Gig List (Part 2 - The 2000's)

After speaking to my cousin (who isn't my cousin but is related in some way and I cannot be asked to work out the exact correct link) was discussing Iron Maiden concerts and some Stranglers concerts as well I thought this again would be a good space to put down another list. Gig's so from the old grey matter I put together a list of bands that I remember seeing, then patched together dates and venues to complete the list below. Now somewhere I have some reviews I've typed up for a few of those and will see if I can dig any of them out and include them under the gig list below. I am sure many of you have been to more gigs and to be honest I know I have too as there are definitely more Stranglers gigs that I've been too that I have listed here but cannot find a reference point for them so happy to take advice if anyone was with me and I have dates and information incorrect. For example for years I have said that my first Maiden concert was in 1992 and it wasn't it was in 1993!! So what do I know? Very little it appears. Anyway there are some great memories here and I will try and share some when they come back to me. As for this list, it is a work in progress - Enjoy!!

Iron Maiden - 16th June 2000

Earls Court, London

Slayer, Entombed

Some pretext to this gig would be a lot of history about Iron Maiden and why this gig was so epic. Firstly, after leaving the band around 1993 Bruce Dickinson had returned to the band along but he hadn’t come alone. Adrian Smith had returned with him to create a super group or the grandfathers of Metal. On this occasion they were supported with a band I absolutely loved in Slayer. So, this was one of the few opportunities to see two of my favourite bands together on the same bill. This was going to be epic and I was ensuring that I was going to enjoyed it. This is also the gig that ****ed me up and it wasn’t purely down to alcohol, but it is the gig where I learnt that alcohol plus mosh pit equals a messy conclusion. I went with my flatmate who didn’t like heavy metal but was coming along for the experience. With him was my best friend (after the wife of course) and continuing a trend was my cousin David again. So off we go to Earls Court a venue I had only been to for exhibitions before, so this was going to be different. Getting into the venue before any bands were playing, they had cordoned off the front of the stage area which confused me. Meaning you couldn’t walk from the back through to the front. Leaving my friend with my cousin I took my flat mate and headed out the arena and into the concessions area. We headed for the closed off area to see what we needed to do to get in there and it was quite simple you had to walk in there. It was basically a first come first served basis, so wrist strap applied in we walked. Coming back to find the other members of the group exactly where we left them. We prepared for the first band Entombed to take to the stage. I remember seeing a very brief piece of their set and heading back to get more booze. I remember starting on lager but really wasn’t enjoying that so changed to cider. Which was probably a bad idea before Slayer came on. This was the first time I had seen Slayer as well, so I was desperate to enjoy it. More booze and then we headed back in for the wait for them to take to the stage.

Opening with Mandatory Suicide the masters of thrash metal moved on with War Ensemble. Opening with two of my favourites was a good start and the mosh pit was absolute mayhem. I was loving it!! Continuing with Bitter Peace and Stain of Mind which were fine but they both sat in my OK column for them, but they were just about to step back into my I ****ING LOVE IT column with Dead Skin Mask followed rapidly by Here Comes the Pain. They finished their set with four tracks that I could have picked myself for them. Bursting at the seams they played Hell Awaits And just as I thought this cannot get any better, they followed that with Raining Blood. (I may have gone properly mental at this stage!). At some point during these four songs, I went down and remember having someone’s legs underneath me with another set of legs on top and I thought this could get messy if I can’t get up. One thing about metal fans is they all look after each other and I was back in seconds and ready to get back to moshing again. Unfortunately for me they ramped up the quality for me playing South Of Heaven and then blew my socks off with the grand finale of Angel of Death. I remember shouting at the top of my voice when this started ‘I F**king Love this Song!!” and if I thought I’d gone mental before well that was merely warming up for this epic conclusion. Slayer are or should I say were an awesome band and they were even more so live. Little scurrying around on stage just raw unadulterated power and strength. Wow, Just Wow!!

Then Maiden followed them. It was like all the Christmases had come at one. Unfortunately, at Christmas people often overindulge and I was guilty of that this night. Having Slayer completely screw me up just added to the fact that I was already drunk and now I was also dehydrated so I needed water. Heading back out to the bar, I think I did something for the first time in my life whilst at a bar. I asked for water. Sold out! WHAT!! Unbelievable, explaining that I was desperate I asked what they did have. Cider, Beer or Orange juice. OK I chose the wrong thing here, but I went with Orange Juice. A pint of as well. Necking it way too quickly we headed back to the front of the stage after checking back in with David & friends. OK Maiden are coming we are heading back off.

At the front of the stage and right in the middle of the mosh pit the opening bars of The Wicker Man got me so exciting that I couldn’t help it, but I went a little mental again. How was I doing by the time they played Ghost of the Navigator was not so good. I remember (honestly) enjoying the album title track of Brave New World they then went back to their old stuff with Wrathchild and I may have lost it completely by then or it may have been later. Between Wrathchild and Sign of the Cross I needed something and fast. OK complete honesty here I threw up. About 10/20 yards from the front of the stage. The OJ had returned in an inglorious way! Wrathchild was followed by 2 Minutes to Midnight, Blood Brothers and then Sign of the Cross. I have no recollection of The Mercenary, but I was back in time for The Trooper. Where I returned to the mosh pit again. Dream of Mirrors followed but I was in the pit and don’t remember that too much. Mirrors was followed by The Clansman and the fantastic The Evil That Men Do. Fear of the Dark followed before the grand finale of Iron Maiden as ever. This time I remember Bruce shouting about burning the Witchy Woo’s but I was not in a very good way by then, but I had had one fantastic night even though some of it will be lost by the morning. I believe we made our way back to our friends around this stage and watched the encore of The Number of the Beast and Hallowed be Thy Name near the back of the arena. They finished the set with Sanctuary, but this track I cannot remember at all. I was hot, sweaty, sticky, dehydrated, and drunk which was a bad combination. I remember the walk back to the tube station and being held at different traffic lights by the Earls Court staff, before reaching the tube and taking the Piccadilly Line back towards Heathrow. We had opposite each other and I had to close my eyes with the aim of stopping my head from spinning. This plan wasn’t working wonderful well. Coming to stations that were above ground and the night air blew in was just fantastic. Sadly, there wasn’t enough of them. As we reached Osterley, I knew I was in trouble, not many stops left maybe I could just hold out until the walk home. We reached Hounslow East and my eyes snapped open with one thought in my mind – I need fresh air now with the aim of not throwing up again!!

I didn’t make it.

The tube received a cocktail of Orange juice, beer and cider and I am told it sounded much worse than the actual mess that I made. I piled out of the tube at Hounslow Central and sucked in air. Outside air! It was fantastic. OK it was too late, but it was still good. We got the next tube and got home safe and sound and I learnt a valuable lesson about alcohol, orange juice and mosh pits.

Cradle of Filth - 15th December 2000

London Astoria, London

Christian Death

Now I am confident that I have seen Cradle of Filth more than once, but this appears to be the only time that I can remember as I am sure I saw them at Brixton or another venue but for some reason I can only remember this one. Oh, I have just randomly remembered another gig that I went to! Will need to add that one before I continue with this one. What I really remember about this gig was the support band and then the antics of Cradle of Filth to follow. I had backstage passes for this gig and knew nothing about it until the following morning when it was too late or was it the other one... I think it was the other gig. This one was where I briefly fell in love with a band called Christian Death, now I have no references to check any of this up to confirm or prove me wrong on this, but I remember the entrance from Christian Death as it was cheap but had such a powerful effect on me it was untrue. Roadies walk on putting up the mikes and there is a box on the front of the stage. The drummer walks on and starts a military type of marching sound. Then the bassist walks on and adds to the sound and a guitarist one in combat style camouflage and another leather clad death metal style. A woman walks in wearing a full-length black coat from shoulder to ankles and very little else. She starts to sing, and it was all very nice, and my first thoughts are when are Cradle due to start. Then the box opens!! Hang on a minute how did that move on its own? Low an behold some bloke stands up and starts singing and tarty bit can sing as well. What an awesome band to kick things off. They sing tracks from the album they are currently promoting the one's I remember are Zodiac, Peek A Boom, and In Your Eyes, which prompted me to go and buy the album. The question now is, could Cradle of Filth follow that?

Well yes and they'd blow them away with another loud and brash form of metal. They kicked off with Dressed for Sunset, The Forest Whispers My Name, and Cthulhu Dawn. Then they hit me with my personal favourite of Cradle with Dusk and Her Embrace and bugger me they followed my favourite with three of my other favourites with The Principles of Evil Made Flesh, Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids, and Her Ghost in the Fog. With tracks lasting such a long time their track lists are normally shorter than many other bands out there as we are already over halfway through when the tones of Summer Dying Fast, Lord Abortion, and Creatures that Kissed in Cold Mirrors. They conclude the set with the penultimate track from that year’s EP namely From the Cradle to Enslave which I will discuss the video with you one day. We are nearly through as they finished the night with Queen of Winter, Throned. Boom they would easily blast so many bands off the stage with their aggression and displays of rebellion. T-Shirt wearing freaks (yes) I lived-in long-sleeved t-shirts for many a year and the worst that happened was I was nearly thrown out of a pub and asked to leave a petrol station. Apparently, my money wasn't good enough for them! There we go my tastes have changed hearing from Nick the drummer at the time about certain members of the band and I believe Lector called them Dani and the Filths when he was asked to leave but as I said I loved them for a while, and it was good while it lasted.

Tom Jones - 15th July 2001

Party in the Park, Hyde Park, London

Route of Kings Concerts

I have just this second realised that I went from a Cradle of Filth concert to a Tom Jones gig in the central London sunshine. I attended this gig in Hyde Park with an ex-girlfriend now. Now speaking very quietly this was a good show there is no setlist I can find to run through for you. So, this will be the shortest review on my list and the last one that I will add. If you read my Living with post of the 12th of June this is the gig I had forgotten. It was typing the word sway that reminded me of this gig. As I said keep it quiet, but I enjoyed this gig. Lots of songs that I knew (without realising that I did know). I remember a stream of women (and men!) wandering down the walkways to the front of the stage to ping their knickers at him. I go back to the brackets of including men. I remember what he was wearing as well. Day glow headband springs to mind. Noticeably short shorts and white socks and deck shoes. He was happy but he started a trend with other men also.

There was singing and swaying to Delilah. He sang the Green Green Grass of Home which I knew. He must have also sung Sexbomb, oh and Thunderball a track that I love from the Bond movies. You Can Leave Your Hat On and Help Yourself I think was in there. Its not Unusual and Kiss was in there, I am sure. It was a beautiful sunny day the company was good as she was a massive Tom Jones fan and dragged me along, but I did enjoy the day in the sunshine and it was good to experience something different compared to all of the metal gigs I have written about.

Placebo - 19th October 2001

Brixton Academy, London

Little Hell, My Vitriol

Being made responsible for a youngster and others off we went to Brixton to see a band I’ve never seen before or since. Despite coming close on one occasion where they were performing at a festival and I turned up a day too late. With regards to the two support acts they passed me by, and I remember nothing of them at all (sorry but I am being honest). Anyway, moving onto this gig I don’t think there is going to be much extra information I am going to provide you with. For me this is a band I love and in particular their early stuff and this was when I was really into them and was a great opportunity to see them in (for me) their prime. If I say whether I like a track, then the majority of those listed would be included. They kicked off with one of them in Taste In Men before one that was not so much on my favourites list Drowning by Numbers. Another fave followed with Days Before You Came before a group of also ran’s in Allergic, Scared of Girls, Teenage Angst, and Passive Aggressive. From there they went with songs that I love from here on out. Starting with Narcoleptic, then onto a real great one for me with Every You Every Me. The next batch of two good tracks of Special K and Bruise Pristine. They finished with a flourish for me with my favourite of favourites of

Without You I'm Nothing and Nancy Boy. It seems to be a good point to say that I remember the big screen behind the boys that helped make the gig special with some tracks being accompanied by the videos of the tracks themselves or films made for the show. I remember the video for peeping tom in particular for some reason. With that in mind they returned to the stage for an encore. Restarting with My Sweet Prince and then Haemoglobin. They concluded with the brace of Commercial for Levi and finishing with the before mentioned Peeping Tom. Leaving the stage, I remember thinking they haven’t played what they were to then return again with! Second encore and they hit us with the great Pure Morning and Black-Eyed from the current album. They finished off completely with Slave to the Wage.

To be completely honest here Placebo is a great band and I really enjoyed many of their albums, I really enjoyed seeing them live and would happily go and see them again. That said since this gig I have drifted away from them. Not brought too many new albums since, as mentioned I’ve never seen them again since this night and

Bad Religion - 10th May 2002

Brixton Academy, London

Pitchshifter

Seeing as I had not heard of Bad Religion really before a friend of mine introduced them to me. The same friend suggested coming along to a gig back at the Brixton Academy. So back I went, and it was one of those situations when you don’t know the band, don’t know any of the songs (well I didn’t think I did) but you go for the experience and to be a good friend. In we go and to add to the fact I don’t know the main act I’d never even heard of the support act and I cannot remember anything about them if I’m honest, so I will breeze past them and move straight onto the main act. They opened with Suffer and then Punk Rock Song. Next up was a song that I had heard of before but not just that I actually liked it as well. Called Supersonic it’s a great tune they moved on rapidly as most of their songs are only a couple of minutes long anyway. As a result, I’ll flip through them as well, next was You then Prove It, Can't Stop It, and Them and Us. Finally, another song that again I not just knew but absolutely love Stranger Than Fiction which was fantastic to hear live. Time to blitz through, probably as quickly as they would have, The Defense, No Control, Epiphany, Modern Man, and Atomic Garden. Just to vary the story next was a song that I knew but, on this occasion, not one that I really like that much in Kyoto Now! I may know the next, but I am not sure in Sorrow. I think of the next batch I may well vaguely know some, all, or none of them. Anyhoo it was Recipe for Hate, I Want to Conquer the World, Generator, Broken, Do What You Want, Anesthesia, Along the Way, Change of Ideas, and Infected. Of their final three tracks I knew two of them and the very final one is a great track so here they are starting with a really old one from their first album Fuck Armageddon... This Is Hell, American Jesus, and 21st Century (Digital Boy). I don’t think I appreciated how rapid most of their songs are until this gig, being a Maiden fan with 8- or 9-minute epic’s let alone Rime with a 13 minute run time (I won’t mention Empire at 18 mins). They have songs less than 2 minutes I think, nearly all of those listed about are less than 3 minutes long. They plough through them at pace and being a fan, you would love it as they play so many tracks that your favourite must be included in there somewhere. For me they proved to be a good band and the gig was enjoyable. Recommended to see them live.

Download Festival - Iron Maiden - 1st June 2003

Donington Park, Derbyshire

Marilyn Manson, Deftones, Murderdolls, Funeral For A Friend,

This is going to annoy me as I think I wrote a review of this day before as in way back in 2003 but I cannot find it and I've given up searching so this is going to be all memory. Firstly I assure you I was there although it may sound like I wasn't when it comes to the bands that I actually saw. As the list on the Main Stage was dwarfed by the list of names on the Scuzz Stage but I don't bother with the tent covered stage and I missed out on the opportunity of seeing Sepultura I remember having an argument with the chap that went to my second gig about who was the better band he said Sepultura and I said Iron Maiden. I would not agree that he was right and then had a chip on my shoulder about Sepultura for a while. When I finally realised Max Cavalera had left being replaced by the very metal sounding Derrek Green. I passed up the chance to see them in a tent along with many others I remember wanting to go and see 3 Colours Red but that blue tent seemed to be very far away at the time.

