A change perhaps?

[Anonymous]

I have been browsing the forum (and others) and one thing that strikes me is the over played classics that are played live.

I personally think it would be a good idea to reduce the amount of classics played at each concert songs such as

Number of the Beast
Run to the Hills
Hallowed be thy Name
Wrathchild
Iron Maiden
The Trooper
Fear of the Dark

Bubbling Under
Can I play with Madness
2 Minutes to Midnight et al

To be honest I really am starting to dislike these songs now. At least they are taking up a 1/4 plus of each concert when there are so many other classics to choose from.

I am not saying do away with them completely but just have 2-3 and alternate every night (and maybe Iron Maiden as well seeing as its the song named after the band.

Its ages since I have heard Be Quick or Be Dead, Holy Smoke, Wasted Years, Stranger In a Strange Land, Powerslave, Charlotte the Harlot, The Prisoner or Flight of Icarus.

There are also those songs that have never been played live- Judas Be My Guide, Alexander the Great, Montsegur, The Duellists, The Nomad or those infrequently - Only the good die young, Moonchild, Total Eclipse.

Plus the majority of the X-Factor and half of VXI admittedly Bruce may not be able to sing them as well (he doesn’t I don’t think when I listen to Futureal and the Clansman)
What was refreshing in Death on the Road was Lord of the Flies (Although apparently this song was originally written for Bruces voice anyway)

Basically I'm trying to say variation and change is GOOD their 13 (soon to be 14 ) good albums packed with good songs yet we only hear a small minority, or if not heavily biased towards the first 4-5 albums.
Number of the Beast is Album Good but we all own it nearly all of us own the live performances on CD and have heard nearly all the songs from it played live. I'm pretty sure the band must be fed up playing the same song for nigh on 20 + years. What’s everyone else’s opinion? 

(P.S have posted this as well on the official maiden forums but would also like some more adult and sensible input as well  )

 

[Albie]

If (as we are led to beleive) Maiden are to release a DVD/CD of every tour here on in, they really need to get other material rather than another live performance of RttH/NotB/HbtN/etc. on any future release.

This is possibly why A Real Live One was a good idea (whether the album was good or not is merely opinion, the principle behind it's release was for sure the good part).

 

[SinisterMinisterX]

I agree that some of those "standards" could be dropped: in particular, "Wrathchild", "The Trooper" and "Run To The Hills".
But a Maiden show without "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "The Number Of The Beast" or "Fear Of The Dark"? No way. Every time I've seen those songs played live, they've been great.

I also agree it would be great to see Maiden mix up their set list from night to night. But since they haven't done that in years, I don't expect it to happen. In this respect, the best shows on the tour are the first one or two, where they're hammering out the set list. For example, IIRC, they only played "Charlotte The Harlot" at the first two shows on the last tour before replacing it with "Wrathchild".

Personally, I think it's laziness on the part of the band. Contrast Maiden with Dream Theater:
DT keeps almost their entire catalog in their active repertoire and changes their set list dramatically every night. Their stuff is much more complex (and therefore harder to memorize) than Maiden's songs. If DT can do it, so can Maiden. They just have chosen not to put in that much effort.

Granted, Maiden has released more songs than DT and so would have more to memorize. Also, having the exact same set list every night allows the band and their crew to perfect the show more easily. I suspect Maiden places a higher priority on a having a perfect show instead of a diverse one.

But I would love to see "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" performed live one more time before they retire... 

 

[Onhell]

If, as you say Maiden prefers a perfect rather than diverse show then it isn't lazyness at all. They simply choose to focus their time and energy on a good show.

 

[Raven]

The trouble with changing your setlist every night is that it increases the difficulty of performing.  Maiden have always been a very active live band, with lights, pyros, Eddie and stage sets.  As far as I know, Dream Theater tend to focus more on the musical experience and do not give a very intense live experience in terms of stage presence (not that there's anything wrong with that).  I believen that the sheer logistics of having things like Eddie and the backdrops for NotB et al limits the amount of variation Maiden can do.  I would agree, however, that a lot of it is down to laziness by the band, but you have to remember that there will always be new people at Maiden gigs, who will want to hear Hallowed or NotB.  I myself will be one this December, and I will be extremely pissed if they don't play Hallowed.  But, looking at their career through the ages, they have played a vast proportion of their discography live.  They always have those classics, though, and the crowd will want to hear those.  Think about it (and I remember reading this on this forum before); if Bruce screams out 'Wraaathchild!' during a concert, are you really going to stop and yell, 'Oh, no!  Not another bloody time!'?  No!  You'll be enjoying the experience as much as anyone else.  It's really in the live releases that this comes through, however.  If you're not at the concert in question, you can afford to be more critical of the song selection.  And don't forget that Maiden do not owe us any favours.  They're performing because they enjoy it, and they're not going to play a song they don't like.  We can't do anything if Steve prefers to relax after recording the album rather than learn the bass part to 'Mother Russia' again, can we?

