Virtual XI Release

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Lore & Background

The title Virtual XI is directly tied to two extra-musical events: the band's computer game Ed Hunter and the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Bassist Steve Harris explained that since fans share similar interests, they decided to incorporate football into the album while simultaneously integrating elements from their ongoing work on a computer game. To promote the release, the band organized a publicity tour across Europe featuring football matches with guest musicians and professional footballers. While most artwork in the booklet came from Ed Hunter, cover artist Melvyn Grant was initially asked to design something related to virtual reality before being instructed to add a football game to align with the World Cup theme.

In Their Own Story

The production of Virtual XI saw Steve Harris performing some keyboard parts himself, whereas previous albums had relied entirely on bass technician Michael Kenney for these duties. The tour supporting the album faced significant challenges; several US shows were cancelled due to Blaze Bayley's vocal issues. Although officially attributed to a severe allergic reaction to pollen, these cancellations foreshadowed the end of an era. Following a February 1999 announcement that Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith would return, Bayley resigned. Consequently, this album became the second and final studio release with Bayley, concluding his tenure in a band that had evolved from its original configuration to include Janick Gers.

Reader's Guide

Stylistically, Blaze Bayley described Virtual XI as more upbeat than its predecessor because the band felt they had survived the X-Factor era. Manager Rod Smallwood noted he fought with Steve Harris over the lead single choice; while Smallwood preferred "The Angel and the Gambler," Harris insisted on releasing "Futureal." Harris described "Futureal" as a straightforward rocker about being locked in virtual reality, written by Bayley. The tracklist includes diverse inspirations: "The Clansman" draws from the film Braveheart regarding community and defense, while "Como Estais Amigos" is a tribute to Falklands War soldiers with lyrics by Bayley and music by Gers. Notably, this was the first album where Harris did not write or co-write the final song.

Did You Know?

• The album title references both the band's computer game Ed Hunter and the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
• Cover artist Melvyn Grant originally designed the artwork for virtual reality before adding a football scene at the band's request.
• "Como Estais Amigos" is the first Iron Maiden song where Steve Harris did not contribute to writing the music or lyrics.
• Steve Harris performed keyboard parts on "The Clansman," "The Angel and the Gambler," and "Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger."
• Four songs written during these sessions—"Nomad," "Dream of Mirrors," "Mercenary," and "Blood Brothers"—were later released on the follow-up album Brave New World.