Review by Ralph Greco, Jr.
The amazing, state-of-the-art back projection screen, the unique three-guitar attack they ply better than mostly anyone these days, Bruce Dickinson’s amazing energy at the ripe old age of sixty-eight (and his many costume changes), the chanting crowd and “Eddie” lumbering out on stage a time or two — this was Iron Maiden out on their Run for Your Lives tour celebrating their 50th anniversary.
It’s ‘been a moment,’ as the kids say, since I have seen this granddaddy hard rock juggernaut, my last and only time somewhere deep in the 1980s. Surely, Dickinson has lost a little of his high range, and fans, even casual ones like me, would have preferred to see long-time drummer Nicko McBrain pounding the skins, even though his replacement, Simon Dawson, was surely on top of his skins.
Opening with “The Ides of March,” as the big screen ran us through a cartoon landscape of bars and streets of Maiden lore (complete with their mascot Eddie here and there all the way) and into “Murder in the Rue Morgue,” this was a fantastic phantasmagoric two-hour assault, with songs featured from the band’s first nine albums.
The highlights included an early rollout of “The Number of the Beast,” and “Two Minutes to Midnight,” with the crowd singing along to both. “Infinite Dreams,” as explained by Dickinson, is a song that hasn’t been featured in a live setting in 35 years. The long-form “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” had the most spectacular film accompaniment of the night with big ships and swirling ghost forms. “Run To The Hills” had the crowd, once again, singing along.
During “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” Dickinson disappeared on a back riser only to appear in the video playing behind him, which led to his ceremonial hanging by death. All while the band played on. The encore began with “Aces High” and “Fear Of The Dark” with Dickinson as a lamp-carrying guide throughout. “Wasted Years,” ended the two-hour show.