My day was very strange to say the list. I arrived and went to check out everything and orientate myself with the lay out of the place. They had motor cycles jumping through the air, a whole fairground full of rides, a cinema and enough food outlets to feed everyone of the 70,000 people plus over and over. I go for a wander and check out the shops on the racetrack and remember feeling how strange it was to walk down the middle of the racetrack and have stalls either side like a shopping high street. I was tempted to get a tattoo and a 'legal high' instead I brought dinner. Which would of been something really bland and unambitious like fish and chips or burger and chips with a coke (I was driving home as well). So buying that meant that pretty much my cash for the day was done so no tattoo or getting high for me. Instead I lingered around the main stage. I am pretty sure I had already missed Murder One, Shadow Fall, Stamping Ground and most of Funeral for a Friend. Before I reached the main area and then purchased food. Now one thing I have not yet mentioned is that this day was hot. From memory freakily hot. I was not rehydrating and walking around in black jeans, DM boots, t-shirt and a leather jacket which would be tied to the waste. The problem with a day pass is once in you are in. No popping back for more cash or getting stocked up on water. I was stuck. So missing Amen (for food) I managed to catch some of the Murderdolls. Now I am really guessing here but I think I caught a couple of tracks which I think was Die My Bride and Love at First Fright. Next up was InMe followed by Ministry but I will be honest and say that before the end of Love at First Fright I was done.

Sunburnt and crispy and really struggling to say the least so I headed to the cinema which I would describe as an exhibition centre (a proper brick building) with a cement/concrete floor uncovered where you could stand and watch whichever movie they had on at the time. Well I remember laying on the floor which was so cold and welcoming compared to the sun and heat outside. There I was, faced pressed against the floor appreciating the cold and I remember someone had kicked over a bottle of Sprite which spilt and I remember the clear liquid slowly rolling towards me but there was no way I was going to move until the absolute last second. I have to say it got pretty close before I did. One other memory from being in there was the films being shown. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was on when I went in and to this day the only (I'm guessing) 2 minutes of that movie I have ever seen was two people in white jumping around in tree fighting with swords. I have no idea what the movie was about and have no perspective but these people should never of been able to stand of those trees without them breaking. Let alone fight with swords. Next up was a Spider-Man movie and I assume I fell asleep as I was on that cool concrete with my eyes closed and can only remember bits and bobs. I do remember leaving and going to check out the Deftones and caught one song as I walked there and then another as I walked away. It would of been two of these three Minerva, Around the Fur, or Root. Personally I think it was Around the Fur and I left during the opening of Root. Back to catch up on Spider-Man I had driven a long way and spent a small fortune to lay on a floor and watch Spider-Man.

This was going to change as I headed for the main stage and take my place as close to the front as possible and I was pretty close I can tell you as Marilyn Manson took to the stage. Very unusual for me at this stage in my life to see a 'support' act that I loved as much as the main headliners and Manson was up there at the time. They took to the stage with the weird introduction of 'Irresponsible Hate Anthem'. This was my first experience of Marilyn Manson live and to be honest I was unsure what to expect and a heavy metal band is what I got. The next track was 'Use Your Fist and Not Your Mouth' which I showed my appreciation for by waving my middle finger at him or anyone else who was interested in watching. Next up was 'Great Big White World' which I didn't really know so well which was also the case with 'Rock is Dead' but having the 'new' album when he launched into 'This is the New Shit' and the equally enjoyed 'mOBSCENCE' which really cheered me up no end and when he then leant on another new track for him but the cover of 'Tainted Love' I was more than impressed. Next up was the 'The Dope Show' but this would be a good point to discuss the stage and set and anything else I remember. The set was part of the 'The Golden Age of Grotesque' album tour with pillars and the MM's on black cloths draped over them. He changed hates depending on the era of the song he was singing he as in black but other band members where in white. Keyboard player's keyboard was attached to a spring and was bouncing and he was bending it when playing amazing to thing he managed to play it at all. The whole time there were girls on there dancing in various different outfits and at one point they were in a body suit which was painted to make them look naked although clearly they were not. The man stood next to me shouted. After playing 'The Golden Age of Grotesque' the set was completed with the ever green 'The Beautiful People'. Apparently Brian Warner walked from the stage and collapsed in the wings where he received treatment instantly and was back to his best soon after. See I told you it was hot!

The wait for Iron Maiden seemed to go on forever. I remember dusk coming and the beginning of a bottle war. I remember the sky darkening as all you could see was bottles flying and not the sky itself. It was very funny and couldn't help laughing but they did sometimes hurt when you caught one on the wrong end. I remember a conversation with a chap stood in front of me as a bottle landed on the guy in front of us both. The bottle landed side on and squished emptying the contents in this guys face and to a lesser extend me as well. The conversation went like this...

"oh that was nice!"

"Yes, lovely!"

"Did you get that as well?"

"Yes, I am hoping that was beer!"

"Nope, I think there was definitely a hint of urine in there,"

"Again, I hope you are wrong!"

"I hope I am as well!"

"You weren't though were you"

"No!"

"Lets hope the Maiden make this worth it!"

"Lets hope!"

It was and that is why I can laugh about that! After UFO's Doctor Doctor we were met with the tones of Vincent Price and the intro of 'The Number of the Beast'. This was rapidly followed by the ever present and always good 'The Trooper'. How times change as this could of been the last time I'd heard the next one live since with 'Die With Your Boots On'. One that I always liked. Next up was a track that has grown on me over the years but was ok on the night in 'Revelations' followed by the unusually early in the set 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' which is always good. If I thought I'd heard boots for the last time this was definitely the last time I'd heard '22 Acacia Avenue' live was here some 18 years ago. New tracks coming in triplicate with 'Wildest Dreams', 'The Wicker Man' and 'Brave New World' before the first Blaze era track of 'The Clansman' a return with 'The Clairvoyant' and 'Heaven Can Wait' followed before the conclusion to the show with 'Fear of the Dark' and always the closer of 'Iron Maiden' with the return of the missed 'Scream for me Donington'. There was a 'Monsters of Rock' chant I remember at some point as well. After the usual break they returned for the normal three track encore with Bruce being back they decided to go with. 'Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter', then '2 Minutes to Midnight' and to close up the entire festival they decided upon 'Run to the Hills'. Wow I realised that Maiden was back and only bigger and better things were to come. Another new album in the pipeline and a return to Earls Court before the end of the year. Maiden was back to its best headlining British metal festivals. Bring it on!

Iron Maiden - 12th December 2003

Earls Court, London

Funeral for a Friend

Having seating tickets for the first time since however long it was now time to be prepared. I couldn't and wouldn't ditch my friends to stand but was very tempted to jump the fence at one stage. So I had organised for another little road trip to see them again but in the pit and only three days later. We (yes there was more than just me for a gig!) walked into the exhibition centre's main hall sat in our seats. To see a black blanket covering the view of the stage. I was about the jump the rail and head to the pit, when someone in exhibition colours approached us and offered us the chance to move. We did. And we were about three rows from the front but still seating off to the right or the left from the stage point of view. We caught a good part of Funeral for a Friend's set, I think they were through 'This Year's Most Open Heartbreak' and 'Rookie of the Year' before we had found our new seats but we were there and ready to go! They continues with the haunting Bend Your Arms to Look Like Wings and the much heavier The Art Of American Football before returning back to their current album with Bullet Theory and She Drove Me to Daytime Television. An album which would remained the main feature with the next two offerings of Red is the New Black and another one of my favourites Escape Artists Never Die and then the song about breaking up over a phone call 10:45 Amsterdam Conversations. Finishing with two more tracks from the Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation album with Novella which begins with a fast and shouty before the mellow middle before the climatic ending and to finish their set was Juneau. Which is now nothing more than just a line in my blog. (little Joke for the FFAF fans out there.)

