Iron Maiden - Leeds Arena - 11th May 2017
Setlist: If Eternity Should Fail / Speed of Light / Wrathchild / Children of the Damned / Death or Glory / The Red and the Black / The Trooper / Powerslave / The Great Unknown / The Book of Souls / Fear of the Dark / Iron Maiden // The Number of the Beast / Blood Brothers / Wasted Years
You know what? I never expected to be writing this review. I had, quite simply, never expected to see Iron Maiden live, ever again. I'd just assumed that, in my twilight years, gig-going, especially to larger gigs, was done and dusted. Until last Thursday, I'd assumed that Bad Co at Sheffield City Hall, back in 2010, was my last one. I'd already sworn, years before, that I would never, ever go to another arena gig in the UK after the last few I went to were patrolled by fascists with attitudes; little Hitlers with bad breath and corporate-branded t-shirts. I'd had enough of the Evening Nazi Arena in Manchester early in the century, having nearly got into a fight with one of the total twats there. It wasn't as if the sound or vision was good. Just not worth the expense and stress.
After the last few years, which have been challenging, to say the least, I wasn't even sure if I'd ever even go to another small gig.
After the last few years, which have been challenging, to say the least, I wasn't even sure if I'd ever even go to another small gig.
I hadn't been told why I was in Leeds on May 11th 2017. I'd just been told to be there; it was a secret. I'd figured that Firstborn just felt guilty that every time I go to Leeds it's to catsit whilst she goes on holiday. It was a big surprise when The E-Wan and Firstborn Girlchild informed me: “Got a gig, man.”
Pardon?
Apparently, we were on 'Bruce's Guest List' for the Leeds show.
Say what? VIP Laminate, reserved seating, free Trooper beer.
If you insist!
I'm not easily shocked but, well, you would be…
Pardon?
Apparently, we were on 'Bruce's Guest List' for the Leeds show.
Say what? VIP Laminate, reserved seating, free Trooper beer.
If you insist!
I'm not easily shocked but, well, you would be…
I first saw Iron Maiden in a small venue back in the late 1870s, around the time they brought out The Soundhouse Tapes (cassette). That, along with the Leps Rocks Off EP (on Bludgeon Riffola) was where NWOBHM started. If you caught on with Metal for Muthas, you were late to the party, my friend ;-) Saxon, was the other one of the Big Three, back in the day (my friend Mick did the artwork for that first album). Then you had all the rest: Samson, Magnum, Nutz, Praying Mantis, Demon, Diamond Head, and the Neat artists Raven, White Spirit, Dedringer, and so on.
You also had the big dogs who had been around since the early/mid 70s, bands like Gillan, Uriah Heep, Judas Priest, UFO, Whitesnake, and Rainbow; basically, any Deep Purple progeny. (Remember, in 1979, Zeppelin was, pretty much done, as was Sabbath, although we didn't necessarily know that, at the time). These were the bands who took the newbs on tour as support acts. I remember seeing Maiden support Priest on the British Steel tour and, then, on their own first album tour (that was the first tour t-shirt I ever bought). I think I saw them support UFO, too, but I'll be buggered if I can remember when and where! I saw White Spirit support Gillan. I saw Samson support Gillan. I saw Trust at Reading. I saw Maiden up until the Killers tour (Leeds Uni, about three days after Adrian joined). Then, Bruce left Samson to join Maiden. I always thought Samson would be the band that would be the one to go stratospheric... I was upset when Bruce quit. I didn't hate Maiden (although I didn't really like way that Bruce sang the 'old stuff') but they became a different beast. And, then, Firstborn came along…
You also had the big dogs who had been around since the early/mid 70s, bands like Gillan, Uriah Heep, Judas Priest, UFO, Whitesnake, and Rainbow; basically, any Deep Purple progeny. (Remember, in 1979, Zeppelin was, pretty much done, as was Sabbath, although we didn't necessarily know that, at the time). These were the bands who took the newbs on tour as support acts. I remember seeing Maiden support Priest on the British Steel tour and, then, on their own first album tour (that was the first tour t-shirt I ever bought). I think I saw them support UFO, too, but I'll be buggered if I can remember when and where! I saw White Spirit support Gillan. I saw Samson support Gillan. I saw Trust at Reading. I saw Maiden up until the Killers tour (Leeds Uni, about three days after Adrian joined). Then, Bruce left Samson to join Maiden. I always thought Samson would be the band that would be the one to go stratospheric... I was upset when Bruce quit. I didn't hate Maiden (although I didn't really like way that Bruce sang the 'old stuff') but they became a different beast. And, then, Firstborn came along…
Moving along to the 21st century... It was Firstborn and Secondborn who, having discovered Maiden when Brave New World came out, got me back into them. We ended up seeing them a few times on the next three tours, up until 2006. In the, say, forty years this band has been around, I haven't seen them live for thirty of them, yet I've still seen them twelve times, that I remember.