I don't know where this post is leading, so I think it'll be good to stop it before I lose all sense of coherency.  To sum up: Yes, it can wear thin a bit in retrospect.  But it's something that doesn't come into play if you're in the concert, and I, for one, can happily put up with it.

 

[Anonymous]

I myself will be one this December, and I will be extremely pissed if they don't play Hallowed.

Son, you'll be 17.  You'll be "pissed" no matter what

But I would love to see "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" performed live one more time before they retire... 

History Tour part 2

This topic has been brought up many times before.  I think Maiden should do a Dream Theater and play a really random setlist.  They have never played some of the classics like "Judas be my Guide" and some tracks rarely get a roundition like "Weekend Warrior".

Wouldn't it be great if Maiden started playing that opening part to WW and you start getting into it whereas the majority of the audience will be saying "Where the fuck is Run to the Hills?"

 

[Albie]

They always have those classics, though, and the crowd will want to hear those.  Think about it (and I remember reading this on this forum before); if Bruce screams out 'Wraaathchild!' during a concert, are you really going to stop and yell, 'Oh, no!  Not another bloody time!'?  No!  You'll be enjoying the experience as much as anyone else.

Good point Silky, though it does seem to me that the older, more seasoned Maiden fan may think - OK, we've seen you live 5, 6 ,7 or whatever times, lets have something different. The younger fans may be at their first gig and would relish seeing such and such track live.

In saying that, a live Maiden show without Iron Maiden or even NotB (personally, I love those two live) would not be that same - but to be put on the DVD/CD of that very tour....

 

[SinisterMinisterX]

...Think about it (and I remember reading this on this forum before); if Bruce screams out 'Wraaathchild!' during a concert, are you really going to stop and yell, 'Oh, no!  Not another bloody time!'?...

Me, personally: yes, I will think to myself "Not again..."
After all, I've seen Wrathchild and The Trooper played live 3 times in the past 6 years, and twice for Run To The Hills. I'm thoroughly tired of these songs. I'm not saying I wouldn't enjoy seeing them again; but there are many songs that I'd enjoy more.

As for the idea that Maiden should keep playing old stuff just for the benefit of those fans who may be attending their first Maiden show: Humbug.
Tough luck if you were born too late to catch the World Slavery Tour. Maiden has moved on. You should too. After all, you don't see me complaining because I was born too late to see Led Zeppelin live. Would have been nice, but you can't have everything.

Dream Theater may not have pyro or Eddie, but they do have a decent light show and rear projections. The lighting is programmed into a computer for all of their songs; all they have to do is spend a couple minutes putting that night's setlist into the computer, and they're all set. No one will ever convince me that Maiden couldn't be prepared to play dozens of different songs live on any night: it's a matter of using modern technology, and the band learning the songs. It's an issue of being willing to put in the level of effort that DT does. Granted, the guys in DT are a bit younger and may have more energy. They grew up in a more computer-oriented age, and may be more comfortable with using that technology. But Maiden could do it too, if they wanted to. It's either laziness, or just being stuck in an old way of thinking.

 

[Cosmiceddie]

I personally think it would be a good idea to reduce the amount of classics played at each concert songs such as

Number of the Beast
Run to the Hills
Hallowed be thy Name
Wrathchild
Iron Maiden
The Trooper
Fear of the Dark

Bubbling Under
Can I play with Madness
2 Minutes to Midnight et al

To be honest I really am starting to dislike these songs now. At least they are taking up a 1/4 plus of each concert when there are so many other classics to choose from.

I am with you.I, myself, will skip songs like 'Iron Maiden', 'Sanctuary', 'Wrathchild', 'The Number of the Beast', 'Run to the Hills', 'The Trooper' and '2 Minutes to Midnight' whenever I enjoy one of the live albums or DVD's because I have been bored to listen to live versions of all of them not only for years but for ages.In fact I must admit that when it comes to the end of a Maiden show including encores you don't really need to be a prophet to forsee what you are in for, do you?

So I'm always pleased when the band decides to play as many songs off a new album as possible as in case of the last two album tours('Brave New Tour' and 'Dance of Death Tour).And if they really should be thinking of playing the whole new album I may be really looking forward to it providing it's as good as they say.In fact they may already have done this on the 'Brave New Tour' if it was for me.

To return to the matter, I fully understand that people have begun disliking to hear the same old classics time and again.All the same I must confess that even I would be surprised and kind of disappointed if they dropped 'Hallowed be Thy Name'.

 

[Forostar]

.....

There are also those songs that have never been played live- Judas Be My Guide, Alexander the Great, Montsegur, The Duellists, The Nomad or those infrequently - Only the good die young, Moonchild, Total Eclipse.
.....

Moonchild and Total Eclipse were played live and are featured on several official releases.

---

I agree that some of those "standards" could be dropped: in particular, "Wrathchild", "The Trooper" and "Run To The Hills".
But a Maiden show without "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "The Number Of The Beast" or "Fear Of The Dark"? No way. Every time I've seen those songs played live, they've been great.

