Iron Maiden‘s classic 1982 album ‘The Number Of The Beast’ has passed away.
‘The Number Of The Beast’ begins with a seven-line excerpt from the passages of 12:12 and 13:18 from the Book of Revelations, which Clayton read. The album is largely viewed as Iron Maiden‘s breakthrough album.
Clayton, who was also the voiceover artist for a large number of movie trailers, passed away this week. He was 80 years old, reports The Islington Tribune.
Clayon also acted as the producer for the Black Londoners radio programme for the BBC – the first black daily radio programme. He worked on the prgramme from its first airing in 1974 until 1988 when he left to join Capital Radio.
He also arranged for a Christmas link-up with Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad for a Channel 4 special in 1981.
Iron Maiden, who are currently on a break after their extended world tour, have said that they plan to “make at least one more album” and have begun planning for the recording of the follow-up to 2010’s ‘The Final Frontier’, which was the 15th studio LP of the veteran band’s career.