Summary

Fear of the Dark is Maiden's ninth studio album, released on 11 May 1992. It was their third studio release to top the UK albums chart and the last to feature Bruce until his return in 1999.

The album cover was the first not to be designed by Derek Riggs, with Melvyn Grant's drawing being chosen instead.

The album produced the singles "Be Quick or Be Dead", "From Here to Eternity", and the title track "Fear of the Dark", which has become a staple of the band's live setlists.

Following the album's release, the band started the Fear of the Dark Tour, which included a headline appearance at the Donington Monsters of Rock festival, captured on the "Live at Donington" album.

Iron Maiden 1992

Iron Maiden 1992

Artwork from Fear of the Dark

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TitleLabelCat#FormatCountryYear
Fear Of The DarkEMI7 99161 1, 7991611Vinyl 12"Greece1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI21001472CassetteColombia1992
Fear Of The DarkTakt Music1796CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkEMITCEMD 1032, TC-EMD 1032CassetteEurope1992
Fear Of The DarkEMISTCS EMD 1032CassetteIndia1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI33433CassetteGuatemala1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7 99161 4, TCEMD 1032CassetteNetherlands1992
Fear Of The DarkEMITCEMD 1032, 7991614CassetteUK & Europe1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7 99161 4, TCEMD 1032CassetteEurope1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI25201CassetteVenezuela1992
Fear Of The DarkStarlingS9889CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkEuro StarES 1273CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI 百代CDP 7991612CDTaiwan1992
Fear Of The DarkEMInoneCDrUK1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIEMD 1032, 7991611Vinyl 12"UK1992
Fear Of The DarkEMICD EMD 1032, CDP 7991612CDUK1992
Fear Of The DarkEMICDP 7991612, CDP 799 1612CDItaly1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7808612CDAustralasia1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7991612, 799 1612CDAustralia1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIE0187-2CassetteIndonesia1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI0777 7991614(6), 7 99161 4, TC EMD 1032CassetteMalaysia1992
Fear Of The DarkACOMPAP 407CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkNot On Label (Iron Maiden)799161-4CassetteEurope1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI799161-4CassettePhilippines1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7991611, EMD 1032, 7 99161 1Vinyl 12"Europe1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7991611Vinyl 12"Portugal1992
Fear Of The DarkMG Records (2)MG 2144CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIL4 EMCJD (EB) 5456CassetteSouth Africa1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI501813-4CassetteUruguay1992
Fear Of The DarkEMITCEMD 1032, EMD 1032-4CassetteIsrael1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI 303-0239 Vinyl 12"Ecuador1992
Fear Of The DarkEpicEK 48993CDUS1992
Fear Of The DarkEMICDP 7991612, CD EMD 1032CDEurope1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI799161 2, 799 1612, 374 799161 2CDBrazil1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI140 79 9161 1Vinyl 12"Spain1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIEMI-25200Vinyl 12"Venezuela1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI68 7991614CassetteItaly1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI419 799161 4CassetteMexico1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7 99161 4, 0 777 7 99161 4 6CassettePortugal1992
Fear Of The DarkEMICDP 7991612, CD EMD 1032CDIsrael1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI168 799161 1Vinyl 12"Brazil1992
Fear Of The DarkMJM Music PLMJM 139, EMD1032, 7991611Vinyl 12"Poland1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIEKPL-0230⁓231, EMD 1032Vinyl 12"South Korea1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7991614, 7 99161 4CassetteGreece1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI219 799161 2CDMexico1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIMC-7-S 3036867CassetteCroatia1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI105800, 799161-4CassetteChile1992
Fear Of The DarkEpicET 48993CassetteUS1992
Fear Of The DarkNot On Label (Iron Maiden)noneCassetteSan Marino1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI54 7991611, 54 7991621, 54 7991631, 2-54 7991611Vinyl 12"Italy1992
Fear Of The DarkEpicEK 48993CDUS1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIEMD 1032, LP-7-2 2036868Vinyl 12"Croatia1992
Fear Of The DarkEMITCEMD 1032, MJM 139CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIEMCJD(I) 5456Vinyl 12"South Africa1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7 99161 4CassetteArgentina1992
Fear Of The DarkEpicEK 48993, 48993CDUS1992
Fear Of The DarkMMC Records (2)69515-4CassetteHungary1992
Fear Of The DarkMG Records (2)MG 2144CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIE-CTE 70213CassetteBolivia1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIMC-7-S 3036867CassetteCroatia1992
Fear Of The DarkMeteor (5)M 1012CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The Dark = フィア・オブ・ザ・ダークEMITOCP-7155, EMD 1032CDJapan1992
Fear Of The DarkEMITCEMD1032, TC EMD 1032, TC-EMD 1032, 7 99161 4CassetteUK1992
Fear Of The DarkMMC Records (2)69515-1, 799161 1Vinyl 12"Hungary1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI11001472Vinyl 12"Colombia1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7 99161 4, 7991614, TC EMD 1032CassetteUK1992
