Iron Maiden ... Going downhill?

[TeslaRecoil]

OK, so I got to see Iron Maiden for the 5th time last night ... and it was the first time I was genuinely disappointed with one of their shows ...

First off, they didn't just play a few songs from their new album mixed in with the classics ... They played the ENTIRE new album straight through ...

OK, fine, I understand that they're touring to promote their new album, but that was a huge let down to all the fans there.

Also, the new album ... well, it kinda ... SUCKS! It lacks the energy and power of their previosu albums, and every song sounded the same. But it's climbed to #9 on the charts in the US, the highest any of their albums have gone, so maybe they saw that as a sign.

Secondly, when they finished that nonsense, they came out for an encore and played 5 classics: 2 Minutes To Midnight, The Evil That Men Do, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Iron Maiden, and Fear Of The Dark.

No Run To The Hills. No Trooper. No Number Of The Beast. WTF???

I know that they can't play all the classics at every show, but those were (arguably) their 3 biggest hits, and they didn't play a single one. It was just a real disappointment.

I won't even go into the opening act (Bullet For My Valentine). MTV's version of metal nowadays. :puke:

Like I said before, I've seen Iron Maiden 5 times. This was, by far, the most I had ever paid for a ticket and it was, by far, the worst show I've seen yet. And they didn't come close to selling out the first of seven US venues on their North American tour. That's also a first for me. I've seen them at larger venues, and tickets have sold out in no time. That's sad.

I have sort of a working theory, though. I think Bruce Dickinson might be having trouble hitting the high notes like he used to, which would make plaing most of their classics very tough. He didn't sound 100% last night, and he choked on a few high notes when they were playing the classics. Maybe it was nothing, but I think that has a lot to do with it.

I guess I'm just bent to see one of the few bands that didn't sell out starting to turn that corner.

[MadMike]

No "Run to the Hills?" That sucks! As you've stated, they can't do all the classics, having been around for... what? Close to 30 years now? But you'd think that one would be on their "must play" list.

I actually liked their newest album. Not up their with the classics like "Piece of Mind" or "Number of the Beast", but I like it a lot better than anything from the "Blaze" era. I never did understand why they picked a singer who didn't have the vocal range required to do most of the previous songs.

And here I was disappointed because I could have gone to see them for the first time, had I not been broke and had other plans already. Sounds like I didn't miss much.

[Ryu]

i saw them in 03 i believe when i was working at a concert venue and i loved it, it was my first time hearing of them
they played all classics i believe
run to the hills troops 2 minutes to midnight fear of the dark number of the beast hallowed be thy name i think i cant remember which of them they played for sure

[NightWolf]

At first I didn't care for the new CD. But after a few listens it kind of grew on me. I've been to countless shows where I've wanted to see the bands perform either more of their classics or more of the new stuff. Each time i've gone I've been more and more dissapointed. So I've come to the conclussion that I'm just going to the show for the experience of seeing what I might get to hear. I've just given up on getting pissed about it, after all, at least I was lucky enough to be able to experience it.

And true, many of the fans probably wanted to hear the classics, BUT there are also a ton of fans that are tired of seeing the same thing over and over and over again, so some fresh things are sometimes not always a bad idea to some.

[irateguy]

Ive always thought Flight Of the Icarus was their best song

[BrassCowboy]

I think Bruce Dickinson might be having trouble hitting the high notes like he used to, which would make plaing most of their classics very tough.

"Yes...the Bruce Dickinson....listen guys, I'm just like the rest of you. i put my pants on one leg at a time, but once my pants are on I make gold records."


I'm sorry. I had to throw that in when I read his name.

[Ryu]

ah i forgot that song, i like that too
all the songs i listed are songs i know, most if not all i like, so i might think i remember them playing it, it was after a long day of work transporting lotsa pizza and inhaling lotsa secondhand smoke over a long period of time and across an entire venue with 5 concession stands that had pizza
but i loved the show nonetheless, and i made ~14 dollars pretax watching them :p

[Knightmare]

Haven't they been going downhill for years?

I haven't really listened to them for a long time. Since the early 90's, I think.

I was never impressed with their "newer" music (same with Metallica).

Or am I just getting old?

Nah, can't be. I still rock out, but with other bands now.
Maybe you guys should switch to Dimmu Borgir or Children of Bodom? :)

[Barefootgirl]

Maiden's not my thing musically, but Bruce is a really, REALLY nice guy. I fenced against him once, in an open tournament when I was at school, and despite him being a fantastically good fencer (virtually Olympic standard) and miles better than me, he didn't just slay me instantly but we had a good match.

I'm sorry to hear that IM are losing their touch a bit.

[Strange Magic]

Iron Maiden losing thier touch?!!!?....That's one of the best jokes I've heard in a while.I have seen every Iron Maiden Tour since Piece of Mind in 83 and have enjoyed each show immensely.
The new album leans a little more towards the prog side they showed during the 7th Son era and I'm glad to see that.
As for playing the new album in it's entirity sp?)...I'm of mixed feelings but I can see the ned/want for it by the band and some fans even. It has got to the point in some bands careers that there is nothing surprising...It's time to mix it up and add a bit of spontinaity to the proceedings.

[TeslaRecoil]

Well, I'm all for bands trying something different. To be honest, for as much as I love Ozzy and Black Sabbath, I don't think I'll ever go see either one again, as I've found their shows to be very repetitive (Black Sabbath opening with War Pigs? never saw THAT before.)

Maybe it's just that I didn't care for the new album. I can see it being more progressive and all, but it really lacked the energy I'm used to with Iron Maiden. It's not terrible, just not my thing.

And I have no problem with them playing new stuff on stage. None whatsoever. But I think it was definitely overdone.

As far as Bruce goes, I've heard he's a pretty decent guy, and I was aware of his fencing skills. There have been a few stories done on him over the years. But I'm kinda concerned about his voice, which I'm thinking had a lot to do with their set list. There were few few spots where he had to hit one of his trademark high notes, and when one came up, he was a little off. Granted, it was the first night of the US leg of the tour, but I'm just wondering ...

In any event, it's all a matter of preference. I didn't care for this show. Others might. But I definitely think it's better than ANYTHING they did with Blaze. I saw them once with Blaze (possibly in 1998), and the show was OK. Having Dio for an opening act helped out a lot.

[NightWolf]

Ugg...i'll second that one. I hated the Blaze era. :cry: