"Let's follow those two, they're definitely going to the same place we're going." The two men we were following on my advice were both wearing denim jackets, tight jeans, faded Iron Maiden tee shirts, and hair past their shoulders. Mike, Paul, and I were on a journey to see Iron Maiden at the Hammerstein Ballroom for the second of three sold-out shows they would be performing in support of their new album "Dance of Death." After seeing Iron Maiden twice over this past summer and experiencing the glorious time that one has at an Iron Maiden show excitement was high while the New York temperatures were far too low.
For some odd reason, those two fashionable men were actually walking away from Hammerstein; I don't know where they were going, but Mike let it be known at this point that he knew we were going the wrong direction the entire time. Why Mike decided to let us follow these two for a block on a frigid night when we should be waiting on line for the mighty Maiden is one of the reasons some people call Mike both crazy and unintelligent. He explained that although he knew we were going the wrong way, he could not accept that the denim-donned dudes were going anywhere else but Hammerstein. Finally after Mike pointed us in the correct direction and expressed that "50 isn't hot, 50 is ice cold" in regards to the weather and his newfound obsession with 50 Cent we were on our way to what would surely be heavy metal madness.
Stretching down the entire block from the entrance of the Ballroom were the loyal followers of Iron Maiden. One man screamed out that he took his spot on line at 3:00 PM; it was now 6 PM and the temperature was in the single digits. This man is a prime example of the insanity and devotion Iron Maiden brings out in its fans. Iron Maiden are the greatest heavy metal band of all time. I say this because it's my opinion, and because I deem my opinion in this case to be an absolute truth.
Iron Maiden, for those who have zero knowledge of the group or only know them because of their zombie mascot Eddie whose menacing grin is seen on the cover of their 13 studio releases and various live releases, compilations, and singles, first broke into the music industry with their self-titled 1980 release. After nearly 25 years the band has gone through various personnel changes in the band with the line up now being founder Steve Harris on bass, Nicko McBrain on drums, the "Three Amigo's" (Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, and Janick Gers) on guitar, and lead singer "the Air Raid Siren" Bruce Dickinson. Peaking in the mid-1980s after a string of five classic albums beginning with "the Number of the Beast" and ending with "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son," the band remains a huge success today through their quality song writing and epic live shows.
Iron Maiden Live is no rinky-dink rock concert, they don't simply walk out on stage in front of some amps churn out the songs and go home, nope their shows are an event. The Dance of Death tour has a stage built to resemble a medieval castle. In the background, depending on what song is playing, there are giant painted drapes depicting Eddie in a series of different looks and settings. The show opened with the first track off the newest album a rocker containing a booming chorus called "Wildest Dreams." Following that the band play classics "Wrathchild," "Can I Play with Madness," and "the Trooper" to please the large group of American fans who tend to think that Iron Maiden stopped making albums after 1988. Lead singer Bruce Dickinson then took some time to address the crowd and welcome us all to the Dance of Death.
During this portion of the show, the full effect of an Iron Maiden concert began to take hold. It is of my opinion that this band plays best when they're doing new material, while their old material is great, there is a certain excitement to seeing and hearing these songs being played live for the first time. The production's full theatrics come out during this period during the song "Dance of Death." Dickinson is costumed in a cape and mask to get into character for a tune about a lost drunk who is forced to dance with a group of demons somewhere in the Everglades. Now one might read that last line and think that it is a tremendously ridiculous, campy, or simply stupid idea for a song. Anyone who thinks that is probably right, but Iron Maiden somehow makes this all work by the end of the song as the band is playing full speed. Dickinson is spinning around in circles while weaving a large cape and singing the lyrics, "When you're lying in your sleep, when you're lying in your bed, when you wake from your dreams to go dancing with the dead" that people such as myself are singing along with big dopey grins and fists pumping in the air.
The shows peak comes in the form of the song "Paschendale" from the new album; a song which is told from the point of view of a soldier fighting in the trenches of a World War I battle. The song begins with the sounds of cannon fire, machine guns, and the stage divided by barbwire fences while Dickinson dresses in the garb of a soldier. This song clocks in at over nine minutes and features all that is great about this band from the monster riffs, booming drums and bass, and soaring vocals; a tremendous studio song that goes to a new level when experienced live.
After playing the new songs the band went through some final classics to close out the set concluding with the songs "Hallowed Be Thy Name," "Fear of the Dark," and "Iron Maiden." During the final song, disaster struck as a drunken buffoon in one of the balconies managed to knock a full beer off the balcony and directly onto the soundboard. Immediately the drums went silent, then became the only audible instrument as the guitars and vocal amps shut down. The band finished the song while a giant upper torso of Eddie in grim reaper disguise loomed behind the band with finger outstretched and sickle for protection. Now usually the band leaves for a brief period after this and then comes back out to do a three-song encore, which the fans all expected as chants of "Maiden! Maiden!" began the second the band left the stage. It was at this point that Dickinson informed the crowd about the soundboard incident and promised to work out the problem so the band could do the encore or he would instead tell us a few exciting stories.
Eventually he came back out to let the crowd know that the soundboard was completely fried and that the show could not go on. He also asked the crowd that while the person responsible for such a vile action deserves bodily harm if we could all be peaceful and not riot on the way out of the building. At this point the rest of the band came out to bid us all a fond farewell and—to the credit of the crowd—there was no booing or fighting but instead a standing ovation given to the band for an excellent show.
Leaving the show—which ended three songs early—I went back outside into the now subzero cold for the long trip home using mass transit (which cost me over $100 when adding in all expenses) I was filled with only the joy and adrenaline rush I've come to expect from seeing Iron Maiden live. Is Iron Maiden for everyone? Nope, but for those who enjoy the skill and ridiculous nature of the band that has been plowing on for such a long time there are few things more enjoyable in life then witnessing Iron Maiden perform live.