Fear Of The DarkEMICDEMCJD(WM) 5456, 0 777 7 99161 2 2CDSouth Africa1992
Fear Of The DarkEMITOCP-7155CDJapan1992
Fear Of The DarkBrawo715CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkUnison Records Ltd.85CassetteBulgaria1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIEKPL-0230-231Vinyl 12"South Korea1992
Fear Of The DarkUnison Records Ltd.CDP 065CDBulgaria1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)7991614, TCEMD 1032CassetteNetherlands1992
Fear Of The DarkEpicEK 48993, 48993CDUS1992
Fear Of The DarkEpicEK 48993, 48993CDUS1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI105800CassetteChile1992
Fear Of The DarkEMITOCP-7155CDJapan1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7 99161 4, TCP 2562CassetteTurkey1992
Fear Of The DarkMG Records (2)MG 2144CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)CDP 7991612CD1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI 303-0239 Vinyl 12"Ecuador1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIEKPC-0230, TCEMD-1032CassetteSouth Korea1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI276 799161 4CassetteBrazil1992
Fear Of The DarkEpic48993, EK 48993CDUS1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7808612CDAustralasia1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7991614, TC-799161-4CassetteAustralasia1992
Fear Of The DarkMG Records (2)MG 2144CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkCapitol RecordsC4 99161CassetteCanada1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI68 7991614CassetteItaly1992
Fear Of The DarkEpicEK 48993, 48993CDUS1992
Fear Of The DarkTakt Music1796CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkStar149CassettePoland1992
Con Miedo A La Obscuridad = Fear Of The DarkIFSA4-40122CassetteParaguay1992
Fear Of The DarkEMICDP 7991612, CD EMD 1032, CDP 799 1612CDEurope1992
Fear Of The DarkEpicET 48993CassetteUS1992
Fear Of The DarkEMITCEMD 1032, 7991614CassetteFrance1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7 99161 4, TCEMD 1032CassetteEurope1992
Fear Of The DarkB.W.616CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkMMC Records (2)EMD 10321Vinyl 12"Poland1992
Fear Of The DarkMegatonMT-670CassettePoland1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI140 79 9161 1Vinyl 12"Spain1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIC2 99161CDCanada1992
Fear Of The DarkEMIEMD 1032Box SetUK1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI270 7991614CassetteSpain1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI7 99161 1, 7991611Vinyl 12"Greece1992
Fear Of The DarkEMI 303-0239 Vinyl 12"Ecuador1992
Fear Of The DarkSuper Sonic058CassetteRussia1993
Fear Of The DarkMusical Eddy005CassetteBelarus1993
Fear Of The DarkSuper Sonic058CassetteRussia1993
Fear Of The DarkEMIEMD 1032, 7991621, 7991631Vinyl 12"Russia1993
Fear Of The DarkEMIFE. 02.0373CassettePeru1993
Fear Of The DarkEmi799161 2CDBrazil1994
Fear Of The DarkPoker Sound1076CassettePoland1994
Fear Of The DarkEMI799161 2, 370 799161 2, 799 1612CDBrazil1994
Fear Of The DarkPoker Sound1076CassettePoland1994
Fear Of The DarkEMI799161 2, 799 1612, 374 799161 2CDBrazil1994
Fear Of The DarkPoker Sound1076CassettePoland1994
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 8 35877 2 8, CDEM 1579CDEurope1995
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 8 35877 2 8, CDEM 1579CDUK & Europe1995
Fear Of The DarkCastle RecordsCASTLE 111-2CDUS1995
Fear Of The DarkCastle RecordsCASTLE 111-4CassetteUS1995
Fear Of The DarkCastle RecordsCASTLE 111-4CassetteUS1995
Fear Of The DarkCastle RecordsCASTLE 111-2CDUS1995
Fear Of The DarkCastle RecordsCASTLE 111-2CDUS1995
Fear Of The DarkEMITOCP-3173CDJapan1995
Fear Of The DarkEMITOCP-3173CDJapan1995
Fear Of The DarkAngel's Of Hell Records069CassetteRussia1996
Fear Of The DarkNot On Label (Iron Maiden)noneCassetteRussia1996
Fear Of The Dark Bonus AlbumGlobal Music (4)noneCassetteRussia1997
Fear Of The Dark Bonus AlbumGlobal Music (4)noneCassetteRussia1997
Fear Of The DarkGlobal Music (4)noneCassetteRussia1997
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 4 96925 0 3CDCanada1998
Fear Of The DarkEMITOCP 50701CDJapan1998
Fear Of The DarkEMI Music Colombia S.A.7 24349 69250 CDColombia1998
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 4 96925 0 3CDMexico1998
Fear Of The DarkEMITOCP 50701CDJapan1998
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 4 96925 0 3CDEurope1998
Fear Of The DarkMoon Records (2)noneCassetteUkraine1998
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 4 96925 0 3CDEurope1998
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 4 96925 0 3, 496 9250CDEurope1998
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 4 96925 0 3CDMalaysia1998
Fear Of The DarkEMI496925 0CDBrazil1998
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)PLP 9 6925 09Vinyl 12"UK1998
Fear Of The DarkRaw PowerRAW CD 136CDUK1998
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 4 96925 0 3CDCanada2000
Fear Of The DarkSony Music StudiosnoneCDrUS2002
Fear Of The DarkSanctuaryCK 86037CDUS2002
Fear Of The DarkSanctuaryCK 86217, CK86217CDUS2002
Fear Of The DarkEMI496925 0CDBrazil2003
Fear Of The DarkEMI496925 0CDBrazil2003
Fear Of The DarkEMI0724349692527CDRussia2006
Fear Of The DarkEMITOCP-53766CDJapan2006
Fear Of The DarkEMITOCP-53766CDJapan2008
Fear Of The DarkArnoldo Mondadori EditoreIM 08 09CDItaly2008
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 4 96925 0 3CDEurope2011
Fear Of The DarkParlophoneWPCR-80022CDJapan2014
Fear Of The DarkParlophoneWPCR-80022CDJapan2014
Fear Of The DarkParlophone7243 4 96925 0 3CDChile2014
