UP The IRONS

Finally IRON MAIDEN descended to India….and the wait for 17years was worth every moment for every true Maiden fan….
And they left us all with awe of a true Maiden Concert……..And they promised they will be back next year…………..
Couple of my friends and I reached the concert venue at about 2 pm…We had the 1500 Rs pass and we were shocked to see the line for the entrance was going up till the main road….people were waiting from 3 am in the morning……We stood in the queue and finally we entered the arena….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By 3 pm….
We were left gasping for our breath seeing the stage…..20 tons of stage equipment air lifted from UK stood in front of us……there was something on the stage which they covered up with a black cloth…kept everyone guessing about the same……and boy and that was quite a surprise….!!!!!!
The heat was unbearable and understandably there was a mad rush at the Pepsi counters….and it was so much crowded that all the drinks got over in a few hours….the stadium was jam packed in a few hours…….and there wasn’t even a place to stand…we somehow managed to get to the front rows…..we had some talk with some people from Sri lanka…who came all the way just for the concert and were waiting from previous night……..
The show started at 5:30 pm …. The opening act of the evening was FTN from Delhi (Campus Rock Idols Winners ‘ 07). The vocalist was good…but overall their effort was poor….and got a lotta boos and angry words from the audience…..It was followed by Parikrama…
Parikrama was at their natural best…put the crowd on their feet…the violinist was awesome…They sang all from original compositions…..crowd backed it well……
After a thundering applause for Parikrama…..Lauren Harris (Daughter of Steve Harris) took the stage…The guitarist was good….but overall the performance was bad and the people had almost lost their patience for maiden…..”Maiden, maiden” chants were heard all over the place…..finally by 7:30 pm…her show came to a close….and people were waiting for the REAL LIVE ONE….
At 8:00pm…all the lights were out……and the crowd was electric……..and Boom……IRON MAIDEN was on stage……Nico Mcbrain, Steve Harris, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, Dave Murray and one and only Bruce Dickenson…….They started with a “Different World” from their Brand new album…..”A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH”……”These Colours don’t run”…”Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg” followed….After some more songs….a break followed……and they came back with old warhorses like ……”Hallowed be thy name”,”Wrath Child”,”Iron Moiden”………..
During the concert Bruce climbed up the Titan Tron till its top….and shouted…….he was jumping all aroung the place with raw energy……
During “Evil that men do”, a prop of a huge military tank came up…with its fuming barrel towards the crowd……On top of it Eddie came up with his goggles like a soldier...this drove the already frenzied crowd wild……Eddie came up the stage with a military uniform with a machine gun….after the song he left the stage….
When it was all said and done, the Band took a snap with crowd on the background…….when all dust was settled people were ecstatic with the performance and had no words for it…….
There were a couple of complaints like the duration of 1:43mts of the show and Bruce’s voice was subdued in the first session n stuff……But when we walked back…..we saw a person with his crutches…..walking back out of the arena…..that was the salute to one of greatest bands of all…..
List of tracks they played( not necessarily in the order”)
1) Different World
2) These Colours Don’t Run
3) Brighter than thousand suns
4) The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
5) For the Greater Good of God
6) Fear of the dark
7) Hallowed be Thy name
8) Number of the beast
9) Run to the hills
10) The trooper
11) Iron Maiden
12) Wrathchild
13) The Evil That Men Do
14) 2 minutes to midnight
we will see them perform next time in India
till then UP THE IRONS……………