Maiden take to the stage after hearing the album solidly for since September this was going to be good... (I hope). Opening with a track straight from the new album of Wildest Dreams they then went way back to play Wrathchild whilst still reeling over that one they launched into Can I Play With Madness. And followed with another classic in The Trooper. Returning to the new album with the haunting and riff-tastic Dance of Death before the racing Rainmaker. A brief nod to the previous album with Brave New World. The stage goes black and you can then hear the sound of a dropping bomb, followed by gunfire and the stage is set with barbed wire with a body lying on it as the sing the moving track of Paschendale. There is little time to take breath as they race on with Lord of the Flies

The last track from the album is No More Lies before the return to later in the set of Hallowed Be Thy Name and the new second to last track of the spooky Fear of the Dark concluding the gig with the same as always Iron Maiden. With Hallowed already played what are they going to start the encore with? Well the very low key Journeyman including Bruce Dickinson being rapped in a towel. Pace picks up again in seconds with The Number of the Beast and you know Bruce is in the band as they finish off with Run to the Hills. Another triumphant show. Maiden have blown me away every single time I'd seen them and this was another great success. I love them and once again just list 5 years before it would be a matter of days before I get to see them again and this time from the pit.

Iron Maiden - 15th December 2003

Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff

Funeral for a Friend

A trip to Wales for a Monday night gig at the Ice Hockey venue of the International Arena. In terms of tracks they were the same so I won't bother giving you a full write up I'll just give you the list of Funeral

For A Friend's tracks of -

This Year's Most Open Heartbreak, Rookie of the Year, Bend Your Arms to Look Like Wings, The Art Of American Football, Bullet Theory, She Drove Me to Daytime Television, Red is the New Black, Escape Artists Never Die, 10:45 Amsterdam Conversations, Novella, and Juneauo.

Iron Maiden went with the same track-list as well so you will have the format for them. Namely -

Wildest Dreams, Wrathchild, Can I Play With Madness, The Trooper, Dance of Death, Rainmaker, Brave New World, Paschendale, Lord of the Flies, No More Lies, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Fear of the Dark, and Iron Maiden.

Encore - Journeyman, The Number of the Beast, and Run to the Hills.

OK, so why did I drive to Cardiff for a Monday night show after pretty much seeing the same show on the previous Friday night. Well because I missed being in the pit so I was going to join some Welshmen in a moshpit and ******* love it. FFAF really didn't go down well here but I still enjoyed their set. They are a great band or they were or they still are its hard to tell at the moment. I like them - that is all. For Maiden being in the pit throughout and listening to Bruce belt out some classic was always going to be good. I remember speaking to a Maiden fan who was returning for a gig after 15-20 years in the queue. Who had recently been divorced and had no reason for not coming back to them so here he was with his jean jacket covered in Iron Maiden patches. Nice guy. I seem to remember queuing in some dark alleyway by a car park where I had parked. Going into what felt like a fake wooden floor of the arena this was Maiden in the flow. If this was a balls out head banging night of redemption then 3 days previous was the opportunity to sit back and watch the boys actually go about their business. I could sit back and enjoy the show without a boot in the ear or headbutting the bloke in front or the elbow wars and knocks and bashes for a change. This saw all of those return with a vengeance and it was frigging excellent. If you've never been in a pit you will never know. But it is the most violent and aggressive place to meet nice, friendly and respectful people ever. You go down and they stop until you are up and safe before allowing the riot to start again. Fantastic.. Next!

Rush - 10th September 2004

Wembley Arena, London

*No Support*

This gig was organised by some exceptionally good friends of mine and I was kind of tagging along. Now the plan was that seeing as I worked in Wembley and it was a Friday. I’d get the train into work in the morning. Which was a task you wouldn’t believe having to head into town before heading back out again. Then getting a train then having to walk as the road were blocked and coming in from the other side of town I had to get talked in as I was completely lost. Well after the day at work I headed down the road and waited. And waited. My good friends were stuck in traffic trying to get from Hampton Court area around to Wembley was an absolute nightmare for them. I waited some more. Good job it was the age of mobile phones and I got a message about the issues. To be honest I was closer to the arena than I thought, and I probably could or should of walked there. Rush without a support act had the tape fire up with their introduction, before the crackles of The Spirit of Radio launch them into their set. I was still waiting on the side on the North Circular Road near Hanger Lane. They moved onto Force Ten.

and I had wandered down the road toward Wembley. As they were belting out Animate and Subdivisions, I have reached what I thought was a good spot for them to pull in safely and pick me up. Earthshine as they were leaving Hanger Lane and before they had finished Earthshine, they had spotted me and was pulling in. In the time it took Rush to sing Red Barchetta I was collected and, in the car, and more importantly I was now mobile and moving and in the direction of the gig. Let’s go!! Next up for Rush was one of my favourites with Roll the Bones, elsewhere we had finally gotten off the North Circular we were in Wembley and we could almost smell the venue. Foot to the floor since the traffic we had made good time. No parking spaces, where the hell can we park the car? Searching and searching for somewhere safe to leave it, meanwhile in Wembley Arena they were playing Bravado. We were out of the car and walking to the Arena when they launched into YYZ. We had entered Wembley Arena just as they had started The Trees, I think they were a good ¾ of the way through by the time we entered the actual arena itself and found our seats they had moved onto singing a cover of The Who track The Seeker. I remember looking up and seeing giant sized tumble driers on stage. They have giant screens which were both funny and entertaining through the gig. Our seats were not warm by the time One Little Victory finished and they said their thank you’s and walked off stage.

What?

Did we miss the whole thing?

No, it was just the intermission and they would be back soon. Well, what a relief that was!

A bit later they were back and ready to roar, kicking off with a favourite of mine Tom Sawyer followed by Dreamline. Continuing with Secret Touch, Between the Wheels

Mystic Rhythms, and Red Sector A. Then it was time for the reason for coming a drum solo by the legend that is Sir (to me) Neil Ellwood Peart. The next track was Resist and then a Graham Gouldman cover (apparently) of Heart Full of Soul. They then moved into a sequence from 2112, Starting with Part I the Overture, before moving into Part II– The Temple of the Syrinx. They concluded this sequence with Part VII: Grand Finale. Moving towards the conclusion they sung La Villa Strangiato, By-Tor & The Snow Dog, and Xanadu. Finishing the show with another on just for me - Working Man.

They were to return and complete an encore. They began with a cover of Eddie Cochran’s Summertime Blues followed by another cover. The next was Robert Johnson’s Cross Road Blues. The whole show was concluded with the tune of Limelight. What can I say about the show? I am so glad that I got to catch them in their pomp. We may have been a bit late, but it was still a fantastic show. It may me regret not seeing them more beforehand. I came into contact with Rush very early on, probably too early and I didn’t appreciate them. I then drifted into heavier stuff and left them behind. I later came back to them and realised what I had missed if you have not listened to them, you have missed out because if you don’t like the song you are listening to wait for the next one! I feel privileged to have seen them and appreciate the friends that let me tag along.

