5,000 cram Haskins center for Iron Maiden
Victor R. Martinez of El Paso Times reports that "it was a great night to be a metal head Monday (August 18) at the Don Haskins Center, where MOTÖRHEAD, DIO and the metal powerhouse IRON MAIDEN gave more than 5,000 fans vintage performances complete with guitar and drum solos and a lot of loud music.Click [url=http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20030819-10566.shtml]here[/url] to read the full report.
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Borderland Tuesday, August 19, 2003
5,000 cram Haskins center for Iron Maiden
Victor R. Martinez
El Paso Times
It was a great night to be a metal head Monday at the Don Haskins Center, where Motörhead, Ronnie James Dio and the metal powerhouse Iron Maiden gave more than 5,000 fans vintage performances complete with guitar and drum solos and a lot of loud music.
The crowd, made up of mostly dudes in tight pants and black T-shirts, were appreciative from the outset of this metal onslaught.
Motörhead prepared the audience well with its 45-minute, 10-song set. "Ramones," a tribute to the punk band that laid the foundation for the scene, and "Ace of Spades" were the crowd favorites.
Ronnie James Dio, one of the greatest vocalists in heavy metal, almost stole the night away from Iron Maiden with his 55-minute, 10-song set. Along with his favorites "The Last in Line," "Rainbow in the Dark" and "Holy Diver," Dio excelled in "Stargazer" and two songs from his Black Sabbath days, "Mob Rules" and "Heaven and Hell."
He appeared to be having a great time on stage, stretching over to shake hands and high-five the fans.
But Iron Maiden and its lead singer Bruce Dickinson showed it has not lost a step in their more than 25 years of music. The six-piece band pounded out a 90-minute, 15-song set, still sounding tight and showing the energy of a young band, not lads pushing 50.
The tour, "Give Me Ed 'Til I'm Dead," is an apparent greatest hits tour. The only new song they played was "Wildest Dreams."
The set list was filled with classics from the opening "The Number of the Beast," to the encore "Run To The Hills."
Fans know that Iron Maiden is better live than in studio. Live means it is the real thing with none of the rough edges smoothed over or dubbed away. It is heavy metal as heavy metal should sound -- and look -- with its elaborate stage and guitar-line antics.
Maiden gave its fans something special, something magical, something that will more than make up for the stiff necks and ringing ears this morning.
Victor R. Martinez may be reached at vmartinez@elpasotimes.com