Iron Maiden rocks the house

[Hurin_Rules]

I got the chance to see Iron Maiden this summer (thanks again, Ichi!) and I have to say they still rock the house. I'm an old Maiden fan but hadn't seen them in over a decade. I was wondering if they're still any good (they are about 50 now) and what they'd be like.

On this tour, they were only doing material from their first four albums, and that was fine with me-- I wasn't so big on Somewhere in Time and the stuff after Seventh Son. I started listening to them with Number of the Beast and think that their first two albums are tow o ftheir best.

I was blown away. Their set was draped with old singles and ep covers. I saw the one from Maiden Japan (Eddie with a Katana) and Run to the Hills. Before they came on, they played Ides of March (an instrumental), then the music built and when the drum solo on Murders in the Rue Morgue hit, they all blasted onto the stage. They all looked great--only Nicko had a bit of a paunch, but hell, he's a drummer. Bruce was great; for the trooper he came out in a british army uniform with a huge Union Jack. But the heart and soul of Maiden has always been bassist Steve Harris, and he was just as intense as ever, singing every word of every song even though they never give him a microphone. I could get close enough to look him in the eye, singing at the top of my lungs to let him know that we were with them. That just made them even more intense. They played stuff that they had not played for 20 years. Some of it Bruce had never played in concert before. He noted that the first song the band made him sing when he was interviewing for the position of lead singer was 'Remember Tomorrow'-- a very demanding song. Then they sang it, and Bruce did great. It was fantastic seeing songs like Purgatory, Phantom of the Opera and Prowler performed. Their finale was even Sanctuary, which brought the house down. My buddy went with me--we managed to snag floor seats--and I was a bit worried, because although he was a bit of a fan, he didnt' know the old stuff. At the end of it, when we finally found each other, he was laughing his balls off, he was so blown away. He told me that he looked back at the crowd and saw everyone on their feet, going crazy. He was just almost doubled over saying he couldn't believe how awesome it was. Their old stuff has a lot of time changes and crazy guitar solos and he couldn't believe how intense and relentless it all was.

Thanks Maiden for making me a teenager again, if only for one night.

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

I'd like to see Maiden some time. When I was very little I used to greatly enjoy it (I think I liked the art work and Harris's incredibly awful boys' own adventure style lyrics).

[Axeknight]

Ooh, you lucky bugger you! I don't think Maiden are playing the UK on this tour, and I'd really love to see them.

Did they play 'Wrathchild'? That's one of my favourite Di'anno songs

[Ronin]

is that the old people house?

[Templar Knight]

is that the old people house?

nope - the young and cool house!

[Hurin_Rules]

Ooh, you lucky bugger you! I don't think Maiden are playing the UK on this tour, and I'd really love to see them.

Did they play 'Wrathchild'? That's one of my favourite Di'anno songs

Yep, it was great. One of the highlights.

[English assassin]

I don't think Maiden are playing the UK on this tour, and I'd really love to see them.

Not as such but they ARE headlining Reading on Sunday AND I'M GOING !!

Man I hope they play the same set HR heard.

Reading is an awesome line up this year but Iron Maiden will surely be the high point. And the best thing is any teenybopper festival-goer wearing a Linkin park T shirt is going to get stomped, no messing.

[IliaDN]

Not as such but they ARE headlining Reading on Sunday AND I'M GOING !!

Oh ****, I know it is bad - but I am getting envious!

[Axeknight]

I'm listening to their first album right now - man, that opening riff to Prowler is so cool! Dave Murray is one of my all-time fav guitarists

[Kurando]

One of the reasons I always thought that Maiden rocked so profoundly is that they wrote songs about some really interesting stuff that no other metal bands would write about. Run for the hills is a good example of this.



Definitely a legendary metal band, thanks for the trip down memory lane Hurin_Rules.

[King Ragnar]

I seen them a few years back on a UK tour, very very good, Long live Cousin Eddie!!!