The Stranglers - 10 December 2004 🚩

Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

*Support act (I cannot remember if anyone knows TELL ME!)*

I have no idea who the support was there was a couple of support acts. The guy who opened with an acoustic guitar. Followed by a band who I cannot remember in any way shape or form. The guy with the acoustic guitar returned for the conclusion of the gig and played on stage with The Stranglers for the No More Heroes track. This gig was one of the few that my wife came along to. (I think she just wanted to see what I act like at a gig). Well extremely well behaved I’ll have you know. This gig really annoyed me but not for the band who were top draw as always but for the audience who were elbow kings of the world. As mentioned, the wife was with me and I may have been a bit over protective but shouldn’t affect me that much. They helped put me off going to another Stranglers gig. If you want the band to yourself that much, then have them and I’ll keep my money. I will add some caveats to this. I have been to metal gigs, death metal gigs as well. I’d been in the mosh pits, been shoved over and whilst down there with no way of getting up. Everyone stopped until the three or four of us on the deck was helped up and checked we were ok before the mosh continued. Whilst here people were in their spot and will elbow you in the face for trying to walk past whether heading forwards back or sideways. It was not a nice place to be. Before the main act took to the stage, I planned to head a bit closer while friends, relatives and wives to be held their position at the back. I then met a wall of people forming an arc around the front of the stage a line which was impenetrable without force or quite frankly being a complete d*** which I was not prepared to be as I had been to many a gig and wasn’t prepared to do that. Tail between my legs I returned to the back (I did try again later when the boys were on and same result) so I stood at the back with possible one of the worst views I’d ever had at a gig and watched them play some of my favourite tracks. Starting with one that I really do like called, Time to Die. Followed by an oldy or two, well three in Big Thing Coming, Skin Deep, and the evergreen Peaches. I love the last of those two by the way. You may not agree with me, but I Don’t Agree was the next track, which helped make that sentence get confusing. They played a classics of All Day and All of the Night and Always the Sun, which are fantastic tunes. Followed by Long Black Veil which was never really that high on my Stranglers favourite songs list. If you know only one Stranglers songs, then it would be Golden Brown and they always perform that one well. They even played Toiler on the Sea and one of my old favourites of Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus). Sitting in between two meh songs for me was Who Wants the World? Which was the rose between Lost Control, and I've Been Wild. They returned to the classics to finish off the show with a triple of (Get a) Grip (on Yourself), Something Better Change, and concluding with Tank.

Returning to the stage for the first encore they belted out Norfolk Coast and technically what was a Burt Bacharach cover, but I am sure they released it as a single, Walk On By. Which left me happy as they ticked off my list of “what will make me happy,” Thank you and good night.

Oh! they were back for more!! I forgot how much I liked Five Minutes but even more so the classic and well-loved Duchess. Thank you for another good gig boys shame the crowd didn’t make it what it could have been but there you go.

Oh! they are back again for a third encore starting with Mine All Mine which was then followed by the actual final song of the night of No More Heroes.

I am reminded of the silence that follows a gig with a room full of people that had to just shout when 2 foot away from each other just to be heard. Then silence as everyone slowly shuffles out of the gig. It’s at this point that those elbows from earlier not dug into us again as they wanted to get out again. I feel an anti-stranglers fans thing happening as this is the second comment, I have about them. Overly aggressive and opinionated when most other bands understands that everyone is there because of the love of the band. Not a case of your more of a fan than me, so you get to elbow their way to the front and screw the rest of you!

Iron Maiden - Friday 22 December 2006

Earls Court, London

Trivium, Lauren Harris

Aha I had the wrong date on this for the list. I remember this show for what happened half-way through the gig more than anything else, but Iron Maiden are not only the best band in the world they are also the best live band in the world as well. I shall begin at the beginning as that’s a particularly good place to start. I cannot remember who I went to for this gig. Its possible I went on my own its possible I went with cousins its possible I went with friends this is another show that I remember bits and bobs of. Which means I was definitely there, but whether sober and fully compos mentis I cannot guarantee it.

Firstly, it was bloody cold I remember that for a pre-Christmas gig that made the whole month not just the evening. After wandering around as usual (I think it was my cousin Dave and Wayne – but I could be wrong). I got in there and things kicked off with Lauren Harris (Steve’s Daughter) who had a band of various aged men and her stuff was alright but not good enough to prompt me to spend money buying albums and stuff. Equally not good enough to go and seek them out when not supporting someone else who I did want to see. That is all I can really say about Lauren sadly.

Trivium on the other hand I cannot remember either. I know they were loud and thundered through their set compromised of such songs as – Entrance of the Conflagration, Detonation, Like Light to the Flies, A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation, Ignition, Unrepentant, Anthem (We Are the Fire) before they finished their set with Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr. To be honest I think I was still gulping down lager through most their set and arrived to see the conclusion and prepare for Maiden.

Maiden arrived with Doctor Doctor playing as background music before I got to see A Matter of Life and Death on tour. Opening with a Different World, they dashed into These Colours Don’t Run. They moved on and played Brighter Than a Thousand Suns which was followed by The Pilgrim. Hang on a minute, they are playing the entire Matter of Life and Death album in its entirety here? The answer was yes and the reason I remember the show so clearly was about to happen at the conclusion of the next song on the album list with The Longest Day. At the conclusion of this song Bruce walked back on stage and announced that the main cable for the stage (sound) was in fact on fire and they are going to have to shut everything to allow the electricians on site to deal with it. Soon after he realised that the microphones would be included in that failure as he couldn’t be heard. He returned with a megaphone and for me it made no difference at all as I still couldn’t hear him. Off he goes and returns with a football which was kicked about and thrown around the fans before the megaphone was used again but this time to rouse the crowd to sing a Christmas carols. I think it was after that Nicko McBrain walked across the stage in a dressing gown and sipping a cup of tea (could have been coffee). He sat on the steps next to the drums and soaked everything in. I remember they tried to do a drum solo as well at one stage and then they had to shut that down as well. Eventually Bruce returned and mic in hand could be heard again. Returning to the album just where they left off next up was Out of the Shadows. Next track was The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg, and if you are following closely, you will know that next was For the Greater Good of God. Then the Lord of Light, before they played The Legacy. Where Bruce bowed and said that was the A Matter of Life and Death. If I am honest, I think it was at this point that I realised that they had played the entire album in full. It also felt like, right we are all done with that lets get some classics please. And did they!! A perfect version of Fear of the Dark and all too quickly the show was over, and they belt out the conclusion with Iron Maiden.

That was it so short yet so late as we had a tube train to catch. That I remember but I wasn’t going to leave yet. They returned for their typical single encore and belted out three classic tracks. Returning with 2 Minutes to Midnight and then the lesser heard The Evil That Men Do and finishing with the perfect Hallowed Be Thy Name. In some ways there were reasons to suspect that this was not a good gig but far from it. They were on top form both before and even more after the impromptu break half-way through. This was Maiden in top gear and playing a Christmas gig to remember fantastic. When will see the likes of that again?!?! Oh! six months later!

Download Festival - Iron Maiden - 10th June 2007

Donington Park, Derbyshire

Evanescence, Killswitch Engage, Stone Sour, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Papa Roach, Parikrama, Within Temptation, Napalm Death, Paradise Lost

This day was spent with Wayne and what a day it was, we drove. Sorry I drove up on the morning and we got there so early it was untrue, but it was true we were really early.We entered the field, and I made my way over to main stage as I was really keen to see Parikrama, who had supported Iron Maiden when they played in India. With the growing metal scene in India Maiden wanted to promote them over here in Blighty. So, they opened the whole day playing at around 10.30am or maybe 11am but it was early. They were incredibly pleased to see so many people coming along to see them. I have to say the fiddler was fantastic (oh-eh matron!). Their short and squeezed in set opened with In the Middle. Before moving onto a song inspired by the Lord of the Rings part one with Am I Dreaming. Being the original boys that they are the next song was inspired by Lord of the Rings part 2 with Tears of a Wizard. Then an unusual thing for the main stage of Download Festival an instrumental called Open Skies. Why is that unusual? I heard you ask, well it’s a violin lead instrumental. I said the fiddler was amazing! They finished with the anti-ex tune of Vapourize.I for one enjoyed their set, compared to the 100,000 people in the field at the time not as many as potentially should have joined them but there was enough to make them happy and those that did, I hope enjoyed it as much as I.

