|
Sign up now for a FREE Citygigs listing. No strings, no bull, just
free unlimited self serve access to your info on the site.
New User? Click here!
|
|
Iron Maiden Stick To Their Heavy Metal Guns
Vancouver
September 24, 2000
Iron Maiden @ Pacific Coliseum
Tuesday, Sept 20, 2000
Iron Maiden was selling out 80,000 seat rock arenas before bands like Limp Bizkit, and Offspring were playing air-guitar in their diapers. The heavy metal masters have been around so long, one might consider them the original dinosaurs of rock. Maiden has done for heavy metal what U2 did for popular rock. They practically revolutionized the metal movement and single-handedly carried the torch through the dark musical decade we call the 80's.
For this twenty-something journalist, some of my fondest teenage memories are of Iron Maiden being blasted through my older brother's basement stereo…head banging and all.
 So when I heard original front man, Bruce Dickinson had re-joined Iron Maiden after a 7 year hiatus, and that the band were touring through Vancouver in support of their latest album "Brave New World," I thought it might be time for some hard core investigative journalism.
I really didn't know what to expect from a band that have been at the forefront of metal for so long but who have recently, gotten sideswiped by such musical movements as grunge and pop-rock. Maiden did not disappoint. From the opener, "Wickerman" it was clear that Dickinson's voice was on. His vocal style is one of the most distinctive ever, and the energy Dickinson shows is impressive, leaping over stage monitors in a single bound.
 Of course it wouldn't be a classic Maiden show without Dickinson belting out his trademark line, "Scream for me Vancouver - scream for me!" At one point Dickinson even had a over-rowdy moshing fan thrown out by security, and quickly asked the crowd if "Everything is fucking cool!" While this was an obviously rehearsed attempt to rile up the crowd, it seemed unnecessary and out of place.
Later, the band pounced into some killer new material playing "Brave New World" note for note and coming at the now vehement Vancouver crowd like a lion on the hunt. Maiden's first nod to their past went back to "2 minutes to Midnight," with an impressive display of guitar wizardry. The guitar trio of Adrian Smith, Jannick Gers and Dave Murray never played over each and all three guitarists were able to work as a cohesive unit.
Moving into more new tunes, Maiden launched into a well balanced version of "Blood Brothers," one of my favourite songs on the new album. "Fear of the Dark," seemed to be a distinct crowd classic. And what would a Maiden concert be without the appearance of their faithful mascot "Eddie." As he rose from the ashes of an over-bloated drum kit, the lightning riffs of "Iron Maiden" blaring through the sound system, one could only wonder, ‘what year is it anyway?'
The encore began with the familiar biblical lines "Woe to you, oh Earth and Sea..." as Maiden crafted their way through "Number of the Beast." "Sanctuary" was a stunning closer and as the band gathered for the traditional stage metal bow, I left the Pacific Coliseum grinning ear to ear. Iron Maiden played hard for over 2 hours and treated the near sold out crowd to a rare metal extravaganza. Now if only I can get my mom to route through the garage and send out all my old Maiden albums..
|
|
article search
|