[JAG]

Sounded like a brilliant gig, as ever with Maiden.

Have fun at Reading EA. I am going to see Maiden at the Apollo on the 2nd with a mate at their special fund raising concert for Clive, it should be something extremely special. I can't wait, really, really, can't wait.

Maiden, the best band to ever play.

[Proletariat]

You weenies. It's all about teh Cradle of Filth!!!!111!!!11!!

Lock teh thred!!11!

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

Cradle of Flith

I met a girl who had been in one of the videos. She said that Dani Flith was given a box to stand on in their scene together so that he didn't look tiny compared to her (she was only about average heght).

[English assassin]

Have fun at Reading EA. I am going to see Maiden at the Apollo on the 2nd with a mate at their special fund raising concert for Clive, it should be something extremely special. I can't wait, really, really, can't wait.

That will be something. I'm excited enough about Reading and they will only have just over an hour for their set, and its 80,000 in a field. A full set at the Apollo would be awesome. How come they are platying the Apollo its not like they couldn't sell out Docklands at least? Still, don't ask, I guess.

The only trouble is I am going to spend the whole weekend thinking, yeah, the Pixies/QOTSA/insert other great band here are OK, but lets get to the main attraction.

Nice one Prole, you got me on first reading...

[Hurin_Rules]

...at their special fund raising concert for Clive...

Clive Burr? What are they doing for him?

[drone]

In case you hadn't heard:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Musi...eut/index.html

Iron Maiden manager: Ozzfest fans 'vile'
Condemns group who threw lighters and eggs at band

Wednesday, August 24, 2005; Posted: 1:39 p.m. EDT (17:39 GMT)

NEW YORK (Billboard) -- Iron Maiden's manager has condemned Ozzfest fans who pelted the band with debris during its performance at the hard rock festival's weekend stop near Los Angeles.

The British metal veterans also endured periodic outages of the sound system, and Ozzfest organizer Sharon Osbourne came on stage afterwards to call Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson a "prick" for allegedly berating her husband, Ozzy Osbourne.

Sunday's dramatic show in San Bernardino, California, was Iron Maiden's last on the Ozzfest tour; Velvet Revolver has joined the lineup in its place.

"In 30 years in this business and after hundreds of gigs I have never seen anything anywhere near as disgusting and unprofessional as what went on that night," Ron Smallwood said on Maiden's Web site (http://www.ironmaiden.com).

"The scale, viciousness and concentration of the throwing made it obvious that this was a premeditated and coordinated attack. Assaulting musicians while performing by throwing bottle tops, lighters and eggs at them from just a few yards away is vile, dangerous, criminal and cowardly."

Without naming names, Smallwood says he knew who was responsible for attempting to sabotage Iron Maiden's set, audio and video clips of which have begun circulating online.

"Those who participated or stood idly by and watched as all this went down should also be ashamed of themselves and I would certainly hope they never come near a tour with which we are involved," Smallwood added.

"If l had any sort of problem or misunderstanding with a band working on a tour we were involved in I would go and talk to them or their manager -- not wait until the end of a tour and assault and ambush them," he continued.

Some more from the Maiden site:
http://www.ironmaiden.com/index.php?...1&subsection=1

When you see them in the UK, give them a good welcome, looks like they could use it.

Clive Burr? What are they doing for him?

They are doing another concert at Hammersmith.
http://www.ironmaiden.com/article.ph...rticle_id=1175

[Axeknight]

Shaorn Osbourne ambushes Iron Maiden at San Bernardino!
More info

A message from Rod Smallwood

23/08/2005OZZFEST - SAN BERNARDINO AUG 20


Maiden are currently returning from America and preparing for UK festivals this weekend and don't wish to waste time giving Sharon Osbourne's statement the dignity of a reply. Considering the disgraceful nature of the events that occurred they feel it's a pretty dismal effort at self justification and they don't think Metal fans are at all gullible and that they will easily see through it. They want no more to do with this sorry incident and are very much looking forward to headlining Reading and Leeds Festivals this weekend.

