[SPOILER] The Night Belonged to Maiden
Dave Smalley has published a nice article about Maiden's performance at Ozzfest. Contains the name of some songs of the playlist, hence the spoiler warning.Read on:
Maiden ruled Ozzfest
July 28, 2005 1:06 am
By DAVE SMALLEY
As the crowd watched an approximately 12-year-old boy get thrown to the ground and cuffed by police, everyone knew it was going to be an interesting day at Ozzfest.
We'll never know the little boy's crime, but Johnny Law got his man--er, kid. Security guards and uniformed officers escorted the young offender through the crowd briskly, and everyone went about their business.
Just another day at Ozzfest.
For the uninitiated, Ozzfest is Ozzy Osbourne's traveling circus of rock--a daylong festival of the heavy, heavier and heaviest in metal. This year's event, as in years past, featured many an up-and-comer, along with veteran bands that have long dominated the rock universe.
This time, the grizzled vets blew away the young pups. No contest.
When one event has Rob Zombie, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath--the heaviest band ever--all the talentless growlers screaming into a microphone during songs that endlessly blend together are bound to come up short.
This night belonged to Maiden.
Oh, there were some bright lights shining on the second stage. Mastodon was convincing, and It Dies Today showed some potential.
But it was the second-stage headliner, Rob Zombie, who displayed his talent for distinguishable vocals and distinct songs that make fans scream along and rock out.
Zombie is a great singer and sardonic on stage. In between original songs, his band--which rocked--perfectly played snippets from classic rock songs, including numbers by Lynyrd Skynyrd, The James Gang, Joe Walsh and more.
Then came the real treat of the day: the main stage.
It was virtually a nonstop fist-shaker here, as band after talented band displayed confidence and musical diversity that was missing from much of the second stage.
The real winners of the night were Black Label Society, Shadows Fall and Sabbath, but Iron Maiden above all.
How many bands still even attempt, let alone pull off, a huge zombie as their mascot on stage? How many singers still can hit the same soaring high notes they did in the 1980s?
After decades of domination, Iron Maiden showed that well-structured songs, vocal brilliance and unabashed rock 'n' roll showmanship are a bloody good combination.
Maiden stuck with songs from its first four albums, opening with "Wrathchild." The band even gave a rare performance of "Phantom of the Opera." The crowd was on its feet the entire time.
Iron Maiden deserves every accolade thrown its way over many years of hard-rock excess.
Last but not least was Ozzy and the original Black Sabbath. While the band's classic songs were heavy, Ozzy--the Prince of Darkness--was not; he has lost weight.
The band was in great form, playing songs like "War Pigs," "Faeries Wear Boots," "Iron Man" and many more with quiet confidence.
All hail Ozzfest.
To reach DAVE SMALLEY: 540/374-5430dsmalley@freelancestar.com
Copyright 2005 The Free Lance-Star Publishing Company.
Source: Fredericksburg.com
4 Comments
The New York Times also has a little snippet about Maiden in an article related to Ozzfest (the PNC date). But not worth a Maidenfans headline.
(...)
Start near the end with Iron Maiden, the pioneering British band, founded in the 1970's but propelled to stardom in the early 1980's, that builds its durable songs from galloping drums, triumphal guitar lines and anthemic refrains. The jolly and foul-mouthed lead singer, Bruce Dickinson, delivers his lyrics not as resentful growls but as victorious cries. Spry and mischievous as ever (he delivered a tirade against MTV and reality shows, which is mischievous only if you're about to cede the stage to Mr. Osbourne), he sounded and looked like a man leading his troops into battle, although under a foreign flag: he waved a huge Union Jack.
(...)
Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden performing at Ozzfest on Tuesday.
Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company
Source: NYTimes.com
Yes, come to think of it, resentful growls are the reason why I dislike many metal acts.
For Bruce, unlike the audience, the Union jack is not a foreign flag.
A limping metaphore in the New York Times! They're humans too.
Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden performing at Ozzfest on Tuesday.
Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company
Wow thats one of the best live photos of Maiden I have ever seen!
cool, Maiden above all as always