Fear Of The DarkParlophone (2)7243 4 96925 0 3CDRussia2014
Fear Of The DarkParlophone14SC0044CDItaly2014
Fear Of The DarkParlophone Records Ltd.noneFileWorldwide2015
Fear Of The DarkBMGnoneFileUS2015
Fear Of The DarkSanctuarynoneFile2015
Fear Of The DarkSanctuarynoneFileWorldwide2015
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0724349692503CDBrazil2015
Fear Of The DarkSanctuary538276291Vinyl 12"US2017
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0190295852344Vinyl 12"Europe2017
Fear Of The DarkSanctuary538276291Vinyl 12"US2017
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0724349692503CDBrazil2018
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0190295567668CDBrazil2019
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0190295567668CDBrazil2019
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0190295567644CDEurope2019
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0190295567668CDEurope2019
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0190295567668CDEurope2019
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0190295567668CDBrazil2019
Fear Of The DarkBMG538442232CDUS2019
Fear Of The Dark = フィア・オブ・ザ・ダークParlophoneWPCR-18214CDJapan2019
Fear Of The DarkBMG538442212, 538442232CDUS2019
Fear Of The Dark = フィア・オブ・ザ・ダークParlophoneWPCR-18218Box SetJapan2019
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0190295852344Vinyl 12"Argentina2022
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0190295852344Vinyl 12"Chile2025
Fear Of The DarkAlfa Music (2)M 101CassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkIron Records (3)IR 1074CassetteRussia
Fear Of The DarkEMI Music Canada7243 4 96925 0 3CDCanada
Fear Of The DarkThomsun OriginalEN - 4643CassetteUnited Arab Emirates
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)MC 799 161 4CassetteEurope
Fear Of The DarkEuro StarES 171CassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkEMICDP 7991612, CD EMD 1032CDEurope
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 8 35877 2 8, CDEM 1579, 7243 8 36051 2 5CDEurope
Fear Of The DarkNot On Label (Iron Maiden)noneCassette
Fear Of The DarkJoker (15)155CassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkCDSound RecordsnoneCassetteMoldova, Republic of
Fear Of The DarkEMI799161 2CDBrazil
Fear Of The DarkParlophone2434-96925-0CDArgentina
Fear Of The DarkRaw PowerRAW CD 136CDUS
Fear Of The DarkParlophone (2)0724349692503CDBrazil
Fear Of The DarkNot On Label (Iron Maiden)noneCassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)noneCassetteBulgaria
Fear Of The DarkSahara OriginalENG-262CassetteSaudi Arabia
Fear Of The DarkEMI077779916122, CD EMD 1032 , CDP 799 1612CDEurope
Fear Of The DarkWarner Music Mexico7243 4 96925 0 3CDMexico
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 4 96925 0 3CDAustralia
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)TOCP-66610CDRussia
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0190295567668CDBrazil
Fear Of The DarkEMI496925 0CDBrazil
Fear Of The DarkKing's RecordsnoneCassette
Fear Of The DarkEuro StarES 1273CassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkMusic World (3)noneCassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkEMICDP 7991612, CD EMD 1032CDEurope
Fear Of The DarkBresTon Studio018CassetteBelarus
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 4 96925 0 3CDEurope
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 4 96925 0 3CDArgentina
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)CDP 7991612CDRussia
Fear Of The DarkPoker Sound By Roton1076CassetteRomania
Fear Of The DarkPhonexPH 2-001CassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)TCEMD 1032CassetteRussia
Fear Of The DarkSanctuary538276291Vinyl 12"US
Fear Of The DarkAngel's Of Hell Records069CassetteRussia
Fear Of The DarkILON155CassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkParlophone (2)0724349692503CD
Fear Of The DarkEMI496925 0, 368 4625 0CDBrazil
Fear Of The DarkEMI7 99161 4, TCP 2562CassetteTurkey
Fear Of The Dark Not On Label (Iron Maiden)noneCassetteBulgaria
Fear Of The DarkParlophone7243 4 96925 0 3, 496 9250CDUK & Europe
Fear Of The DarkSanctuaryCK 86217, 0696998621725CDUS
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)PLP 9692509Vinyl 12"
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)7243 4 96925 0 3, 72 43 4 96925 0 3CDRussia
Fear Of The DarkМузыкальный Город069CassetteRussia
Fear Of The DarkParlophone4969250CDAustralia
Fear Of The DarkEMICDP 7991612, CD EMD 1032CDEurope
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)CDP 7991612, CD EMD 1032, 191145-1CDRussia
Fear Of The DarkA.G.L.A-023CassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkEMI Music Canada7243 4 96925 0 3CDCanada
Fear Of The DarkRoxana151CassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkParlophone0190295852344Vinyl 12"Argentina
Fear Of The DarkSout El Hob - EMInoneCassetteEgypt
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)CD 0575, CDP 7991512, CD EMD 1032CDBulgaria
Fear of the DarkOrion (4)OR-198CassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkNot On Label (Iron Maiden)CDP 7991612, CD EMD 1032CDRussia
Fear Of The DarkLaser MusicLM 0894CassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkElbo1062CassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkAngel's Of Hell Records069CassetteRussia
Fear Of The DarkEuro StarES 1273CassettePoland
Fear Of The DarkNot On Label (Iron Maiden)noneCassetteEstonia
Fear Of The DarkEMI7243 4 96925 0 3, 496 9250CDEurope
Fear Of The DarkEMI0777 7 99161 2 2, CDP 7991612, 799 1612CDItaly
Fear Of The DarkEMI (2)noneCDRussia
Fear Of The DarkST Records (2)300CassettePoland

Data: discogs.com · fetched 2026-05-28

Track Listings

Side One

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1.Be Quick or Be DeadDickinson, Gers3:24
2.From Here to EternityHarris3:38
3.Afraid to Shoot StrangersHarris6:56
4.Fear Is the KeyDickinson, Gers5:35
5.Childhood's EndHarris4:40
6.Wasting LoveDickinson, Gers5:50

Total length: 28:34

Side Two

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7.The FugitiveHarris4:54
8.Chains of MiseryDickinson, Murray3:37
9.The ApparitionHarris, Gers3:54
10.Judas Be My GuideDickinson, Murray3:08
11.Weekend WarriorHarris, Gers5:39
12.Fear of the DarkHarris7:18

Total length: 29:56

1995 Reissue Bonus Disc

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1.Nodding Donkey BluesIron Maiden3:18
2.Space Station No. 5 (Montrose cover)Sammy Hagar, Ronnie Montrose3:47
3.I Can't See My Feelings (Budgie cover)Tony Bourge, Burke Shelley3:50
4.Roll Over Vic VellaChuck Berry4:48
5.No Prayer for the Dying (live)Harris4:23
6.Public Enema Number One (live)Murray, Dickinson3:53
7.Hooks in You (live)Dickinson, Smith3:37

Total length: 14:13

Line-up

Bruce Dickinson – vocals

Dave Murray – guitars

Janick Gers – guitars

Steve Harris – bass

Nicko McBrain – drums