I would however like to add my own comment on this.

In 30 years in this business and after attending hundreds of gigs l have never seen anything anywhere near as disgusting and unprofessional as what went on that night. I was standing on our sound desk out front as usual but ran to the stage as soon as the hail of missiles began and from then on watched from the front of the stage right next to Bruce's walkway. The scale, viciousness and concentration of the throwing made it obvious that this was a premeditated and co-ordinated attack. Assaulting musicians while performing by throwing bottle tops, lighters and eggs at them from just a few yards away is vile, dangerous, criminal and cowardly. It is incredible that Ozzfest security apparently did nothing about it - aren't they there to protect the bands too? Especially when the band is concentrating on a performance in front of 45,000 people and the missiles are coming out of the glare of the spotlights. And to spit at a band on stage is unforgivable.

Iron Maiden, like all the bands on Ozzfest, had to sign quite onerous legal documents part of which was promising not to throw anything into the audience, even wristbands!!! Ironic isn't it.

It is well documented on the web who was responsible for planning and participating in this attack and for musicians to join in this assault on other musicians is a shocking disgrace akin to treachery. You should all be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.

We know who authorised the making of the 'ozzy - ozzy' chant tape the day before and how it was played secretly through the PA at the very beginning and end of our set.

We also know who continually turned off the power interrupting our set at crucial moments. It is a good thing that the power was turned back on before there was a riot as you could sense on stage a lot of the huge audience were getting totally ****ed off at this continual onslaught on the band.

The great majority of the Ozzfest crew throughout the tour were terrific and we thank them. Those who participated or stood idly by and watched as this all went down should also be ashamed of themselves and l would certainly hope they never come near a tour with which we are involved.

There is little point in my commenting on the chap with the flag or their trying to hold up Eddie or Sharon's speech as the audience made their feelings very clear on each occasion.

And in the end what was all this about?? If l had any sort of problem or misunderstanding with a band working on a tour we were involved in l would go and talk to them or their manager - not wait until the end of a tour and assault and ambush them. Or was that really it?

I find it staggering that this ambush would take place in front of any audience, let alone in San Bernardino, the biggest audience of the tour. Didn't that audience merit any consideration? They pay an awful lot to be there in terms of prices for tickets, parking, food, beer etc. Surely if they spend this sort of money they deserve to watch the bands they paid to see be able to put in a full unhindered performance. Free of danger and intimidation. If I had paid I would ask for my money back!

And this audience really were outstanding, giving the band incredible support and many voting with their feet in disgust after the set and the speech, which to many was the final insult.

I have to say l was immensely proud of Maiden who stood up to it all and showed great courage and just got better and better through the adversity. Their heads never dropped, instead they went on the offensive. It was a truly memorable moment when Bruce went to the very front of the stage during Trooper - something which he never normally does as he is usually on the ramps - waving the flag whilst avoiding the hail of missiles and yelling 'This is a ****ing British flag, and these colours don't ****ing run!'. The imperturbable attitude and ability of the band shone through and in the end made this a truly remarkable rock and roll event, even if for all the wrong reasons.

We will have no more to say on this matter except that l do think the band deserve an apology from a number of people, and you know who you are.

ROD SMALLWOOD
MANAGER, IRON MAIDEN
CHAIRMAN, SANCTUARY ARTIST MANAGEMENT


How pathetic and petty is $haron O$bourne?

[Al Khalifah]

Anyone notice that they're back in the charts at the moment ? Currently at number 5 with Trooper ?

You can't keep Edd down.

[English assassin]

Hmm. Anyone thinking of wearing a Black Sabbath T shirt to Reading on Sunday wants to think again don't they?

I can't actually get my head round how stupid you would have to be to try to sabotage a set at a festival by switching the band's power off. If the fans had rioted, what then?

Anyone notice that they're back in the charts at the moment ? Currently at number 5 with Trooper ?

These facts have to be connected I feel.