On the early morning of 28. November 2006, I found myself in the airport of Nuremberg anxiously awaiting my flight to Paris. It was the day I had been anticipating for years, because that evening, I was going to see Iron Maiden live for the first time. The trip had been prepared long in advance. Some formerly active members of this board, gone but not forgotten, had conspired to make this event happen: Owly, a resident of Paris, had presented me with the ticket in a meetup as early as April. Another member, Maidenfreak from Germany, was also on board, and some French members were also going to meet after the gig. It was the first fully arranged meetup from this forum for a Maiden gig. The first of many to come.
It was a cold and grey day in the City of Lights, but I didn't mind. Having spent an entire week in Paris that August, I was not particularly concerned with sightseeing. I spent most of the day listening to A Matter of Life and Death over and over again, as I had done the previous weeks and months. The album was on such heavy rotation that I almost felt guilty for it, like an addict who couldn't quit. I met Maidenfreak at some point, and in the afternoon, we made our way to the venue, the Palais Omnisports de Bercy. We were in a rush, for we had first to the barrier tickets and needed to get there in time for advanced access. However, this being France, the tube drivers went on strike when we were just one stop from the venue, and we had to run from there. Of course we made it in time and spent about an hour waiting at the doors, chatting with other fans from around the world. And indeed, we made it right to the barrier. I stood on the left hand side, facing Dave.
I just vaguely remember Lauren Harris and Trivium opening. Of course Lauren was a hotly discussed topic that year, and her non-threatening variety of UFO-inspired soft hard rock was entertaining enough. Trivium on the other hand had been the butt of many jokes until then, and would continue to be for many years to come. Little did I know that, two years later at the same venue, I would be tortured with Avenged Sevenfold and long back for this band...
When Maiden went onstage, I had a mixed feeling of excitement, joy and confusion. The confusion stemmed from the fact that I realised that I was literally seeing these six people for the first time in my life, and yet they were as familiar to me as close friends. I knew every movement they would make and every gimmick they would use. And yet, here I was seeing them live for the first time. It was the payoff for many years of build-up during which I familiarised myself with every note they recorded and every tour they had performed, with their history, their influence and, last but not least, their fans. This crazy group of people that gave me a feeling of belonging and appreciation.
The fact that I actually got to see Maiden felt special to me. I had been living in a remote village for a long time, and not very many bands hit this part of the country frequently. I had previously attempted to see Maiden twice, but failed both for time and money constraints. Maiden were a distant light to me, an important part of my life but yet far away. This had finally changed. The feeling when I finally held the ticket in my hand, when I entered the venue and when I saw the band hit the stage was indescribable. It was actually happening.
I knew the setlist beforehand, yet I did not feel that my experience was spoiled in any way. In a sense, it was liberating, because I could freely follow the tour documentation and keep up-to-date to what was happening when the band was in America and Japan. This having been my first Maiden gig, any setlist would have been good for me, but yet I was happy to see the album performed in its entirety. I could sing along with every word and every note, and I took it all in to the fullest. But arguably the greatest moment came when Hallowed ended and the band was leaving: Dave looked me straight in the eye and tossed me his wristband. I will never forget the smile on his face when he saw my excitement at having caught it.
I would go on to see Maiden two more times that year, including in London, where I met
@national acrobat and @Albie and spent an unforgettable evening at the Ruskin Arms. There would be fourteen more gigs ahead of me in the ten years to follow, in no less than six countries, including one more at Bercy. Each gig has a story of its own, and I am happy to say that the latest two were more special than any other concert I've been to.
My apologies for the soppy tone of this post. I felt the urge to tell this story because I owe Maiden - and this board - so much in my life, and I wouldn't want to change one bit of it.
Yes, I actually still have that FTTB wristband.
It was a cold and grey day in the City of Lights, but I didn't mind. Having spent an entire week in Paris that August, I was not particularly concerned with sightseeing. I spent most of the day listening to A Matter of Life and Death over and over again, as I had done the previous weeks and months. The album was on such heavy rotation that I almost felt guilty for it, like an addict who couldn't quit. I met Maidenfreak at some point, and in the afternoon, we made our way to the venue, the Palais Omnisports de Bercy. We were in a rush, for we had first to the barrier tickets and needed to get there in time for advanced access. However, this being France, the tube drivers went on strike when we were just one stop from the venue, and we had to run from there. Of course we made it in time and spent about an hour waiting at the doors, chatting with other fans from around the world. And indeed, we made it right to the barrier. I stood on the left hand side, facing Dave.
I just vaguely remember Lauren Harris and Trivium opening. Of course Lauren was a hotly discussed topic that year, and her non-threatening variety of UFO-inspired soft hard rock was entertaining enough. Trivium on the other hand had been the butt of many jokes until then, and would continue to be for many years to come. Little did I know that, two years later at the same venue, I would be tortured with Avenged Sevenfold and long back for this band...
When Maiden went onstage, I had a mixed feeling of excitement, joy and confusion. The confusion stemmed from the fact that I realised that I was literally seeing these six people for the first time in my life, and yet they were as familiar to me as close friends. I knew every movement they would make and every gimmick they would use. And yet, here I was seeing them live for the first time. It was the payoff for many years of build-up during which I familiarised myself with every note they recorded and every tour they had performed, with their history, their influence and, last but not least, their fans. This crazy group of people that gave me a feeling of belonging and appreciation.
The fact that I actually got to see Maiden felt special to me. I had been living in a remote village for a long time, and not very many bands hit this part of the country frequently. I had previously attempted to see Maiden twice, but failed both for time and money constraints. Maiden were a distant light to me, an important part of my life but yet far away. This had finally changed. The feeling when I finally held the ticket in my hand, when I entered the venue and when I saw the band hit the stage was indescribable. It was actually happening.
I knew the setlist beforehand, yet I did not feel that my experience was spoiled in any way. In a sense, it was liberating, because I could freely follow the tour documentation and keep up-to-date to what was happening when the band was in America and Japan. This having been my first Maiden gig, any setlist would have been good for me, but yet I was happy to see the album performed in its entirety. I could sing along with every word and every note, and I took it all in to the fullest. But arguably the greatest moment came when Hallowed ended and the band was leaving: Dave looked me straight in the eye and tossed me his wristband. I will never forget the smile on his face when he saw my excitement at having caught it.
I would go on to see Maiden two more times that year, including in London, where I met
@national acrobat and @Albie and spent an unforgettable evening at the Ruskin Arms. There would be fourteen more gigs ahead of me in the ten years to follow, in no less than six countries, including one more at Bercy. Each gig has a story of its own, and I am happy to say that the latest two were more special than any other concert I've been to.
My apologies for the soppy tone of this post. I felt the urge to tell this story because I owe Maiden - and this board - so much in my life, and I wouldn't want to change one bit of it.
Yes, I actually still have that FTTB wristband.