This is my review for the Iron Maiden Live performance in Athens (10 November 2000) This was the last Metal 2000 Live! The sound was very good (after the first 3 or 4 songs). The setlist was (UNFORTUNATELY) exactly the same as with every other gig they played this year.
I personally have seen them seven times in my life and it's getting rather boring listening to the same songs every time. OK keep 'Hallowed' but ditch Wrathchild or even Number of the beast. Change the order of the songs for God's sake! Have a constant set of 15 songs and change 3-5 songs in some gigs. Is it so difficult to rehearse 3 or 5 more songs in every tour? I have seen them 3 times in 95. Two of them were consecutive (Friday-Saturday). They didn't change a single note! I e-mailed the official site complaining about that and the answer was that the show is almost choreographed (light, explosions etc.) and that everything must be absolutely accurate. OK I can understand that, but you can always have some time and space for improvisation and spontaneity. And what about them? Aren't they sick and tired of playing the same old songs for so many months? Where is all the fun, the rejuvenation that usually comes with changing the setlist by adding new songs? In 1983 they used to jam with the Scorpions! Dream Theater would jam with everyone ! cause it's fun ! During the summer, Dream Theater played "The Trooper" during their Live in Athens! They have jammed with Bruce in the past. They are constantly changing their setlist (even slightly)! It's the same with The Scorpions, Camel, AC/DC etc. Don't Iron Maiden do it for the fun of it any more? Are they an Album-Money making machine? It isn't easy for me to be saying these words, cause I'm a huge fun since 1986 (1988 was the best live of my life) ! I expect always the best of them but some times I get disappointed. And saw that disappointment in the eyes of my friends as well. You know that the show closes with Iron Maiden (usually after Fear of the Dark). You know that you have Number & Hallowed on the encore, you know that no matter how much you shout, there won't be a second encore, you even know that at the end you'll hear "Always look at the bright side of life" coming out of the Speakers. I can think of just two words : TOO PREDICTABLE! In the name of God, Rehearse 3-4 more songs! On the other hand, although not as expected, a Maiden Live is always one of the best you can see out there! In 10th of November, the effects were fantastic, the songs were played brilliantly and Bruce's voice was better than ever! Sign of the Cross was one of the highlights of the show. Bruce gave a whole new dimension to it. The crowd covered a wide range of ages. You could see 15 year olds (lots of them) and people at their late 30s. And this is the great power of Maiden. They are out there since the early eighties but they continue to gain more fans, year by year, album by album (even in the dark Blaze era) ! Bruce said that Greece is the No.1 country for Maiden in Europe, announcing that Brave new World became Gold in less than a week. Which is the fastest in the world EVER for Maiden! (at least so he said) Other highlights. Bruce was singing Alexander the Great lyrics during the Clansman ! (although it was rather dangerous as he said) It went like this : " No, no we can't let them take anymore, no we can't let them take anymore, Alexander the Great " (you can imagine the sing along) ! During Sanctuary (at the pause, near the end of the song) he said that because the Greek fans ask it every time, they would finally get it! And he sang two refrains of ALEXANDER THE GREAT a capella ! and with the help of the crowd ! Excellent moment ! But really, couldn't they, for once in their career, play that extraordinary song (in its completion) ? Having three guitars would give them the opportunity to play everything that is played in the record. Just ONCE! As a gift to the Greek fans, and as a sample of SPONTANEITY and IMPROVISATION, SURPRISE instead of PREDICTABILITY ! Anyway! After all, it was an Iron Maiden Live. Better than almost anything else out there! It just could be a lot better. E.g. by replacing (say) Wrathchild & Sanctuary with (say) Acacia, flight of Icarus, Revelations or Alexander! We can always hope for the next time! Because I WILL be there next time as well. I may be whining & complaining but it is only because I expect the BEST from that band ! ( and for God's sake guys : REHEARSE a couple of more songs for the next tour ! Be more Unexpected, less Predictable and of course : keep the same line-up ! )
Review Submitted by "GEORGE" - G.KONSTANTINOU@telestet.gr
