Leeds Festival 2005: Iron Maiden 26th August 2005
Setlist: The Ides Of March(tape) / Murders In The Rue Morgue / Another Life / Prowler / The Trooper / Remember Tomorrow / Run To The Hills / Wrathchild / Revelations / Where Eagles Dare / Die With Your Boots On / Phantom Of The Opera / The Number Of The Beast / Hallowed Be Thy Name / Iron Maiden // Running Free / Drifter / Sanctuary
The set for this show had been widely reported as being only songs from the first four albums, which most people awaited with great anticipation, the majority having never heard some of these tracks before live.
I was less excited about the prospect. Before you haul me off to the Wicker Man in your back garden, let me explain why.
The set for this show had been widely reported as being only songs from the first four albums, which most people awaited with great anticipation, the majority having never heard some of these tracks before live.
I was less excited about the prospect. Before you haul me off to the Wicker Man in your back garden, let me explain why.
You see, I am old enough to have seen most of this stuff the first time around. Before the Brave New World and Dance of Death tours, the last time I had seen Maiden live was on the 1980 Iron Maiden tour. I remember how much energy and power the pre-Bruce line-up(s) had on stage. Prowler and Phantom of the Opera were truly mind-blowing, with Di’Anno stalking the front of the stage, growling and spitting out the words, full of bile and contempt. It wasn’t necessarily refined and cultured, but it was heavy, fast, and felt raw and untamed.
All that changed with Dickinson’s arrival into the fold. Maiden became more professional, more accomplished; a much better band. In my mind though, they lost some of their raw edge and what made those first two records so great, making them the undisputed kings of NWOBHM. In the years between Killers and Brave New World, whilst I lost interest in Maiden they, in turn, quite deservedly, became the establishment house band. Don’t get me wrong, Iron Maiden is a fantastic band, and I don’t think any other group on the planet does what they do, any better. But, they are a different band from that pre-Bruce era.
All that changed with Dickinson’s arrival into the fold. Maiden became more professional, more accomplished; a much better band. In my mind though, they lost some of their raw edge and what made those first two records so great, making them the undisputed kings of NWOBHM. In the years between Killers and Brave New World, whilst I lost interest in Maiden they, in turn, quite deservedly, became the establishment house band. Don’t get me wrong, Iron Maiden is a fantastic band, and I don’t think any other group on the planet does what they do, any better. But, they are a different band from that pre-Bruce era.
With Brave New World and Dance of Death, I thought the live shows were awesome, because they largely steered clear of those songs which, for many who remember, were Di’Anno songs. Prowler and Phantom, particularly so. Bruce can sing them much better, undoubtedly, but he lacks the physical presence on those songs. Standing there in front of the stage, back in the day, you really felt it was a possibility that Di’Anno might just come down and rip your face off, for the sheer hell of it.
Even as I write this, it seems picky to say that a band can be toogood live. I realise this, but I can’t help but come back to it. It was the same reason that I went off Rush for two decades, and why Pink Floyd didn’t float my boat in their latter years. As good as Team Maiden is, and they put on one hell of a show, no argument there, personally I would be willing to sacrifice a little of that perfection for some spontaneity. To be able to go along to a gig and not be 100% sure of what I was going to see that night would be great. Anyone who has caught multiple gigs on the last couple of tours knows that 99.9% of what they see in Sheffield will be identical at Manchester, Birmingham and London, even down to the ad-libs and in-between song talky-bits. By all means have a setlist that is fixed for the most part, but could they not shuffle the order a bit and have four or five different possible encores worked out? Am I asking too much of musicians who have been playing together for so many years? If you think I am, then go and collect your pitchforks, shovels and torches, form an angry mob, march me in shackles to the oversized Lloyd loom out back, and roast me like a Tesco rotisserie chicken.
