Death on the Road is a live CD, LP, and DVD released by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden on August 30, 2005 (CD & LP version), respectively on February 6, 2006 (DVD version). It contains songs which were performed at Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany, on 24 November 2003 during the band's Dance of Death Tour (20032005).
During the first week after the album's release, it entered the national charts in several countries; Finland (no. 6), Sweden (no. 7), Norway (no. 12), France (no. 14), Italy (no. 17), Switzerland (no. 17), Spain (no. 18), United Kingdom (no. 22), Ireland (no. 27),the Netherlands (no. 39), India (no.29)
The DVD was released on February 6, 2006. It is a 3 DVD set, with the first DVD being the concert in 5.1 Digital audio, the second DVD being the concert in stereo, and the third DVD being special features, including the documentary listed below, and all promo videos from the Dance of Death album. Reportedly, the first DVD of the set is faulty in many cases, as two of the three guitar tracks' volume being tuned down, specifically Dave Murray's track.
The DVD set features a full 70-minute documentary directed by Matthew Amos charting the album's creation and the subsequent preparations for the following tour. The feature length program includes candid and personal footage of the band during the recording and writing of the album, which is the first time it's ever been filmed.
In 2005 when Edward the Great was re-released the recording of "Fear of the Dark" from this album was included.
The cover was by Melvyn Grant, and on the carriage are the words 'Edward and Son Undertakers', a reference to Eddie.
"Fear of the Dark" is a song written by Steve Harris, bass player and main songwriter for Iron Maiden, as the title track to Iron Maiden's 1992 album Fear of the Dark. This is the only song from the Fear of the Dark album to still be played in concerts today, although "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" was often played live until 1998.
The single "Fear of the Dark (live)" is the 26th single released by the band. This live version of the song (as well as the live version of "Bring Your Daughter...To the Slaughter") is taken from the live album A Real Live One. The single reached number 5 in the UK charts. The live version of "Hooks in You" was recorded at the Wembley Arena, London, UK on the 17th of December 1990. When Iron Maiden plays this song live the crowd sings along and is sometimes even louder than the band itself. A good example is the performance at Rock In Rio when a crowd of 250,000 people sang during the intro, before and after the guitar solo.
The song has been covered by German a cappella metal band van Canto on their album Hero, as well as the Italian metal band Graveworm on their 2001 album Scourge of Malice, by the also Italian death metal band Infernal Poetry on their 2005 album Beholding the Unpure and by the Finnish band Sturm und Drang as the bonus track on their 2008 album Rock 'n Roll Children.
Fear of the Dark is well-known at live concerts, because often Iron Maiden fans will sing along during the chorus, for a powerful effect.
The song was also covered by Fightstar for kerrang's Maiden Heaven.
The song was released on the rhythm video game Rock Band on June 9th, 2009.