When Book of Souls came out, it didn't grab me. BNW, DOD, AMOLAD had all started with a fast tune that hooked you into it. BOS didn't. It just didn't grab me and, frankly, it didn't. Well, not until last Thursday.
To me, Iron Maiden was always two completely different bands. The original lineup and the Bruce lineup. They shared a few songs, some band members but the feel was totally different. The original lineup was exciting and unpredictable but not that professional, at the time. It was after Bruce joined that they took off. By BNW and DOD it was a slick operation. If you only saw one gig on the tour it was the best thing imaginable. No one else came close to Maiden. If you saw them multiple times, it was still the best thing on tour, but it was largely identical, every time. Some of the excitement had, for me, been swapped for a slick professionalism. Same thing with Rush, and others. They'd lost some of the fire, I felt. In retrospect, it seems like a harsh criticism. They were just trying to ensure that, if that was the only gig you ever saw, it was the best it could have been. I was young, give me a break.
When Book of Souls came out, it didn't grab me. BNW, DOD, AMOLAD had all started with a fast tune that hooked you into it. BOS didn't. It just didn't grab me and, frankly, it didn't. Well, not until last Thursday.
To me, Iron Maiden was always two completely different bands. The original lineup and the Bruce lineup. They shared a few songs, some band members but the feel was totally different. The original lineup was exciting and unpredictable but not that professional, at the time. It was after Bruce joined that they took off. By BNW and DOD it was a slick operation. If you only saw one gig on the tour it was the best thing imaginable. No one else came close to Maiden. If you saw them multiple times, it was still the best thing on tour, but it was largely identical, every time. Some of the excitement had, for me, been swapped for a slick professionalism. Same thing with Rush, and others. They'd lost some of the fire, I felt. In retrospect, it seems like a harsh criticism. They were just trying to ensure that, if that was the only gig you ever saw, it was the best it could have been. I was young, give me a break.
So, we come to Book of Souls.
My inherent hatred of the multi-purpose arean is no secret. It has nothing to do with providing a great venue to see a band. It has everything to do with money. You can have a multi-purpose hall that is not ideal for anything but can fit a lot of people in. Nver mind that it sounds like shite to anyone with ears. Some venues were worse than others. Anyone unfortunate to ever go to Bingley Hall in Stafford? I rest my case.
This new place in Leeds, just yards from where I had seen Diamond Head, at the Merrion Centre back in 1980 (the night I almost twatted a young Lars Ulrich), was different. Someone had actually considered its potential usage. Rather than being long, with a stage at one end, this place is wide, with the stage across the width. I'm no fan of the corporate sponsorship culture so it irks me to call it by its name but this is a very nice venue. The staff are friendly and helpful. All very civilised. The sound, whilst not what you get at the Royal Albert Hall, or even an Odeon, is not that bad. Certainly better than the old Queens Hall, I know that much.
My inherent hatred of the multi-purpose arean is no secret. It has nothing to do with providing a great venue to see a band. It has everything to do with money. You can have a multi-purpose hall that is not ideal for anything but can fit a lot of people in. Nver mind that it sounds like shite to anyone with ears. Some venues were worse than others. Anyone unfortunate to ever go to Bingley Hall in Stafford? I rest my case.
This new place in Leeds, just yards from where I had seen Diamond Head, at the Merrion Centre back in 1980 (the night I almost twatted a young Lars Ulrich), was different. Someone had actually considered its potential usage. Rather than being long, with a stage at one end, this place is wide, with the stage across the width. I'm no fan of the corporate sponsorship culture so it irks me to call it by its name but this is a very nice venue. The staff are friendly and helpful. All very civilised. The sound, whilst not what you get at the Royal Albert Hall, or even an Odeon, is not that bad. Certainly better than the old Queens Hall, I know that much.
