More Hammersmith Reviews
Bowled over by Iron MaidenBy John Aizlewood, Evening Standard
Despite making essentially the same, often thrilling, always skull-rattling music since their self-titled debut 25 years ago, the ever-crafty Iron Maiden always managed to avoid becoming a nostalgia act by constantly rotating personnel and updating their live shows.
How curious then that a line-up stable since 1999 should suddenly take their collective eye off the ball and spend 2005 playing tracks only from their first four albums.
Still, in a benefit concert for former drummer Clive Burr, a multiple sclerosis sufferer now confined to a wheelchair and introduced to the crowd before the encore, the band with three lead guitarists and a bassist who behaves like a fourth still packed a ferocious punch.
They also had a certain dignity. Not only did they refuse to allow themselves to be further dragged into a public spat with Sharon Osbourne over their Ozzfest dates last month (at their final appearance in San Fernando, Maiden were pelted with eggs by Ozzy Osbourne's entourage and their sound was sabotaged), but when the very word "America" was booed, singer Bruce Dickinson ordered the crowd to desist.
While the history lesson served to remind that Iron Maiden have evolved more than they have been given credit for, they leapt aboard the old material with manly but joyful gusto.
Dave Murray's guitar riff which opens Run to the Hills was as startlingly magnificent as ever, while Phantom of the Opera, all fist-shaking choruses, multiple guitar solos and a tune so whistleable it was used in a Lucozade advertisement, bounded along like an eager puppy.
Meanwhile, the tongue-twisting Where Eagles Dare began with a mock bombing raid (the sound Iron Maiden have always attempted to emulate) and Sanctuary, Hallowed Be Thy Name and Remember Tomorrow were ludicrously enjoyable heavy metal panto.
After the encore the rest of the band hung around on stage playing football like the kids they will always be, as Dickinson announced Iron Maiden may not appear again until 2007, by which time they should have a new album to showcase. No prizes for guessing what it will sound like. National treasure status is long overdue.
Iron Maiden: In aid of Clive Burr
Written by The Rock Radio staff, September 2005 © The Rock Radio
Fresh from concluding their European and American tour in support to the greatly successful The Early Days DVD released in late 2004 covering the history of the band until 1983, Iron Maiden were back in town where it all started in the first place. Friday night, September 2, 2005, was a unique opportunity to catch the band in action in the 5,000 capacity Hammersmith Apollo in London's West End in support to the Clive Burr Multiple Sclerosis Trust Fund; a trust set up in 2002 to support their ex-drummer Clive Burr (1980-1982) and other people who suffer from MS.
This is a band that managed to build from their humble roots of pub gigs in London's East End to having some of the most loyal following in music business the world over. 65 million records and 25 years on from the debut album their army of fans is now bigger and stronger than ever no matter what Sharon Osbourne says.
As the time drew closer, the fans' chant Maiden…Maiden could be heard louder and louder. UFO's Doctor, Doctor entertaining the tightly-packed crowds reached its conclusion, the lights went off and the band stormed in with the opening set of The Idles Of March and Murders In The Rue Morgue. This was no ordinary gig. This was the past revisited with classic songs drawn entirely from their first four albums of Iron Maiden (1980), Killers (1981), The Number Of The Beast (1982) and Piece Of Mind (1983). Another Life and the amazing Prowler paved the way for the timeless favorite The Trooper. Dickinson introduced the slow-burning Remember Tomorrow as the first song he ever played with Maiden when he was auditioned back in 1981 and based on his in-your-face performance of the song we can only dream on how he sounded 24 years ago.
Were Eagles Dare, Run To The Hills, Revelations, Wrathchild and Die With Your Boots On typically sounded as good as ever, proving once again that Maiden will be on top form for at least another decade. By that time most of the crowd had already gone ballistic. However, the song that followed was surely the highlight of the night. At over seven minutes long, the power and energy of the band on Phantom Of The Opera was simply phenomenal. You would be forgiven for thinking that this was the year 1980. Whilst the fans were going mental, Maiden were as cool as ever. It is not every day that you see a bunch of 45+ year olds having more energy and enthusiasm than most of us can ever hope for.
The band had no time to waste as the crowd booed Sharon Osbourne's pathetic acts on Ozzfest; the magic trio was coming up. The Number Of The Beast, Hallowed By Thy Name and Iron Maiden boosted more killer riffs, bass-guitar galloping and drums thundering than any red-haired, surgery-sculpted TV celebrity can ever handle. Eddie had no time for this either. He stormed on stage and rocked like a beast.
