Bruce Dickinson - Uusikaupunki, Finland 10/24/98
Hotel Aquarius, Uusikaupunki, Finland Oct 24th
I went to Aquarius about four o'clock to just check the place 'coz I've never been there before. I sat down and watched roadies who were building the stage. I had a beer and suddenly David came to the table next to me and started to talk with some Finnish chick and me. I had my AoB cover with me and he signed it. And then, guess who came in...YES...Bruce! He signed my AoB too and talked with David about differences of fans from different countries. I asked him if he had tryed Finnish sauna yet. He said that gigs in Helsinki and Tampere had been so hot that there had not been need to go to sauna, but maybe he might heat up hotel's sauna tonight after the show. It was funny feeling to sit next to guy whose fan I've been over ten years... He was very relaxed and friendly. There wasn't that singer's disease at all, if you know what I mean.

I also watched the soundcheck (it started at seven) half an hour and there I saw Adrian and of course got an autograph. They played "Laughing in the hiding bush" and "King in crimson". There was some more songs, I guess, but that was the point when the place was emptyed.

Doors opened at nine and they started to play around midnight. Set list was the same as in Helsinki. As usually, there was one asshole in front of the stage who took Bruce's microphone wire in his hand. Bruce looked at him and said: "Do it one more f**kin' time and I kick your f**kin' a*s!" Heh, he sounded just like Axl Rose. I like this kind of attitude. I've seen this kind of s**t happen before and I can't understand why people do it.

Bruce was singing very well as I expected but I was suprised by the rest of the guys. Eddie was a real rocker looking and acting and the crowd loved him. This was the first time for me to see Adrian live and what can I saythe guy plays his guitar with passion. I've never heard so heavy guitar sound. Guru looked a bit strange and he did not want to bring out himself so much. However, his playing was OK.

I had a f***ing big white sheet where I had written with red spray: WELCOME HOME - WE'VE MISSED YOU! (chorus on Accident of birth). Somebody took it from me in the middle of the set and threw it to Bruce. He showed it to crowd and I got almost an orgasm! By the way, I asked the sheet back from the roadie after the show and now it's on my wall at home. There were no weak points in the set. Highlights were Powerslave, The Tower, 2 minutes to midnight and Road to hell.

I saw a month ago Maiden and I liked it, but this gig was something which I loved. Blaze was singing quite OK, but I didn't like to watch him, 'coz he looked out so negative and angry while Bruce laughed and had good time. He gave the crowd what they wanted. By the way, the gig was in Uusikaupunki, not in Turku as it was supposed to be. Bruce didn't know that (I wonder how the hell it was possible) and so he shouted a couple of times: "Scream fo me Turku".

If you have something to ask my e-mail is briga@cc.spt.fi. I will answer you very willingly whatever you may want to know.

Setlist:
INTRO
1. TRUMPETS OF JERICHO
2. KING IN CRIMSON
3. CHEMICAL WEDDING
4. GATES OF URIZEN
5. KILLING FLOOR
6. BOOK OF THEL
7. TEARS OF A DRAGON
8. LAUGHING IN THE HIDING BUSH
9. ACCIDENT OF BIRTH
10. THE TOWER
11. DARK SIDE OF AQUARIUS
12. POWERSLAVE
== 1st encore ==
13. TATTOOED MILLIONAIRE
14. 2 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT
== 2nd encore ==
15. ROAD TO HELL
16. THE FLIGHT OF ICARUS


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