I

*spoiled mode on* 

Actually I am getting a bit tired of Fear of the Dark. Saw it in 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2003 (twice).

Ok, I saw Trooper, Hallowed and "Beast" even more (also in 2005), but those songs have some spellbounding qualities during concerts and they have a less predictable place in the setlist than Fear has.

*spoiled mode off* 

 

[eddiesson]

We can't do anything if Steve prefers to relax after recording the album rather than learn the bass part to 'Mother Russia' again, can we?

I don't think he "learns" the song anew. Afterall, it's a song he wrote, they wrote. He can remember it and perfect it, maybe, but not "learn". Even it's the case, how hard can it be for them!? they are musicians and excellent players since their 'teens. Do you think he will spend more than a couple of hours to remember one of their song and rehearse it with the band?

Maybe they just don't like those songs anymore. If I was to interview or talk with any Iron Maiden member, I would ask his sentiments towards their past songs, both the ones they play and they don't play on gigs.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with most of you guys. I once sent an e-mail to the official site and I got an answer from one of the guys responsible for the tour. The answer was that the show is like a precise choreography due to the lights, pyro etc. and therefore they cannot change even the order of the songs.

I am -as well- bored with some of the songs mentioned in this thread (especially: Wrathchild). On Death on the Road, not playing "2 minutes" or "the evil" was a step to the right direction. In the future they could drop at least a couple of songs on every tour and add a couple of outsiders (like when they did Lord of the flies).

On the other hand not many bands offer the opportunity to see tours like the one covering the first 4 albums or even earlier 'best of' tours like "give em edd" or "ed hunter".

I agree about Dream Theater. The guys are crazy. In Athens they played "The Trooper" just because Iron Maiden had to cancel that day, due to Janick's foot injury and everybody in the crowd were somehow sad. I also saw them covering the whole Number of the Beast album. On that tour they had rehearsed about 80 songs (including 4 or 5 complete albums from various bands). Amazing!

I also saw Bon Jovi this year in Manchester. The guys change EVERYTHING from day to day. Almost nothing stays the same. They have rehearsed more than fifty songs for this tour. In Japan they started with "Great Balls of Fire". On a particular concert of the Crush tour they had given the setlist (starting with Livin' on a prayer) to everyone (lights, sound engineers etc) and out of nowhere they started the gig by playing a Thin Lizzy cover. That's rock'n'roll !!!

Anyway, not all bands are the same. We just have to face the fact that our favorite band is different, a little less surprising, but still always giving a hell of a show.

What I would like to see (being realistic) is a set of 17-18 tracks with just 2-3 songs changing every night (giving a total of 20-22 songs rehearsed for the whole tour). Is this too much to ask?

Having some extra tunes comes always handy when having to play 2 or 3 days in a row in the same city. I mean a lot of fans will see the band every day. Make a change or two in the bloodied setlist for god's sake! Check how different were the setlists of the two consecutive Bon Jovi shows in Milton Keynes a month ago.

Sorry for the long post, but this matter always makes me complain...
UP THE IRONS !!! Will see them in Milan on December.
George from Athens Greece !!!

 

[canadaman]

I have been browsing the forum (and others) and one thing that strikes me is the over played classics that are played live.

I personally think it would be a good idea to reduce the amount of classics played at each concert songs such as

Number of the Beast
Run to the Hills
Hallowed be thy Name
Wrathchild
Iron Maiden
The Trooper
Fear of the Dark

Bubbling Under
Can I play with Madness
2 Minutes to Midnight et al

To be honest I really am starting to dislike these songs now. At least they are taking up a 1/4 plus of each concert when there are so many other classics to choose from.

Having never been to a Maiden concert, I'd be extremely disappointed if they did not play the songs I've bolded, when I do get the chance to go.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with most of you guys...

George from Athens Greece !!!

This is a first post as I like them. Have a praise! 

 

[Forostar]

Having never been to a Maiden concert, I'd be extremely disappointed if they did not play the songs I've bolded, when I do get the chance to go.

That's something that Maiden (also) takes into account. So don't worry, Maiden is also for new fans.

 

[Anonymous]

This is a first post as I like them. Have a praise!   

Thank you old timer !!! :wacko:

 

[Anomica]

But I would love to see "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" performed live one more time before they retire... 

I couldn't agree with you more. I remember the mood in Scandinavium (Gothenburg) when the slow part of Rime... came on - you could almost hear the audience breethe. That was amazing :wacko:
On the other hand, in 2005 they claimed that most of the songs they played hadn't been played for a very long time and wouldn't be played live ever again (at least not by IM) so maybe we won't get to hear Sanctuary, Wrathchild and some of the oldies. I don't think, however, that they'll ever drop Hallowed, NotB or The Trooper from the set lists - it would surprise me very much, since live they are f*ing brilliant. I'm tired of The Trooper, myself, but live it seems like something happens to it, a different energy or something. Keep those three and drop the rest I want Paschendale, Montsegur, Rime, Powerslave...............