Reviews
Check out on Electricbasement.com reviews of "Tattooed Millionaire" (Reissue) and "Rock in Rio" DVD.[url=http://www.electricbasement.com/review693.htm]http://www.electricbasement.com/review693.htm[/url]
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BRUCE DICKINSON - Tattooed Millionaire (Reissue)
(Columbia/Legacy)
This disc came about as a complete lark for Bruce Dickinson. As Dickinson once told me, "Some bunch had a whole lot of money and Janick and I wrote the whole album in one drunken weekend and recorded it in two weeks." Though there was no grander concept involved than an easy paycheck and some fun the music did manage to stand the test of time making the original pressing of the disc a highly sought after item.
Sony, looking for their own easy payday, have reassembled the original disc with some bonuses and printed up a few thousand copies for those who were looking and not bad timing either given the relative lack of IRON MAIDEN related output as of late.
With the value of hindsight fully understood here it is easy to see what a wonderfully fortuitous accident of birth this disc had and to enjoy our good Metal fortune that much more. Here you will find the classic Dickinson solo tracks "Tattooed Millionaire" and "All the young Dudes," (Dickinson's brilliant take on the MOTT THE HOPLE classic), but what elevates this disc to essential purchase status is the collection of bonus tracks, five of 'em mind you!
A bevy of "B" sides, ("Darkness be my Friend," Spirit of Joy (originally by Arthur Brown)," "Winds of Change" and the AC/DC cover, "Sin City") as well as a power packed live remembrance of Dickinson's pre-MAIDEN band SAMSON in the live version "Riding with the Angels" all combine to make any used-disc store digging pointless. This is a case of making an already perfect album shine brighter and that is an exceptionally rare occurrence these days as sad as that is to say.
Astute MAIDEN fans will note that this disc marks the first full album appearance of six-stringer Janick Gers with Dickinson so if you be a particularly rabid fan of the latter-day MAIDEN this disc undoubtedly already has a space on the shelve reserved for it. For all others who can simply appreciate a bit of Metal fun and frivolity yet still need it Heavy, you just can't do any better than this. - David L. Wilson
IRON MAIDEN - Rock In Rio
(Columbia)
You say that the standard 2CD version of IRON MAIDEN's "ROCK IN RIO" wasn't enough to melt both your speakers and your brain? You further state that the only way you can get your MAIDEN fill is to have at least 175 minutes, (that is quite nearly three hours, do the math!), of both still and moving pictures documenting the band as they burn through their set at the famous festival? Well, strange your needs could be met so precisely but here it is, exactly what you want, IRON MAIDEN: "ROCK IN RIO" the DVD and it truly is one hell of a grand package to say the least.
First off you have the blessedly over the top packaging of the two DVD discs. You can't get these things into your DVD player quickly enough, I know, but first you have to dislodge the book-like container from its box and as you open its innards right there in front of you, you have the entire RIR scene pop up like some twisted children's book. Cool as hell and fully filled with the quality level and amount of artwork that you have come to expect from a MAIDEN offering. You will simply have to wait to look at it all because the show is about to begin as soon as the discs load and once they do you are quite nearly transported to Brazil to rock with the MAIDEN-men through their entire set.
You know the set list, it is the same as the CD version but here there are bonuses beyond the simple filming of a concert. You have interviews and behind the scene segments dedicated to each band member, much of it on the golf course where Nicko McBrain shows off his MAIDEN monogrammed golf balls as well as some impressive driving! Basically it is insider information available nowhere else and something that would be worthy of its own packaging for true MAIDEN fanatics but here it is free, pretty cool eh?
The last bonus features are one, a series of Ross Halfin photos from the show itself as well as candid moments before and after the gig and two, "A day in the life" which is, now get this, a documentary of a day in the life of IRON MAIDEN. Yeah, no surprise but manna from, well somewhere, nonetheless.
So, you already know the music, you now have its visual companion as well as enough bonus material to fill an unreasonable amount of time 'edbanging and with a few viewings enough trivial knowledge of the kings of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal to decimate any would be fan that dare challenge your knowledge of all things truly Metal!
DISC ONE: "The Wicker Man," "Ghost of the Navigator," "Brave New World," "Wrathchild," "2 minutes to Midnight," "Blood Brothers," "Sign of the Cross," "The Mercenary," "The Trooper," "Dream of Mirrors," "The Clansman," "The evil that men Do," "Fear of the Dark," "Iron Maiden," "The number of the Beast," "Hallowed be thy Name," "Sanctuary" and "Run to the Hills."
DISC TWO: "Interviews," "A day in the Life" and "Ross Halfin photo Diary." - David L. Wilson
[url=http://www.electricbasement.com/review693.htm]http://www.electricbasement.com/review693.htm[/url]
Blistering.com
Iron Maiden - Rock In Rio (DVD)
(Columbia)
You say that the standard 2CD version of Iron Maiden’s Rock In Rio wasn’t enough to melt both your speakers and your brain? You further state that the only way you can get your Maiden fill is to have at least 175 minutes, (that is quite nearly three hours, do the math!), of both still and moving pictures documenting the band as they burn through their set at the famous festival? Well, strange your needs could be met so precisely but here it is, exactly what you want, Iron Maiden: Rock In Rio the DVD and it truly is one hell of a grand package to say the least.
First off you have the blessedly over the top packaging of the two DVD discs. You can’t get these things into your DVD player quickly enough, I know, but first you have to dislodge the book-like container from its box and as you open its innards right there in front of you, you have the entire RIR scene pop up like some twisted children’s book. Cool as hell and fully filled with the quality level and amount of artwork that you have come to expect from a Maiden offering. You will simply have to wait to look at it all because the show is about to begin as soon as the discs load and once they do you are quite nearly transported to Brazil to rock with the Maiden-men through their entire set.
You know the set list, it is the same as the CD version but here there are bonuses beyond the simple filming of a concert. You have interviews and behind the scene segments dedicated to each band member, much of it on the golf course where Nicko McBrain shows off his Maiden monogrammed golf balls as well as some impressive driving! Basically it is insider information available nowhere else and something that would be worthy of its own packaging for true Maiden fanatics but here it is free, pretty cool eh?
The last bonus features are one, a series of Ross Halfin photos from the show itself as well as candid moments before and after the gig and two, “A Day In The Life” which is, now get this, a documentary of a day in the life of Iron Maiden. Yeah, no surprise but manna from, well somewhere, nonetheless.
So, you already know the music, you now have its visual companion as well as enough bonus material to fill an unreasonable amount of time ‘edbanging and with a few viewings enough trivial knowledge of the kings of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal to decimate any would be fan that dare challenge your knowledge of all things truly Metal!
By: David L. Wilson