michaellegge
Nomad
Mine was Earls Court, 2000. It took me THAT LONG!
(There’s no way this question has been asked here before, right?)
(There’s no way this question has been asked here before, right?)
Do You Remember The First Time?
- Thread starter michaellegge
- Start date
My first IM show I was a 15 year old kid and things got a bit feisty, some even called it a riot, but it was mostly standard drunk 80s festivities.
It was Somewhere on Tour and much later (2017) I recapped it on a hockey fan message board. These were my recollections:
I was there.
Can't believe it was 30 years ago, I am getting old.
I was 2 months shy of my 16th birthday and although 1987 was the year I started going to a lot of concerts, this one in March was only my third concert ever (the prior ones being Van Halen 5150 and Moody Blues/Fixx, both also at Byrne).
We went up early with a convoy of about 4 cars to tailgate. The first and most remarkable thing you noticed was that it was nothing but teenagers as far as you could see. It was like every high school in NJ sent all of its burnouts one big field trip without any adult supervision.
Lots of people passing around joints so I had one of my earliest pot experiences, I couldn't really keep up with conversations so I spent most of the pregame festivities sitting of the hood of someone's car just zoning out. At some point someone gave me a beer but I forgot I had it until about an hour later when the beer supply was running low, someone asked me for a sip and I split it with him but it was warm by then. Don't know why that particular detail sticks in my head but it does.
Also remember going to take a leak, there must have been crowds at the port o pots because everyone was just lining up along this chain link fence that divided that parking lot sections. A bunch of people were cheering off to one side so I looked over, one guy had a girl kneeling on the other side of the fence giving him a bj. To this day I wonder how that kid talked that girl into blowing him through a chain link fence in a crowded parking lot.
At some point people starting tossing empty bottles that were crashing around so we jumped back in the cars, some people smoked more and we just listened to tunes to prep for the show.
Inside was a zoo. Again, nothing but amped up teenagers in a sea of flannel and leather. I had Somewhere in Time and Powerslave on record/cassette so I knew all those songs, but some of the older ones were new to me. They put on an absolutely incredible, high energy concert. The crowd was loud and insane. People in the upper deck starting throwing stuff down on the floor seats, including firecrackers and a few bigger fireworks that were so loud they could be heard over the music. Even the guys in the band noticed them.
I'm pretty sure Run to the Hills was one of the encores. We had left our seats and were wandering around other sections by then. It was a wild crowd.
After the show the "Riot" wasn't really any such thing. Although it certainly was chaotic, I saw no fights or physical violence. Lots of car damage though. It was practically raining glass bottles by then so that was kind of dangerous. Lots of people were gathering anything that could burn and starting huge bonfires, and I saw one car getting flipped over. I didn't see any of the cars that got burned.
I got home that night exhausted and kind of nauseous so I was hoping I could slip in unnoticed, but my parents had heard about the "riot" and were understandably freaked. And that was about it.
In the end, there was no riot. But it was wild and fun for a teenager, and the concert itself was absolutely amazing. One of the best metal bands ever at the height of their power.
EDIT - Set List: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/iron-maiden/1987/brendan-byrne-arena-east-rutherford-nj-bd6c11e.html
It was Somewhere on Tour and much later (2017) I recapped it on a hockey fan message board. These were my recollections:
I was there.
Can't believe it was 30 years ago, I am getting old.
I was 2 months shy of my 16th birthday and although 1987 was the year I started going to a lot of concerts, this one in March was only my third concert ever (the prior ones being Van Halen 5150 and Moody Blues/Fixx, both also at Byrne).
We went up early with a convoy of about 4 cars to tailgate. The first and most remarkable thing you noticed was that it was nothing but teenagers as far as you could see. It was like every high school in NJ sent all of its burnouts one big field trip without any adult supervision.
Lots of people passing around joints so I had one of my earliest pot experiences, I couldn't really keep up with conversations so I spent most of the pregame festivities sitting of the hood of someone's car just zoning out. At some point someone gave me a beer but I forgot I had it until about an hour later when the beer supply was running low, someone asked me for a sip and I split it with him but it was warm by then. Don't know why that particular detail sticks in my head but it does.
Also remember going to take a leak, there must have been crowds at the port o pots because everyone was just lining up along this chain link fence that divided that parking lot sections. A bunch of people were cheering off to one side so I looked over, one guy had a girl kneeling on the other side of the fence giving him a bj. To this day I wonder how that kid talked that girl into blowing him through a chain link fence in a crowded parking lot.
At some point people starting tossing empty bottles that were crashing around so we jumped back in the cars, some people smoked more and we just listened to tunes to prep for the show.
Inside was a zoo. Again, nothing but amped up teenagers in a sea of flannel and leather. I had Somewhere in Time and Powerslave on record/cassette so I knew all those songs, but some of the older ones were new to me. They put on an absolutely incredible, high energy concert. The crowd was loud and insane. People in the upper deck starting throwing stuff down on the floor seats, including firecrackers and a few bigger fireworks that were so loud they could be heard over the music. Even the guys in the band noticed them.
