1st maiden show coming up, what to expect?

chaosapiant

chaosapiant

Ancient Marinade
Greetings all Maiden fans!  I am going to see Iron Maiden for the first time in my life, with my new wife on July 20th for the DC/Bristow show.  I've been a die hard fan for over 20 years, but have never made it to a show for one sad reason or another.  So, to those of you who have seen them live, what can I expect?  I am so excited, and so is my wife, who is a recently converted Maidenette herself.
 
One thing to remember: Iron Maiden always plays UFO's "Doctor Doctor" through the PA right before they come on stage. If you're wandering around when you hear that song, get back to your seat! :bigsmile:
 
Expect to be blown away.

If you're familiar with the live albums and videos, you should have a good idea of what to expect, only that it's obviously much grander and much more mind blowing in reality.

Other than that, what SMX said... pay some attention to the PA before the gig. When they play "Doctor Doctor", be ready to go insane. Also, they usually leave the lights off for a while after they go offstage. They never play a second encore, so don't stick around waiting for one. When the lights do go on, be prepared to hear "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life". ;)

Other than that, I don't know any specifics about American metal shows... I have no idea how having seats in the pit is supposed to work and so on, and if people rush to the stage or whatever.
 
Thanks for the quick replies!  I have all of their albums and dvds, so i've defintely seen and heard them on tv at least, just never been there.  I did notice that "Flight 666" also ends with that "bright side of life" song, and I could of sworn it was Bruce singing it, but I was wrong.  Anywho, I can't wait!  I got seats right behind the orcestra bit, so i'd be far enough back to see the whole stage and close enough to see Bruce's nose hairs.
 
chaosapiant said:
what can I expect?
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Regret that you didn't go before.

No seriously, expect to go mental, and expect problems with your seat. At that moment you'll probably don't want to sit. You'll want to move.  :)
 
SinisterMinisterX said:
One thing to remember: Iron Maiden always plays UFO's "Doctor Doctor" through the PA right before they come on stage. If you're wandering around when you hear that song, get back to your seat! :bigsmile:
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This is important.  Heed it well.   
 
I can tell you, from experience, that waiting 20 years to go to your first Maiden concert is everything you would hope it to be.
I've been a fan since SSOASS and saw Maiden live for the very first time two years ago.
When Bruce stopped I thought I was never going to see them live, because no chance in hell was I going to Blaze Bailey concert.
So when he returned I deceided that I would definitely go first chance I had. That chance was on the Somewhere Back in Time tour in 2008.
So I bought the ticket, practically framed it and on the 16th of August I took it of the wall and drove 3 hours -living in another dimension- to the best thing that ever happened to me.
I remember every step I took from the parking lot to the arena and back to my car after the concert was over. It was the most amazing experience ever.
On top of all that it turned out to become an epic concert with a lunar eclipse during Fear of the Dark.
Expect to be dreaming, but be sure to register every little bit of the entire evening. You are going to want to remember this for the rest of your life!
Oh, and pay attention!! I didn't for a second and missed giant Eddie  :(
 
SinisterMinisterX said:
One thing to remember: Iron Maiden always plays UFO's "Doctor Doctor" through the PA right before they come on stage. If you're wandering around when you hear that song, get back to your seat! :bigsmile:
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That's interesting. Do they play the original version through the PA, the cover that they did?
 
SinisterMinisterX said:
The original UFO version.
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To be precise, the live version off Strangers in the Night (a 1979 live album I'd recommend to anyone even remotely interested in hard rock music... the liner notes to the 2008 reissue were even partly written by 'Arry). If you hear some "extra" crowd noise, that's when you should become wary.
 
Heh, I never noticed it was live. I thought it was studio. I guess I just assumed any crown noise I heard was originating at the concert venue.

That live album is great. "Rock Bottom" is fucking spectacular.
 
SinisterMinisterX said:
That live album is great. "Rock Bottom" is fucking spectacular.
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Agreed with SMX and Perun:  Strangers in the Night is a must for any serious rock collection.  I also love "I'm A Loser."  

Back to the original point:  the live "Doctor Doctor" track begins in the middle of loud crowd noise cheering the end of the preceding song on the album.  As such, the crowd noise on the track starts rather abruptly.  So, at the concert you may hear what sounds like an abrupt, loud cheer from the crowd, which in fact is the beginning of the live "Doctor Doctor" track.  However, it may also be accompanied by a REAL loud cheer from the REAL crowd, because many fans recognize this signal that the show is about to start and start cheering the "Doctor Doctor" song itself, singing along, etc.  It's a great tactic by the band, in that it not only is a courtesy to fans warning them to get out of the beer line and get ready, but it generates a buzz of excitement and anticipation right before the lights darken and the show starts, almost like a mini-opening act.  
 
Yeah, it's really a great primer.

As soon as you hear those first notes, the energy in the crowd gets amped to 11.  Everybody knows what's happening; there's no surprise, only excitement.
 
Depends on the crowd... here in the US, many concert-goers have been surprised when I told them (at the venue before the show) to listen for "Doctor Doctor". Most US people are just casual fans who don't know about it. The pit always goes nuts, because those are the hardcore fans - but the people in the cheap seats usually don't know.
 
You can expect to see one of the best live performances you have ever seen.  Maiden not only sounds great live but their stage show is incredible as well.
 
Expect your life to change.  It did for me two years ago.  And if you start crying (see Flight 666 movie, the guy who caught Nicko's drumstick), that's ok too. ;)

Yeah, and get as close as possible.  That's where the craziest fans are.  They're singing along already with Doctor Doctor, etc. 
 
That depends on how you like your shows, Invader. I don't want to be with the craziest fans. I want a seat (remember, I'm old ... I think only Albie is older than me on this forum) and I don't want to have to fight for a good view or get knocked around too much.

I find that 10th row is just about right for me. A good close view of the entire stage ... far enough out that the sound from the PA is properly blended ... close enough to go nuts without going insane, if you know what I mean. (Or even if you don't! :P )
 
SinisterMinisterX said:
(remember, I'm old ... I think only Albie is older than me on this forum)
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Wrong!  I'll be 40 in July.  And I got tickets for the pit in LA.  Pussy.  :lol:

But seriously, there are many people who share SMX's view.  During the last tour, I was fortunate to see them twice in LA -- once on the first leg when they played the L.A. Forum, a former basketball/hockey stadium, and then again when they came back to L.A. to play the outdoor Irvine Amphitheater on the second leg.  I won a "First to the Barrier" contest during the first leg, and in the second leg I sat in the seats near the mixing board.  Totally different experiences:  up front is more fun and more crazy, but farther back you can relax and enjoy the music, and the sound is typically better (and louder). 

In hindsight, I did it bass-ackwards -- I should have been in the pit at the amphitheater rather than at the stadium, because the pit is much smaller (so, fewer people) and less dangerous.  You can be as close as you want, and you won't really get crushed.  At the Forum, the entire floor of the arena was one big G.A. pit, so there were about 5,000+ people pushing forward -- on to me.  Totally insane, and I had a good time, but it was more than a little scary a couple of times -- I probably won't do that again.  (My tickets this year are in a small pit at the front of an amphitheater, thank goodness.)     
 
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