best of the beast picture
Best Of The Beast UK Promo Box
At long last this magnificent Maiden promo gets the Trooper Sounds treatment and I think that the wait has been well worth it.
By far the BEST Maiden promo item ever produced this is the item that you want more than all the others.
I'm afraid my pictures don't do this piece justice but I have made the most of this opportunity to present perhaps the finest Maiden item that the collector can get. Read on...!

Maiden released their Best of.. Album in 1996 and as we expected Maiden didn't hold back on issuing no less than 6 different formats of The Beast in the UK alone! So what we got was:

  1. a deluxe double CD in custom hardcover sleeve with extensive sleeve notes cdemdx1097
  2. a single CD with 16 tracks and full colour inlay sleeve cdemd1097
  3. a double CD with 27 tracks and full colour inlay sleeve cdemds1097
  4. a 16 track Cassette album with full colour inlay sleeve tcemd1097
  5. a Sony Minidisc with 16 tracks and full colour inlay sleeve, Maiden's first MD release 8531848
  6. a superb quad vinyl limited edition box set with full colour hardcover book and custom inner sleeves. 34 tracks in total! emdx1097

oh... and not forgetting the release of Virus on two CD singles which was exclusive to this album!
But the big prize for this release was the rumour of a rare promotional only presentation box set ...

eddie 3d inside cover

Pic 1 - Eddie 3D inside cover

box contents in box

Pic 2 - Box contents in box

box contents out of box

Pic 3 - contents out of box
Pic 1 - the pop out 3D inside cover of the box. Three rows of Eddie's comin' ta get ya when you lift the lid. Behind the 3D shapes is a pocket that holds the band's bio and two photos. (see below)
Pic 2 - shows the items in the base of the box: EPK video showing a band interview about fifteen minutes long, deluxe edition double CD and interview CD with 'Arry.
Pic 3 - shows the same items but standing face on.

beast band bio

Pic 4 - Band Bio 5 pages

beast photo blaze

Pic 5 - Blaze era Maiden

beast photo bruce

Pic 6 - Bruce era Maiden
Pic 4 - five page band bio documenting Maiden's rise to the top includes a Maiden Family Tree!
Pic 5 - Blaze band photo from The X-Factor 1995
Pic 6 - Bruce live photo from the Beast on the Road Tour 1982

This promo box was only available in the UK and I think in Europe and EMI staff had to pay £15/ $22 for the pleasure. Which is strange as promos are normally free. But I think parting with a small sum of money for such a fantastic item is worth it. Naturally there are not many around and finding one is VERY difficult. Expect to pay well over £200/ $288 if one should come up for sale as they rarely do.
In the meantime feast your eyes on this impressive and rare Maiden collectible.

UP THE IRONS!

Chris
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