Friday 2nd September 2005
reviewed by Prodigal
Cars review
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To start at the beginning, I managed to position myself half way down the front on the right hand side, and despite what my ticket said, there were no seats to stand on! The show started with UFO's "Doctor, Doctor" which led into the "Ides Of March" intro tape......which was a signal for the us to start going mad!
The minute the Bruce and the boys burst onstage with "Murders In The Rue Morgue", I knew we were going to be in for a special night. It was delight after metal delight, one couldn't wish for a better track selection from the first four albums! To see old classics like Another Life and Remember Tomorrow being performed live was simply amazing....and a bit sad at the same time because we wont hear them again live, I'm sure.
As this was the last show of the tour, the guys were really letting rip on stage - even Adrian was running around, which is the equivalent of Bruce standing still for 2 hours! They were incredibly tight, all the solo's were brilliantly nailed, and Bruce seemed determined to cover every single inch of the stage - as usual!!
Highlights: So many.............!
The Trooper of course, with the British flag ( That's BRITISH, Sharron!)...with the crowd at the front almost pulling it from Brice's grasp - he didn't seem too amused. The fantastic intro from Nicko to Where Eagles Dare. H's amaziing solo on NOTB, had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. The devil himself made a timely appearance......show's what good musical taste they have in Hell! Revelations was a joy to behold, one of my fave Maiden tracks....
Bruce's speeches (not really rants I have to say) before R.T & Phantom Of The Opera, were pretty funny - with one mention of America (which got a load of boos.......I wonder why!). The ozzfest thing wasn't touched upon as such, which I'm glad about really. Time to put it to bed I think - Maiden are answering in the best way, with mind blowing live concerts like this.
EVERY track was a highlight, but if my life was at stake to name a specific moment, I would go for the 8 minutes or so that was Phantom Of The Opera, as Bruce rightly said, this track sums up completely what Maiden are all about.......simply mind blowing in it's execution. After this show, it has now overtaken Hallowed Be Thy Name as my alltime number 1 Maiden track
Bruce? What can one say about him....he is absolutely, without question the greatest front man in Metal - nobody else comes close. He hit every note - even the screams were back to the old ferocity. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand, and the way he put the "EO, eo" chant in Running Free was majestic. About the encore: "why hide behind the Amps for 5 minutes pretending not to come back, we'll stay here instead!" despite H having already departed was excellent also!
The Eddies were cool, especially the backstage one having his brain inserted during "Iron Maiden" Seeing Clive was great, but it was so sad to see him in a Wheelchair now. But he is in good hands with the Maiden "family" as Bruce put it.
Set List:
Ides of March (tape intro)
Murders In The Rue Morgue
Another Life
Prowler
The Trooper
Remember Tomorrow
Where Eagles Dare
Run To The Hills
Revelations
Wrathchild
Die With Your Boots On
Phantom Of The Opera
Number Of The Beast
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Iron Maiden
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Running Free
Drifter
Sanctuary
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Summary:
This was my 15th Maiden show since 1998 and I'm struggling to think of a better one than this. It was pure brillance from beginning to end. Maiden are still showing all the other bands how to do metal. Sharron who...............??
They are Number 1, no question, no competition.
Prodigals Star Rating
100/10
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