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Getting there: Iron Maiden - Brixton Academy 21st March 2002
What bleedin' photos? You're 'avin' a larf, aincha, mate? No camera that day and even if I had I would have needed a telephoto lens the size of the Hubble telescope to even see the stage. Look, I enjoyed the gig but the review (which was published in PowerPlay magazine) doesn't tell you is the whole story...
So, seeing as how this is my website, here is the full skinny. It isn't a pretty tale, mind you.
My firstborn child had been nagging, whining and moaning about seeing Maiden for so long, that when the gigs were announced for Brixton, I relented and we did a deal. She had to pay for the tickets and I would take her. She had to pay for the tickets because she has to learn that things cost money, there is sacrifice involved with things you really want and all that other cruel-to-be-kind parenting stuff. I had always intended to give her the money for the tickets back after pay day, but more of that in due course!
So, I picked her and her friend Pierce up from school and we headed off down the M6. Now, I have done the journey to London more times than I have vomited and I allowed 4 hours, for a 2.5 hour journey. Taking into account Birmingham, the time of day and London traffic, I felt that this would leave plenty of time to get to Brixton. WRONGO!
Maiden were rumoured to go on stage at 8pm pronto and at 6pm we were still held up in traffic on the M42 in the middle of the Black Country. At one point we did 3 miles in 1.5 hours! Firstborn was convinced that we would never get there and I was starting to lose my rag. At about 6:30 we hit clear motorway and I put the hammer down, big style, breaking the speed limit by, well, lots. And then came the rain. Oh, I'm not just talking about a spot of drizzle. We are talking major open heaven, biblical proportions, downpour all the way down the M40 into London. I was driving way beyond what was safe, I knew that at the time and I know it now.
The A40 was looking quite good and we were making good progress and at 7:30 we were well late but half an hour to get to Brixton...piece of cake!
How much more wrong could I get? Of all the journeys I've ever made in a car, never has so much gone so wrong in one journey. And more was to come...
I knew the route I wanted to take, however, roadworks had diversions in place. Unfortunately for me, they neglected to be consistent with signs and I started going round in circles having missed what poor signage there was.
At 8:30pm, Firstborn was inconsolable and threatening death and destruction on all of London and we were still in traffic a couple of miles from Brixton.
I was determined to get us there and as we came into Brixton high street, I recognised where I was. I slammed on the anchors by The Academy and told the kids to get out of the car, be careful crossing the road (you never forget that your the parent, even in times of lateness!) I told them to enjoy the gig and that I would meet them in the foyer afterwards. I then went and found somewhere to park the car. I was dead proud of myself too...I got a space in a well-lit side street right by the Academy, 30 seconds walk away, locked all the kids coats and shit in the boot, leaving only Mick Foley's Have A Nice Day visible on the back seat. I even locked all the mindiscs in the glove box.
By the time I got inside the building, Maiden were just finishing Brave New World.
Now read the review...
So, seeing as how this is my website, here is the full skinny. It isn't a pretty tale, mind you.
My firstborn child had been nagging, whining and moaning about seeing Maiden for so long, that when the gigs were announced for Brixton, I relented and we did a deal. She had to pay for the tickets and I would take her. She had to pay for the tickets because she has to learn that things cost money, there is sacrifice involved with things you really want and all that other cruel-to-be-kind parenting stuff. I had always intended to give her the money for the tickets back after pay day, but more of that in due course!
So, I picked her and her friend Pierce up from school and we headed off down the M6. Now, I have done the journey to London more times than I have vomited and I allowed 4 hours, for a 2.5 hour journey. Taking into account Birmingham, the time of day and London traffic, I felt that this would leave plenty of time to get to Brixton. WRONGO!
Maiden were rumoured to go on stage at 8pm pronto and at 6pm we were still held up in traffic on the M42 in the middle of the Black Country. At one point we did 3 miles in 1.5 hours! Firstborn was convinced that we would never get there and I was starting to lose my rag. At about 6:30 we hit clear motorway and I put the hammer down, big style, breaking the speed limit by, well, lots. And then came the rain. Oh, I'm not just talking about a spot of drizzle. We are talking major open heaven, biblical proportions, downpour all the way down the M40 into London. I was driving way beyond what was safe, I knew that at the time and I know it now.
The A40 was looking quite good and we were making good progress and at 7:30 we were well late but half an hour to get to Brixton...piece of cake!
How much more wrong could I get? Of all the journeys I've ever made in a car, never has so much gone so wrong in one journey. And more was to come...
I knew the route I wanted to take, however, roadworks had diversions in place. Unfortunately for me, they neglected to be consistent with signs and I started going round in circles having missed what poor signage there was.
At 8:30pm, Firstborn was inconsolable and threatening death and destruction on all of London and we were still in traffic a couple of miles from Brixton.
I was determined to get us there and as we came into Brixton high street, I recognised where I was. I slammed on the anchors by The Academy and told the kids to get out of the car, be careful crossing the road (you never forget that your the parent, even in times of lateness!) I told them to enjoy the gig and that I would meet them in the foyer afterwards. I then went and found somewhere to park the car. I was dead proud of myself too...I got a space in a well-lit side street right by the Academy, 30 seconds walk away, locked all the kids coats and shit in the boot, leaving only Mick Foley's Have A Nice Day visible on the back seat. I even locked all the mindiscs in the glove box.
By the time I got inside the building, Maiden were just finishing Brave New World.
Now read the review...