As it often happens with festivals after seeing someone you want to there is a lull and a wait for the next one you want to see. At this point I cannot remember who or what we did. The next band I remember was Papa Roach on the main stage. I liked their early albums and then they stopped playing their ‘old’ stuff, so I had drifted away from them. I was told that they had embraced the old stuff, so I was really looking forward to seeing them. They kicked off with ..To Be Loved and then moved onto the racing Getting Away With Murder. The next two or three tracks saw me to ease slightly in my enjoyment with Alive (N' Out of Control), Time Is Running Out and Dead Cell. For me they gave one hell of a finish which begun with Broken Home followed by Scars and then two of my favourites. Between Angels and Insects and the conclusion had to be Last Resort. It was all topped off with the lead singer Jacoby Shaddix tried to start a Papa Roach chant started by himself at the end.

Next on the main stage was Mastodon and I didn’t really hang around for them that much. From there I randomly saw a band name that I vaguely remembered from about 12 years ago that I had completely forgotten about and assume they had disappeared off the planet like so many other bands. Namely Paradise Lost, I wanted to see who had stolen their name and was now peddling it for themselves so went to check them out. Unfathomable but it was actually them! Paradise Lost in the flesh as I live and breathe. Not only were they alive and kicking they were alive, still a band and kicking arse. FANTASTIC!!! I once quoted that they were the best thing to come out of Halifax and I am still tempted to agree with that (somewhat). It was like a trip down memory lane. Well for some of it, as they played some of their new stuff and I of course knew nothing of this. They opened with The Enemy followed by Grey. Ash & Debris before Pity the Sadness. Before the Draconian Times classic of The Last Time. I could have welled up at this point as for just a few moments I was back at Uni head banging in my room to a small portable radio to a tape of theirs. They finished their set with One Second and Say Just Words. The world was at peace again and I for one could not have been happier.

From there I had a dilemma as the cousin wanted to go and watch some band called Stone Sour who’d I’d never really heard anything by them. I knew they were something to do with Slipknot but that was about it. Where I had the option to go and see a band that a mate a college had raved about for years and who I have seen on tv like twice and not really heard anything by them. So, I wanted to go and then wear the badge that said I’ve seen Napalm Death live so off I trotted to the Dimebag Darrel Stage. They kicked off their set with Sink Fast, Let Go which was an experience. They quickly followed with Unchallenged Hate it was about this point that I realised that I may have made the wrong direction. By the time they started Suffer the Children I had already checked out and was moving swiftly back to the main stage where I surprisingly easily found the cuz who told me confidently that I would like Stone Sour!! and he was 100% correct. Having missed what would become a favourite of 30/30-150 and Come What(ever) May I was introduced to Stone Sour by the tune of Made of Scars. Hey this are rather good, what is next? Well Reborn followed by Your God. Monolith followed that before what would become my favourite of favourites (although I didn’t realise it at the time) Through Glass. They moved onto Blotter, and Hell & Consequences before the conclusion of their set with the rip snorter that is Get Inside. My love had not yet flourished for them yet, but the seed was planted, and the growth had begun.

And on the subject of not knowing what I was seeing just as Corey Taylor was giving their thanks I was not that interested in the following act of Killswitch Engage. There was another band that was on my wavelength at one stage in my life that I thought I wanted to check out. They were called Dimmu Borgir, and I thought I knew the drummer so I headed back to the Dimebag stage to see some other band I hadn’t heard of with some female singer in a white flowing dress and a fan on her as she sung. It didn’t sound too bad in fact it sounded rather good. They finished their set and I got to listen to less than half of their last song and little did I know how much of an impact this band would have on me. That half a song I heard was Ice Queen and the band was Within Temptation who in quite a few years’ time I would fall in love with them as well.

Well, Dimmu Borgir was just some man shouting at me so rather than heading back to the main stage but Killswitch Engage was raging and seemingly having a good time and we just about caught some of their set after grabbing some food we settled in for the penultimate act of the day. Evanescence. Who left me flat and slightly annoyed to be fair, it Download and to be honest many people there were peed off that My Chemical Romance had headlines the first day where Korn were left on the second Dimebag stage. Well Evanescence took to the stage with fear or aggression in their eyes. Either way it didn’t come across very well. They opened with Weight of the World and followed by Sweet Sacrifice. By then the usual nobs in the crowd were throwing their stuff around and some of it had reached the stage. Amy Lee was not happy about this and didn’t handle it very well. Almost arguing with the crowd, there was many there that liked them, but the attitude really put me off. They sung Going Under and The Only One and she I remember her saying she was intimated which I think was a plea to be nice. They added Cloud Nine, Lithium, Whisper, Haunted, Tourniquet, Call me When You’re Sober, and Imaginary. Which included Amy saying about she was the only chick singing on this stage today. They were the only band playing any melodies on this stage today, and they deserved to be there so shove it. I think by the time they played Bring Me To Life (the only song of theirs I knew) I had given up trying to like them. They had however put me off them for life. I don’t think I’ve really given them another chance since. They finished the set with the final three tracks of All That I’m Living For, Lacrymosa, and Your Star. I may have even clapped but I was done and was ready for the main event thank you very much!

Iron Maiden were still touring the Matter of Life or Death album so I was unsure if we were going to get the whole album again. Well, they kicked off with Different World and as mentioned before it is a Download Festival, and someone had turned up with eggs which were thrown at the stage. How they handled it was that before the start of the next track. Bruce pointed out that you have failed to hit anything on stage and suggested that if anyone out there that see’s someone throwing an egg ensure that their hand doesn’t come back down and/or they don’t leave with any teeth. Boom instantly shut down and you have approximately 100,000 people policing your gig for you. Not arguing with people or taking swipes at other acts on the bill. Just cut it out and we’ll get on with it. Boom next was These Colours Don't Run. Keeping up with the new stuff they Brighter Than a Thousand Suns. That concluded the new stuff for a while as they went back to their Jurassic period with Wrathchild and the woo along with The Trooper. Then one of my old great fav’s Children of the Damned. I thought this was going too well then, they hit me with two lesser tunes (in my eyes) with The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg and For the Greater Good of God. Not to disappoint they went back to the ‘old’ stuff and trotted out the great - The Number of the Beast and the eery Fear of the Dark. Bruce’s favourite of Run to the Hills before the grand finale of Iron Maiden. I was pretty knackered by then; I am not going to lie. I had a long drive ahead of me, but I didn’t care there was an encore to come and I couldn’t wait. It was the same as Earls Court with 2 Minutes to Midnight, The Evil That Men Do and the final track being Hallowed Be Thy Name.

This was a fabulous day from start to finish, great music in the car and company. Finished with a beautiful day in the sunshine and some great music and band to reminisce with and seed a love affair to come. A Grand Day Out, that is for sure!!

Iron Maiden - 24th June 2007 (for Clive in aid of MS Charity)💛💙💛💙

Brixton Academy, London

Parikrama, Lauren Harris

Just two weeks 14 short days after blowing me away at a stunning Download Festival headline appearance I was back watching Iron Maiden again. This time in Brixton Academy as they performed in aid of charity. The gig was called ‘For Clive’ their former drummer who recently died. This gig without a shadow of doubt soon become my favourite Iron Maiden gig ever. So, by default as Iron Maiden are the greatest band in the world in my opinion this gig became the greatest gig that I have ever attended. The band make up a large reason for that but the atmosphere the venue and the day, make up the rest of the eclectic whole. This was top draw for nearly every aspect of it. I had hydrated well beforehand my life was in a good position we had recently moved home our second baby was still in arms and we had a terrible two stomping around the house. Then Iron Maiden played the biggest and bestest Metal show around for the time. Following that massive 100,000 attended gig. The big and mighty Maiden came into a small and cosy venue of Brixton Academy. Less than 5000 people are allowed in there. The majority of the venue is standing, and I was targeting the front for the entire show. Alcohol an option but wasn’t necessary to enjoy this gig, I had had a few but at I said it was not going to be the make or break of this. I was there just to have fun. (PS – I DID!) Maiden unusually had two support acts which made a pleasant change then I realised that I had seen both before which helps appreciate what was coming.