Anyone who has seen Maiden knows that when you hear Doctor Doctor, it's either 4 minutes until the excitement begins or you get 'the fear'. If you've ever been near the front at a Maiden gig, once that leader tape stops, the lights go out, the band comes on, and a surge almost crushes you against whatever is around you. Been there, done that, more than once! It was at this point of the evening that it occurred to me that I had never been anywhere but 'Standing' at a Maiden gig before. As the show started with If Eternity Should Fail, I suddenly got the whole Book of Souls concept. The Mayan stage set, the meaning of the song, it made sense and by Speed of Light I was 17 years old again.
You don't need me to tell you about the tracks they played. If you're reading this you either know them or, it wouldn't make any difference what I said about them. The majority of the set is Book of Souls material, interspersed with songs from the past. I thought it was quite a nice set, actually. I have seen them do the greatest hits set and, whilst I was surprised that Run To The Hills, Sanctuary, The Wicker Man, for example, were absent, for them to play all of your favourites would have meant that they would still be on stage in Leeds.
You don't need me to tell you about the tracks they played. If you're reading this you either know them or, it wouldn't make any difference what I said about them. The majority of the set is Book of Souls material, interspersed with songs from the past. I thought it was quite a nice set, actually. I have seen them do the greatest hits set and, whilst I was surprised that Run To The Hills, Sanctuary, The Wicker Man, for example, were absent, for them to play all of your favourites would have meant that they would still be on stage in Leeds.
What you need to know is this:
This time around, to me, they actually seemed to be a bit more relaxed about everything and, I have to say, I was damn impressed. There aren't many of the big rock and metal bands that I haven't seen live over the last forty years of gig-going. Maiden was the best in 1980 and, in 2017, they're still the best. I don't know how much tickets are for this tour (mine was free, so eat you heart out!) but if you can afford it, it's a bloody great night out.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
16th May 2017
- The stage set was [somewhat smaller than past outings, but it was still] top flight.
- The light show was awesome and you'd be hard pushed to find one better.
- The band is always going to give you a fantastic performance.
- They will never short change you and let you leave unsatisfied - this is a two hour show.
- Eddie will always make an appearance and is a star. Even when it was a roadie in a rubber mask, brandishing a fire extinguisher, it was fun!
This time around, to me, they actually seemed to be a bit more relaxed about everything and, I have to say, I was damn impressed. There aren't many of the big rock and metal bands that I haven't seen live over the last forty years of gig-going. Maiden was the best in 1980 and, in 2017, they're still the best. I don't know how much tickets are for this tour (mine was free, so eat you heart out!) but if you can afford it, it's a bloody great night out.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
16th May 2017
About the photos...
From 2000 to 2010 I used a series of Fuji digital cameras and a Canon EOS to take photos at gigs. When I started doing that, no one else was doing it. It was just me and no one objected because they didn't really know what they should object to. A lot of the bands actually enjoyed it and I got to know quite a few of them. A few bands used my photos for their CDs, websites, and even the odd book. I gave up doing it when I started getting hassled by event Nazis (in particular the 'Custard Tarts' in Manchester) for using a 'proper camera'.
Mobile phones with high quality cameras had appeared on the scee and could not be policed. These took images of a quality that was suitable for the web, nearly as good as as my Fuji, and the train of thought was, that if I was using a real camera I must be ripping off the artist. In the ten years I took pictures at gigs I was always prepared to stop or delete any photos I'd taken if the artist asked me to. Not one ever did. A few asked if they could have some of the pictures and I never refused and never charged them..
As I had no foreknowledge of the gig, all I had on me was my DumbPhone. As crap as it may be as an actual phone, it has a very good camera, albeit lacking the 400mm optical zoom of my Fuji. All photos are without flash and are what they are. I always just took pictures for me to look back on when I got old, and for anyone who didn't get to go. That's still the case.
Mobile phones with high quality cameras had appeared on the scee and could not be policed. These took images of a quality that was suitable for the web, nearly as good as as my Fuji, and the train of thought was, that if I was using a real camera I must be ripping off the artist. In the ten years I took pictures at gigs I was always prepared to stop or delete any photos I'd taken if the artist asked me to. Not one ever did. A few asked if they could have some of the pictures and I never refused and never charged them..
As I had no foreknowledge of the gig, all I had on me was my DumbPhone. As crap as it may be as an actual phone, it has a very good camera, albeit lacking the 400mm optical zoom of my Fuji. All photos are without flash and are what they are. I always just took pictures for me to look back on when I got old, and for anyone who didn't get to go. That's still the case.