As the show reached its end, Clive Burr was escorted on his wheelchair on-stage to thank the band and the fans for their support. The fans showed their respect for the man without which none of the first three Maiden albums would have happened. In no time the lights went off again and the thumping drum intro of the Clive Burr-era classic Running Free was already on its way. In traditional Running Free fashion the crowd sang their asses-off, orchestrated by the master of arena rock showmanship, Mr Bruce Dickinson. At times it felt as if the all-time classic live version of the song on Live After Death was playing on the speakers! The band delivered another deadly duo with Drifter and Sanctuary to complete their last show until next year when the band regroups to record studio album number 14.
To finish off with a famous phrase by another famous rock band... Iron Maiden - We Salute You!
Sources: This is London, The Rock Radio
7 Comments
QUOTE(The Saint @ Sep 6 2005, 03:21 PM)
[i]Bowled over by Iron Maiden
They also had a certain dignity. Not only did they refuse to allow themselves to be further dragged into a public spat with Sharon Osbourne over their Ozzfest dates last month (at their final appearance in San Fernando, Maiden were pelted with eggs by Ozzy Osbourne's entourage and their sound was sabotaged), but when the very word "America" was booed, singer Bruce Dickinson ordered the crowd to desist.The Rock Radio
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They also had a certain dignity. Not only did they refuse to allow themselves to be further dragged into a public spat with Sharon Osbourne over their Ozzfest dates last month (at their final appearance in San Fernando, Maiden were pelted with eggs by Ozzy Osbourne's entourage and their sound was sabotaged), but when the very word "America" was booed, singer Bruce Dickinson ordered the crowd to desist.The Rock Radio
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It's sad to think that Iron maiden's triumphant return to America could be remembered by what Sharon Osbourne did at their final appearance. Iron Maiden had a fantastic acceptance at Ozzfest, and I would say, they were the highlight of the entire tour. If this tour is remembered by what happened in San Bernadino, than Sharon has won. Let's not let this happen, and hope Iron Maiden makes it back to America, and they can be welcomed with an enthusiastic crowd once again.
You have to love the analogies used in the first review.
“the ever-crafty Iron Maiden always managed to avoid becoming a nostalgia act”
“still packed a ferocious punch” 
“they leapt aboard the old material with manly but joyful gusto” 
“startlingly magnificen”t 
“all fist-shaking choruse”s 
“a tune so whistleable it was used in a Lucozade advertisement," 
"bounded along like an eager puppy”
Like an eager puppy? What’s that all about?
“a mock bombing raid (the sound Iron Maiden have always attempted to emulate)”
and my personal favorite,
“Sanctuary, Hallowed Be Thy Name and Remember Tomorrow were ludicrously enjoyable heavy metal panto”
Nice reviews.
QUOTE(The Saint @ Sep 6 2005, 04:21 PM)
Dave Murray's guitar riff which opens Run to the Hills was as startlingly magnificent as ever, while Phantom of the Opera, all fist-shaking choruses, multiple guitar solos and a tune so whistleable it was used in a Lucozade advertisement, bounded along like an eager puppy.
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When did that happen? Back in the 80's or recently?
I think it was on British television about 15 years ago. Additionally it was used in a KFC advertisement a few years ago.
Very good review indeed, but what was that about that iron maiden wont release their new album until 2007 or did they mean another album 
QUOTE(Pblic enemy nmbr 1 @ Sep 6 2005, 05:18 PM)
Very good review indeed, but what was that about that iron maiden wont release their new album until 2007 or did they mean another album
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I believe it is they won't tour again untill 2007. That tour would probably be in support of their next album which should be out in latter 2006
QUOTE(national acrobat @ Sep 6 2005, 04:38 PM)
Nice reviews.
When did that happen? Back in the 80's or recently?
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When did that happen? Back in the 80's or recently?
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Check this out at
http://www.allaboutngage.com/reviews/review2.php?id=69
Iron Maiden's version of "Phantom of the Opera" has sold more bottles of Lucozade than Andrew Lloyd Webber's.
and at
http://www.playlouder.com/feature/+reading-festival-0/
Then there's the thunderously epic 'Phantom Of The Opera', which Bruce rightly describes as the essence of Maiden's early sound. I immediately regress to childhood when I remember that it also soundtracked a Lucozade TV ad starring Daley Thompson.