I'm pretty sure Run to the Hills was one of the encores. We had left our seats and were wandering around other sections by then. It was a wild crowd.
After the show the "Riot" wasn't really any such thing. Although it certainly was chaotic, I saw no fights or physical violence. Lots of car damage though. It was practically raining glass bottles by then so that was kind of dangerous. Lots of people were gathering anything that could burn and starting huge bonfires, and I saw one car getting flipped over. I didn't see any of the cars that got burned.
I got home that night exhausted and kind of nauseous so I was hoping I could slip in unnoticed, but my parents had heard about the "riot" and were understandably freaked. And that was about it.
In the end, there was no riot. But it was wild and fun for a teenager, and the concert itself was absolutely amazing. One of the best metal bands ever at the height of their power.
EDIT - Set List: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/iron-maiden/1987/brendan-byrne-arena-east-rutherford-nj-bd6c11e.html
Last edited:
Flaming Blimp Crash
Ancient Mariner
Chicago 2016 at the United Center. Used to work at O'Hare International and our employee parking lot was on the west side of the airport by the hangars. I tried to see Ed Force One land and taxi - which I did, but I didn't get a very good view as it ended up parking on the east side of the airport.
The show was incredible. I remember thinking Nicko had a special bass drum head for the show as the four hearts on it looked very similar to the Chicago flag. I was mistaken.
The show was incredible. I remember thinking Nicko had a special bass drum head for the show as the four hearts on it looked very similar to the Chicago flag. I was mistaken.
Sth2112
Ancient Mariner
It was in Oslo in November 2006, on the A matter of life and death tour. I lived like eight hours away with car from Oslo, so I travelled with a friend, and we met up with a third friend who lived in the city. We were standing at the back, so I didn’t see very much actually. But very happy with the show and the setlist, when I’m thinking back, it was a very special show thinking how stale it has become with all these non-album tours.
dickinson1978
Ancient Mariner
August 1996 Villarobledo - Albacete.
By the time they were filling big stadiums too LOL.
I liked the show but for sure i left the gig feeling that was not what i watched for years on the videos,thinking this band is not the same. I liked more Helloween.
By the time they were filling big stadiums too LOL.
I liked the show but for sure i left the gig feeling that was not what i watched for years on the videos,thinking this band is not the same. I liked more Helloween.
Attachments
When I was in the USA in 2019, I saw them in New Jersey. It was my first, and to see my favourite musicians live was an amazing feeling. Sadly, the terrible sound mix that night was disappointing. Dave's guitar was so high in the mix, Adrian was audible, whereas Janick's guitar was almost absent. When he played a lead or a solo, I literally heard nothing. I was hoping it would get corrected after the first 1-2 songs, but that stupid sound engineer (or whoever was in charge of the sound) was sleeping, I guess. Anyway, The Clansman, FTGGOG, TETMD, and FOTD were the highlights for me.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
My first Iron Maiden gig was in Miajadas, in 1996, on The X Factour. I posted about it at:
By the way, there is already a thread dedicated to the first Maiden gigs of forum members:
By the way, there is already a thread dedicated to the first Maiden gigs of forum members:
2005 in Toronto, which introduced me to Mastodon as well.
Had a fantastic time. Locked eyes with Janick just as somebody stomped on my toe (which was already injured), and I must've looked less than pleased about it. Maybe he thought I was in the throes of some kind of a weird catharsis.
Had tickets to see them a few years prior in Europe but that got cancelled because Mr Gers had fallen off the stage, in Germany if I recall correctly.
Had a fantastic time. Locked eyes with Janick just as somebody stomped on my toe (which was already injured), and I must've looked less than pleased about it. Maybe he thought I was in the throes of some kind of a weird catharsis.
Had tickets to see them a few years prior in Europe but that got cancelled because Mr Gers had fallen off the stage, in Germany if I recall correctly.
LosBastardos
Educated Fool
April 1993 in Arnhem, the Netherlands. When the tour was announced Maiden were going to play in the Paradiso in Amsterdam, which only holds about 1,500 visitors. But when it was announced that Bruce was going to leave the band, the gig was moved to the Rijnhal in Arnhem . I didn't really care about it at the time, but it would have been a great experience to see them in such a small and iconic venue.
I was 14 at the time and it's a long time ago, but I do remember enjoying it. It was also great that they added some unexpected songs like Prowler, Remember Tomorrow, Transylvania and Where Eagles Dare. Gigs were also a bit wilder in those days
I was 14 at the time and it's a long time ago, but I do remember enjoying it. It was also great that they added some unexpected songs like Prowler, Remember Tomorrow, Transylvania and Where Eagles Dare. Gigs were also a bit wilder in those days
Maiden Australia
Nomad
Brisbane 10th of September 2024 Future Past tour, on the floor (center stage 40m back) it was hot as hell in the arena though. It triggered an obsession resulting in me ranking 105th on maidens Spotify in 2025 (53 thousands minutes).