13 posts tagged “iron maiden”
I just got back from seeing "Iron Maiden - Flight 666" and it is awesome!
A really well-made movie, with super sweet concert footage that almost seemed like I was at the show.
If you don't know, the movie is a documentary about the first leg of Maiden's "Somewhere Back in Time Tour" in which the band and crew (and all their gear) toured in a 757 with singer Bruce Dickinson piloting the plane.
Best.
Band.
Ever.
The theater was fully sold out and everyone had a Maiden shirt on.
Actually, the spectacle of the crowd was half the fun, and the fact that it was made by Canadians was very appreciated by everyone there.
Hey, we're awesome!
My favorite scenes were definitely the ones shot in South America, people are very serious about metal there, and it's crazy to see kids camping out for 10 days to get a good spot.
One fan who caught a drumstick seemed to be having a religious experience. Some people laughed but I thought it was a real moment.
Anyway, the movie was awesome, Iron Maiden have never let me down!
I haven't heard any good metal in a while, so these guys are a welcome surprise.
I first saw the poster for their album and it caught my eye in a "cheesy but awesome" way.
A few days later I saw an ad for them in a magazine and noticed the tagline: "Picks up where Powerslave left off"
Well, being the huge Maiden fan I am I was obviously intrigued, if not a little skeptical. Hey, NOBODY is as good as Iron Maiden, right?
Anyway, the fact that the album was only released on vinyl was a selling point for me too, so I decided to look them up.
Frustratingly, the band's Myspace page has no audio samples, probably a bad idea, but oh well.
Anyway, I did find a clip of one of their songs on YouTube and it sounded pretty good so I decided to pick up the LP.
Wow, it's awesome!
At first I thought it was just OK, but the more I listen to it, the better it gets.
It's crazy, it really does sound like the 'lost' Maiden album... if King Diamond was singing.
Anyway, if you like Maiden or metal just do yourself a favor and go buy this thing.
The album comes with a free mp3 download of the whole disc so you really can't lose.
Apparently an EP is also on the way, I'm really looking forward to hearing more from these guys.
Check out their label's website and buy the album here.
Maybe it's just me but I always thought these two had very similar intros.
Once again, they both came out in the same year, 1981. Why does that seem to happen so often?
Anyway, here's Iron Maiden with "Prodigal Son" from "Killers"
And Ozzy Osbourne with "You Can't Kill Rock & Roll" from "Diary of A Madman"
There are now officially 4 types of Iron Maiden Vans.
When the "Killers" one came out, I bought a pair and put them in my closet, never to be worn.
Then they came out with a "the Trooper" version and I was like, "Gee, those are nice, I wonder if it's weird to have two pairs of shoes in your closet that you'll never wear."
Damn, I hate seeing stuff like this.
Well, I mean it's awesome but I can't help but wish I could have at least two pair of each, one to wear and one to display on a shelf somewhere. Nerd!
Anyway, I don't think I'll get any more of these, unless they do a "Live After Death" version, that would flat out rule.
Oh well, the picture below is what started this whole post. I found it while searching for images for an unrelated post:
Vans, I both salute and curse you for making me want to own a closet full of shoes that I won't want to wear.
I finally saw Maiden on Tuesday night, and it was the best show I've ever seen.
I got to the Coliseum early and got in right when the doors opened, quickly making my way down to the floor.
Since the show wouldn't start for another hour or so, everyone sat cross-legged on the floor, it was so funny to see, people sitting cross-legged at a Maiden show, like it was story time or something.
When people started to stand up, I managed to get almost all the way to the front, I wasn't holding the barrier, but no one was in front of me, awesome!
Lauren Harris (Steve's daughter) was the opener and she was OK. It was nothing extraordinary, but they put on a good show and didn't overstay their welcome. I noticed Steve off to the side watching, so that was exciting.
After that, things started to get really crowded at the front and I decided I was OK with not being right up front for the whole time. I figured I'd try to get through "Aces High" and "2 Minutes to Midnight" and after that everything would be gravy.
It seemed to take forever for the show to start at that point, I saw Rod Smallwood on the side of the stage and kept fighting to keep my spot.
Once the show started it was insane! I couldn't believe I was only a few feet away from my favorite band of all-time! Bruce was doing huge jumps off the monitor and they sounded perfect, but midway through the third song, "Revelations" I'd had enough of the front row, so I signaled for the guys to pull me out, that was kinda fun. I walked by Steve on the way out of the pit and gave him the horns as people patted my back, it was a cool feeling.
I ended up in a good spot too, not far from the stage, but no squishing, yay!
I could go through the whole set list and say how awesome it all was, but really, that would be lame, the whole show ruled. "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" was a HUGE highlight for me and "Heaven can Wait" was great too, if only I'd won that contest! oh well.
Also, on the bus ride home I think I was talking to the guy who played "Max" on the X-files, but I didn't realize it until later. Dude, was that you?
Anyway, I'd definitely go see them again, probably 100 times at least, Iron Maiden is one band I never get sick of.
Sometimes at work (when I can get away with it) I play all Maiden CD's all day long and I could probably do that everyday and not get bored.
I know I sound like a dork, but thanks Maiden, you rule!
Blaze Bayley was the poor bastard who replaced Bruce Dickinson in Iron Maiden in the early 90's.
I'm sure he's an OK guy, but in my mind he was not a good fit. (Though in his defense no one could have expected to do much better)
Thankfully for Maiden and their fans Bruce came back (along with Adrian Smith) and Blaze seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth.
Until now.
I was surprised and a little sad to see this ad in the back of a music magazine. Is this all he's got going on these days? How can you go from being in one of the biggest bands around (internationally Maiden was still huge, even with Blaze!) to plugging (no pun intended) a crappy hair replacement formula?
Blaze Bayley, you have it worse than even Paul Di'Anno himself.
You sir, need a hug.
Got the tickets for Maiden today, I have never been more excited for a concert in my whole life. Just thought you'd like to know.
Today I was listening to the CD "Live after Death" and I realized that I own both the CD and LP of the album and the VHS and DVD of the video.
That's just insane! I also have the bobblehead, what is wrong with me?
I guess I got the VHS first, so upgrading to the DVD makes sense, it's just kinda funny when you realize how many copies of the same thing you end up having when formats are updated.
One thing I wish I had just because it's so ridiculous it's awesome is the bootleg copy I saw on ebay that has a crappy photocopied cover and the title on the LP is misspelled as "Love ofter Death." Classic.
Unfortunately efforts to find the pictures of it were fruitless so you'll just have to use your imagination. Sorry about that.
I just found out Maiden is doing a huge tour this year and focusing on their best era, 1980-88! Holy Crap! If they don't come to Vancouver I will snap! Anyway, even this small amount of hope is enough to cheer me up after that damnable KISS concert was canceled.
1. Iron Maiden - Everything from 1980-1988 - It's just easier than writing them all out, every album from that era kills!
2. Guns 'n' Roses - Appetite for Destruction - still a classic, I wore this tape out in Grade 7.
3. Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks - is there anyone who doesn't own this?
4. Nirvana - Nevermind - It's hard to listen to this one without all the hype and crap getting in the way, but even so many years later you can see why it was such a big deal. It's just one of the greatest albums ever, but I'm tired of hearing about it.
5. CKY - Infiltrate Destroy Rebuild - I listened to this disc for a year straight, unfortunately, I don't think they'll ever match this one again.
6. The Living End - Roll On - Ditto.
7. Weezer - The Blue Album - Nearly Perfect. Still holds up.
8. KISS - Destroyer - the one KISS album that actually lives up to the hype. How did they do that? Simultaneously their greatest triumph and the impossible standard they would forever be held to.
9. NOFX - White Trash... - This was one of those 'revelation' albums for me, where you realize that everything else that's going on besides this sucks.
10. Van Halen - 1984 - They finally reached their peak, only to lose it all right away when Dave left. It was just never the same after that. They got too sappy.
11.The Smiths - The Queen is Dead - After careful deliberation I decided to move this one out of the Honourable Mentions. It's just too good!
Honourable Mentions:
Green Day - Dookie - yes, we're all sick of this one, but all the songs are good!
Metallica - ...And Justice for all - My first Metallica album, a window into a bigger world.
Priestess - Hello Master - Deadly.
Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill - Some of the lyrics on this one are a
little embarrassing now, but I still have this whole disc imprinted on
my brain.
Faith No More - The Real Thing - this list will forever be a work in progress...
Pinback - Blue Screen Life - I can't believe I forgot about this one!