First up was Parikrama and I am not going to lie here as I have no idea what their setlist was, but I would assume it would have been very similar to that they played at the Download Festival earlier in the month. Where they opened with In the Middle. I remember that they definitely played, the Lord of the Rings (Part 1) inspired track of Am I Dreaming, which concluded with one hell of a violin solo. I remember this as it was followed by the song inspired by the same stories part 2 Tears of a Wizard. This was completely different as it had an amazingly wicked violin solo in the middle of the track. Surprisingly the fiddler’s input was not complete as they played a violin heavy instrumental track called Open Skies where the Fiddler (Imran Khan) took it up about four or five notches. From there I have no idea where they went in terms of tracks, They finished the festival with Vapourize which I am not 100% but I think they played tonight. Other tracks of theirs that you should check out are, But It Rained, Till I’m No One Again and I Believe and let me know what you think. For me I never pursued them that much after these gigs I did have a listen online and try to find as a way of buying an album but at the time it was too hard to do with Indian import but maybe I didn’t try that hard.

I commented at the time {so I must have been there with someone} that Lauren Harris was eye candy, and I would probably say that musically it never got much better than that in my opinion. I am not that interested in searching for a setlist for this section it was far from bad. It was just felt like typical rock music with a female lead. Which potentially for the time was novel which should not be the case good (that is being addressed) but something didn’t click for me and from memory for the musical side of her career did not go too far after this run. I don’t wish her anything but good luck but back then and always money was tight, and I wasn’t prepared to part with it to own her stuff. I could go on about the rights and wrongs of that but ultimately you buy something because you like it enough to part with dough to listen to it. I wasn’t moved enough to do so, and I’ve not heard too much there-after (but I did not search that hard either).

The set and setlist was identical to the Download Festival I think but this time I would be at the front, throughout. No wind or weather to disturb the quality of the sound. No arseholes throwing eggs. No rucks over queuing for food just to get the energy to stay upright. Tonight, there was no hassles. I cannot remember who I was with, to be honest if its Maiden I would go alone, and I have done many times before. So, if I was with you this night, I am sorry, but I need some prompting for a reminder. I will add you at the end if you do! They opened with three tracks from the current album (A Matter of Life and Death) with the explosive beginning of the gig. Opening with Different World which was rapidly followed by These Colours Don't Run and the racing Brighter Than a Thousand Suns. They went back to the Killers album with the next classic tune of Wrathchild. If you have never listened to Iron Maiden and are curious about them well, you can get a good picture if you give them 4 mins 11 seconds of your time. Listen to The Trooper you get the football chant anthem which gets you to join in, but it tells the historic story of the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava. History – Tune – Metal – Story – Maiden what is there not to appreciate? They followed this with one of my personal favourites with A Number of the Beast tracks of Children of the Damned. So haunting and highlights the epic-ness of Bruce’s vocal skills. The next two tracks would not be on my Christmas list (which doesn’t mean I don’t like them) as they returned to the Life and Death album with The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg and For the Greater Good of God. This was followed by the rampant track from the same named album of The Number of the Beast. With its haunting sections and rapid riffs, it is another Maiden classic. If you like haunting spooky intros followed by a metal mammoth of rock then have a listen to Fear of the Dark as that was next. They went back to Number and Iron Maiden Albums to conclude the set with the first Maiden song I’d ever heard with Run to the Hills and finished with the greatest live track out there anywhere with Iron Maiden to finish off the whole set. By the conclusion of the show the entire stage had been transformed into a massive tank. With Eddie sat on top with binoculars to his eyes looking for his next target. It was us as we (those that pray at the Iron Maiden alter) well know Iron Maiden’s gonna get you no matter how far. Equally we all knew that there was no point even looking at the exits there was more to come and those who had seen this tour before new exactly what was coming.

After a quick drink of water or tea (they are getting older now) they returned with the Powerslave track of 2 Minutes to Midnight. Remembering to shout it as loud as I could this could be the last chance, I get for a long time so I screamed for Bruce in Brixton! The last two tracks were from the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son and Number of the Beast Albums. Those being the majestic The Evil That Men Do and the long and haunting Hallowed Be Thy Name. Then the silence of a hall full to breaking point with metal heads suddenly realising that the gig was up. It was all done. There is a period of building up to a gig which could be months of years the waiting in the streets the elbows at dawn in the merch stalls then opening acts before the ecstasy of the show itself. Finally, after the pleasure, fun and happiness, the silence signals the end. What next… an emptiness, a peace, and a realisation that every item of clothing you are wearing is soaked with sweat and you have to go out into the night and get home and not freeze. This gig will live me for as long as my memory holds. It turned the epic level up to 11 and became the gauge for all gigs before and after to be judged by. So far 14 years later it has not been beaten. Some have come close, but this is a beacon in this list as the greatest ever.

Iron Maiden - 5th July 2008

Twickenham, London

Avenged Sevenfold, Within Temptation, Lauren Harris

Aha the pieces are coming together as the previous gig I said that I mentioned that Ms Harris was eye candy and not much more musically. Well, that statement was from this gig and not the previous one. I think I went to the greatest gig ever alone. That is my estimate at this stage, and I will leave it there. At Donington’s Download Festival last year Bruce mentioned that Iron Maiden will return to the UK and they will play a muddy field. Not a Download Festival field but another field with their own pyramids and not just one pyramid. It turns out that they were paying due respect to the Powerslave album and the Somewhere on Tour days with a revisit to that album and tour the world with it. The muddy field turned out to be a rugby pitch. THE rugby pitch of the English RGU and the England RFU team. Twickenham Stadium and a massive place as well.

I got there and met a good friend who joined me for the day and my cousins were there as well. They were sat in the stands and I was stood on the pitch. We exchanged waves but to be honest I am not sure if we managed to see each other. I think they could see me. Onto the music? Yes, that is fair enough!

Just before Lauren Harris opened the day

First act on was again Lauren Harris who opened the day with a UFO cover track called Natural Thing. Following the opening she played one of her own tracks from the Calm Before the Storm album called Your Turn. She stayed with her own album with the next two tracks namely Like It or Not followed by Let Us Be. Finishing her set with two more covers firstly from Gun and finally Stray. The Gun track was Steal Your Fire which was a fair version from her. Conclusion her presence on the main stage she with Come on Over she was warmly appreciated before leaving to allow the next act to set up.

Within Temptation

This was the first real time bar a brief glimpse at the Download Festival of a band I would become very attached to in the future as Within Temptation took the stage by storm. Opening with a new track from their ‘The Heart of Everything’ album, with Churchill echoing words they burst into Our Solemn Hour. Good way to win over a British audience? They stayed with the same album with The Howling. With its haunting intro it allows Sharon den Adel to do her wristy, arm dancing. [WT fans know what I mean – if you don’t know go look up Ice Queen on YouTube]. You can work out the album that the next track came from for yourself. It was called The Heart of Everything. Same album again as the orchestral beginning of Hand of Sorrow rang out, this is another epic type of track with a soldiers story. A change in tack with a request for audience participation for the popular track of What Have You Done. From the rocky/metal track they followed with the opera type epic of their early days with the album’s title Mother Earth. This is another staple of theirs and is always good to hear live. If you, haven’t you have missed out (my blog my opinion!). For the final track of their set, they asked us to join in again with the woo-hoos of the backing of the WT classic of Ice Queen. They were very thankful for being allowed on the same stage as Maiden and it came across. From the heart of the band Robert Westerholt who explained that it wasn’t that long ago that they would have been stood down there with us waiting for Maiden. My love of Within Temptation began this day.