Even as I write this, it seems picky to say that a band can be toogood live. I realise this, but I can’t help but come back to it. It was the same reason that I went off Rush for two decades, and why Pink Floyd didn’t float my boat in their latter years. As good as Team Maiden is, and they put on one hell of a show, no argument there, personally I would be willing to sacrifice a little of that perfection for some spontaneity. To be able to go along to a gig and not be 100% sure of what I was going to see that night would be great. Anyone who has caught multiple gigs on the last couple of tours knows that 99.9% of what they see in Sheffield will be identical at Manchester, Birmingham and London, even down to the ad-libs and in-between song talky-bits. By all means have a setlist that is fixed for the most part, but could they not shuffle the order a bit and have four or five different possible encores worked out? Am I asking too much of musicians who have been playing together for so many years? If you think I am, then go and collect your pitchforks, shovels and torches, form an angry mob, march me in shackles to the oversized Lloyd loom out back, and roast me like a Tesco rotisserie chicken.
The performance at Leeds was nothing less than you would expect: spot on. Even I have to admit that it was nice to hear Prowler, Phantom, Remember Tomorrow, and Drifter (for which I have a peculiar affinity) once again. As good as they were, the rose-tinted memory still feels that they did them with more oomph twenty-five years ago.
For those who weren’t around back then (neither of my accompanying offspring were even born) this was a Maiden wet dream-come-true, and rightly so. I don’t want to take anything away from that, as they sounded great and it was surely everything you could wish for. As ever the lighting is outstanding, as are the backdrops, and Bruce continues to amaze with his energetic antics. His voice is truly one of the best in the business still. The triple lead guitar attack is nothing short of spectacular and the contrast in styles between the three players is a joy to behold. Steve Harris plays bass like his life depended on it and Nicko is as mad as a hatter. The thing that stands out though is that they look as though they are having fun. (I still think they’d be even better if they let their hair down a little more.)
Long may Maiden reign over their metal kingdom. I will surely continue to go and see them, as long as they tour, but maybe I shall just catch one gig each time from now on and savour the experience.
For those who weren’t around back then (neither of my accompanying offspring were even born) this was a Maiden wet dream-come-true, and rightly so. I don’t want to take anything away from that, as they sounded great and it was surely everything you could wish for. As ever the lighting is outstanding, as are the backdrops, and Bruce continues to amaze with his energetic antics. His voice is truly one of the best in the business still. The triple lead guitar attack is nothing short of spectacular and the contrast in styles between the three players is a joy to behold. Steve Harris plays bass like his life depended on it and Nicko is as mad as a hatter. The thing that stands out though is that they look as though they are having fun. (I still think they’d be even better if they let their hair down a little more.)
Long may Maiden reign over their metal kingdom. I will surely continue to go and see them, as long as they tour, but maybe I shall just catch one gig each time from now on and savour the experience.
Leeds (and Download) are a credit to their promoters, no doubt about it. They are phenomenally well organised and cater much more to the attendees than their ancient counterparts did. What I would like to see more than anything though is a proper metal festival, aimed at the kind of audience that would like to see a whole day of the best metal or rock? Something of the calibre of Donington ’80, or ’88, maybe. Who wouldn’t fancy some of that? How about a three day fest of Metal/Rock/AOR? Who wouldn’t pay good money to see good full sets by:
Day One: Maiden, Megadeth, Scorpions, Helloween, Budgie, Demon, Fozzy.
Day Two: Deep Purple, Golden Earring, UFO, Nazareth, Thunder, Diamond Head.
Day Three: Journey, Styx, Sammy Hagar, Kansas, Satriani/Vai, Danko Jones.
Come on, that would be a festival and a half!
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
September 1st 2005
Day One: Maiden, Megadeth, Scorpions, Helloween, Budgie, Demon, Fozzy.
Day Two: Deep Purple, Golden Earring, UFO, Nazareth, Thunder, Diamond Head.
Day Three: Journey, Styx, Sammy Hagar, Kansas, Satriani/Vai, Danko Jones.
Come on, that would be a festival and a half!
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
September 1st 2005