Live report from Canada
Check out Canada's [url=http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/]Montreal Gazette[/url] for a live report of Iron Maiden gig at Bell Centre, last Saturday (August 2). [url=http://www.canada.com/montreal/aroundtown/story.asp?id=DD87B9CD-22EB-43B2-BC78-B3AA706E91E2]Read on[/url].Thanks to [url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net]Blabbermouth.net[/url].
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Original Article:
Metal's fair Maiden lives on
12,000 diehard fans. Cheers stun singer Bruce Dickinson
T'CHA DUNLEVY
The Gazette
Monday, August 04, 2003
Iron Maiden's new album, due Sept. 9, is called Dance of Death, but heavy metal will apparently never die. That was the impression, at least, as 12,000 diehard fans celebrated their favourite band Saturday at the Bell Centre.
Speed-metal power trio Motörhead tore through a visceral half-hour set to open the night. Then came anomaly Ronnie James Dio, whose melodramatic performance style and campy repertoire came across as decidedly dated. But though they often seemed bored during the songs, people cheered anyway, and sang the choruses of some of his bigger hits.
There was a marked difference, however, between that and the thunderous reception that greeted Iron Maiden.
The entire crowd jumped to its feet screaming the moment the lights dimmed. The familiar introduction to the band's 1982 classic The Number of the Beast came over the sound system, and the festivities were under way.
The number 666 flashed in blinding lights at the back of the stage. Singer Bruce Dickinson bounded out. His incredible energy would last the duration of the show. He sprinted about like a crazed leprechaun, lurching, arms waving and his powerful voice ringing loud and clear.
The crowd cheered deliriously, singing every lyric, arms pumping in perfect unison like a vast, rowdy army. The frenzy didn't relent for a whole half-hour.
Chants of "Mai-den! Mai-den!" broke out after the fourth song, Revelations. The band soaked it in for a few moments, then Dickinson spoke:
"On a fait un concert à Madison Square Garden," he said. "C'était un beau concert. Mais il y a les autres concerts - et il y a les VRAIS concerts."
The ensuing uproar lasted nearly five minutes, during which Dickinson sat in wonder, staring out at the audience.
"OK," he said, finally, "c'est nécessaire de jouer de la musique, oui?"
He introduced Wildest Dreams, off the coming album. It was the only new song of the night, and it was quickly obvious why. The crowd cheered when it was over, but people seemed at a loss without the familiarity of their lifelong metal anthems to guide them.
The energy dipped over the next few songs, particularly The Clansman, during which Dickinson prodded, "Allez! Allez!" as he tried to get people to sing along.
Just in time, it was Eddie to the rescue. The band's towering skeleton mascot emerged during The Clairvoyant, shuffling about as Dickinson sang.
Iron Maiden will reportedly cut down on its touring schedule after its coming Dance of Death tour - to be expected after 25 years of the hard-rock life. But as it often does at these shows, time stood still on Saturday night, and heavy metal was alive and well.
tdunlevy@thegazette.canwest.com