Next up was the Californian metal heads Avenged Sevenfold. This was my first introduction to them and knowing little of them they opened with Critical Acclaim. That’s the song not a critic from me. It opens the set nicely with the church organ style beginning before the roaring guitars kick in and they are well and truly on the stage as the beat quickens to 200mph. After racing off the start line, they followed up with Afterlife. The metal scream fest persisted with Beast and the Harlot.

I feel this maybe a good point to say that I am not a huge A7X fan, but I do like the Beast and the Harlot track. The scream fest comment was supposed to be a Segway into the next track, but I ruined it but mentioned that I like the Beast tune. Next was Scream. Sorry for ruining this section but they moved onto Bat Country, which isn’t my favourite of theirs (sorry!). They slowed things down with the introductions of Gunslinger, before the mid-song explosion of noise and screams belted out (good track). Moving into the final two and three quarters of their tracks they pointed out that I am not insane as an introduction of Almost Easy. Moving onto A Little Piece of Heaven they began their final track of Unholy Confessions. I say they began it as they didn’t finish the song due to someone getting hurt at the front of the gig. I was off to the left or stage right as it were, and I have no idea what happen or to whom. I have been asked a few times, but they called security in to recover or rescue whoever needed it they said their thanks and that Iron Maiden were next and they were done.

Waiting for Iron Maiden

That is in fact a pic of Dave and Wayne

Iron Maiden were back in the UK and they were paying homage to the classic album of Powerslave and that whole era. The tunes Doctor Doctor died away and the silence was firstly broken by the curtains and black out sheets dropping to reveal the set followed by the introduction of the sound of roaring spitfire engines and Churchills Speech. This lead neatly into a video section with the tape playing the tune of Transylvania preparing for the pyro filled burst into the bass racing track of Aces High. Bruce entering with a rugby ball in hand and a mid- song ‘Hello Twickenham!’ We were off all the waiting was done we were into Maiden’s biggest ever UK gig (up till then). Quick on the heels of Aces came 2 Minutes to Midnight another Maiden classic. I am going to change that sentence now as the whole set was Maiden Classics. Point in fact -Revelations was up next. Followed by The Trooper which if you need to see a description see the earlier Maiden gig reviews. What I will say about this tune is that you have the obvious Bruce in the red British uniform running around with the bullet ridden Union flag. Just after the start you have all four-guitarist come together by the drums they then all came running forward and standing at the front it felt like they were coming for me. Like a gang of long-haired yob wielding guitars charging at you. Quite unnerving. At the conclusion and as an introduction to the next song Bruce explained this is biggest ever gig for Iron Maiden in the UK [i.e., not in a festival]. He also joked that they are the biggest they have ever been, and they are not in rehab or on a reality tv show. Proving that they haven’t been Wasted Years which was the next track. (See what he did there?). Following that was the dulcet tones of Vincent Price on tape as he read through the introduction of The Number of the Beast. All very well with the massive depiction of Satan appearing in the far-right corner of the stage. Flames aplenty and let me tell you that were bloody hot. You could feel it from where I was so who knows what the band felt. There was a slight lull before the burst into Can I Play With Madness before the epic-ness of the show took its full effect with a track that I loved for many a year but never heard it live. As me and my good friend agreed we could die happy knowing we had seen them play Rime of the Ancient Mariner live.

Very blurry proof I saw "Rime" live

From the introduction from Bruce joking about Albatrosses only flying at night and that’s why you don’t see them in London. To discussing the morals of the poem from Samuel Taylor Coleridge being that if you dick about with the environment its only a matter of time before the environment will dick about with you. He then jumped back to the Live after Death album where he stole the same line of saying here’s what not to do when a bird shits on you. What a performance for just one song, utterly amazing from the stage filling with dry ice to simulate the fog with fireworks exploding some fire and some weird air blast this one song had the lot. It was fantastic and a sight to behold. Nothing could possibly top that. Well, they tried freakishly hard with the 250mph track of Powerslave, and I definitely screamed for Bruce. A song extremely high on my see it live before I die list as well. What truly epic show this was? A well-loved song was next up with Heaven Can Wait and my first Maiden song of Run to the Hills. Hurtling towards the conclusions they allowed themselves a little jump forward for the time with the eery and spooky Fear of the Dark. That saw 55,000 metalheads singing in unison. Well, until the time change kicks in and the whole stadium goes mental (me included). There is of course only one way to end the show with Eddie dressed as a mummy bursting out from behind a golden Eddie sphinx head with fire and explosions to boot. What an absolutely stupendous day conclusions with their greatest live track Iron Maiden. What an epic day!

The explosive conclusion

The silence returns before the usual three track encore that we all knew was coming. Encore. This time they opened the encore with Moonchild which could of easily of been the opening track. Sticking with the Seventh Son album they moshed into The Clairvoyant. Before what was becoming the conclusion to every Maiden gig Hallowed Be Thy Name. In summary a fantastical day provided by Iron Maiden with a serious tip of the hat to the all the support acts who made the day what it was. Good friend, a beer or two but not enough to forget the whole thing and enough pyrotechnics to bring down the houses of parliament. Top Draw!

Paradise Lost - 3rd November 2009

O2 Academy Islington,

Novembre

To go from the epic day out at Twickenham Stadium with the greatest bands of the world to a gig at the O2 Academy Islington. Which was a hall above a shopping centre. Sainsbury, I think it was. I met on the way there a good friend Neil who I had spoken about finding a band from my past at Download Festival. Whilst at work I mentioned that I had found them and that they were still going. A quick internet search had provided that they were playing a gig in London and Neil being the buddy that he is agreed to keep me company.

In a tiny hall above a shop the opening act Novembre took to the stage. They were fairly good. Not that I thought they were good enough to seek them out since, but they passed the time well enough before the main act took to stage.

To appreciate what I am going through at this stage you need to read the Download Festival review mentioning Paradise Lost. As a lost love had returned in a surprising way and this gig was the result. Not knowing what the fans were going to be like we took a position about halfway down the hall and waited. They opened with surprisingly upbeat tune (despite the name) of The Rise of Denial. Following they continued with the racy tune of Pity the Sadness and the melodic Erased. If I thought I was at the wrong concert the band I remembered played I Remain which is as good example of a Paradise Lost as you could get. Fantastic tune! If you need an example of what gothic metal is all about give As I Die a go and it will paint you the full picture. Its also another track they played. They back to the 2003 album of Gothic and played Eternal.

Seeing as they were touring their new album of Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us, you can forgive another couple of tracks from the album with The Enemy followed by First Light. Now we were in the mist of the whole gig they kicked in with my album the one that made me fall in love with them. The piano intro followed by a roaring guitar of Enchantment and then the lyrics – Like a Fever, Fever Inside of Me! Boom I was back in time. What a great track this is. You need to check it out! Well maybe The Last Time first as it’s a better tune but this transported my memory back. What an amazing feeling about a shop in north London. Next was Frailty and One Second which I was not familiar with then they hit me between the eyes with another favourite. Forever Failure was a real trip down memory lane. Driving my little silver polo with this tune blaring out of the tape player. Yes, kids there was such a thing as a tape player and you got them in cars as well. Who’d of funk it? Finishing the show off with Requiem. I was happy they had done enough to keep me happy.

They were not done and following the Maiden example they were back with an encore of three tracks. Starting with the single from the album of the same name - Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us. OK I the next song is my favourite Paradise Lost full stop and to see them play it live at their own give still gives me goosebumps. They are a great band that simply missed so many people’s ears and I guess the term Gothic Metal put too many people off but it made me love them more. Please indulge me and go and give the melancholy track of The Last Time a try and see what I fell in love with. You can buy me a beer later. Finishing the gig (and most other Paradise Lost gigs) as well was the track. Say Just Words which I would describe as the band putting two fingers up to those that told them they were no good and would not amount to anything. Those words created this epic tune. Enjoy.

🚩 - The Stranglers gigs have become slightly confused and some have potentially been missed from this list as well as potentially mixing them up.