I have been a fan since the early 80s, when as a child in England, I first heard them. My cousin who is much older than me had the record 'Iron Maiden' amongst his Status Quo albums. I think maybe it was Paul DiAnno who fronted the band then. My cousin was kind of appalled when his ten year old female cousin was rocking to Maiden, but then I think I appalled him frequently .. he also never forgave me for accidentally scratching one of his Quo albums. (Quo ... pfft)
Anyway back to Maiden.
Long term fan, but had never seen them perform live. Then in 2011 at Soundwave in Brisbane I finally got to see them live. Amazing! Bruce Dickinson with his amazing vocal dexterity, Adrian, Steve, Dave, and Janick with their guitar virtuosity, and Nicko McBrain with his lively percussion. The only thing missing was Eddie. Sadly blog readers... there was No Eddie.
Fast forward to May 2016 ... Brisbane Entertainment Centre, there we were, seeing Maiden for the second time!
After The Raven Age finished their set (and they were polished awesomeness as well by the way) a short intermission and then... lights dimmed.... there was susurration from the crowd.. then quiet... the stage is bathed in a glowing green light, then the two side monitors display Ed Force One.. and... Eddie!! (Yay Eddie!!) .. then the lights brighten on the stage... and the crowd starts to roar .... and the opening of If Eternity Should Fall quells the audience's roar....
What an amazing show... stage sets, lighting, everything ... and Mr Dickinson's voice is still that amazingly brilliant multi-octave delight it has always been. (Glad you are well again too Sir after your illness of last year). Watching Janick and Steve bounce around the stage and Dave's fingers fly over the frets, and Adrian and his brilliant solos.. and Nicko with his Energiser Bunny super energetic, amazing drumming... .. could this concert get any better???
Then.. yes! EDDIE!!! yayayaayayayayayay.
Eddie struts onto the stage.. and Bruce rips his heart out Aztec style... theatrics are always a great part of Maiden's performances.. not that they need them, their music is entertaining enough.
Then... later.. Eddie as a massive huge, did i mention massive, creature towering over the stage appears!!!
Yay.. not only did we get to see Maiden perform ... we saw Eddie!!! Twice!!!!
That reminds me, Iron Maiden is bringing out an Eddie mobile platform game mid year... make sure you get in on that! The link to get to the info.. ooh and buy some game merch is http://ironmaidenlegacy.com
I am a fan, a long-term fan of Maiden, a long long ..I am old.. ok.. OLD... been a fan ..for a long time.. a long long... anyway you get the idea......
so I am biased... but to me that was the best concert I had ever been to.
... Until the next Maiden concert anyway! ;)
The play list last night was: (I think I got all of them here... I was immersed in the concert so I may have missed one .. if I have please let me know!)
- If Eternity Should Fail
- Speed of Light
- Children of the Damned
- Tears of a Clown
- The Red and the Black
- The Trooper
- Powerslave
- Death or Glory
- The Book of Souls
- Hallowed Be Thy Name
- Fear of the Dark
- Iron Maiden
- The Number of the Beast
- Blood Brothers
- Wasted Years
Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls World Tour 2016 at Brisbane Entertainment Centre 4th May 2016
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| I took this photo of Bruce Dickinson at the Iron Maiden concert in Brisbane |
