Wonder how harrisdevot got on at Download. Looking forward to some comments from him & the guys going to Donington tomorrow.
Thanks for asking
Cried. The whole festival was a real mess at the beginning: it took ages before we came in, which would have been understandable if we had accurate security controls, which wasn't the case. Anyway, I didn't appreciate any of the acts I got to see before Maiden. Gojira (too noisy for me) and Deftones (I will not express my exact toughts as I don't want to have problems with anyone). I was really looking forward to seeing Maiden. I was at a good location, close enough but able to see the whole stage. They turned a bit late, which I appreciated, because I knew it would mean that a greater part of the gig would be after sunset. I had avoided to watch videos, to look at photos and so on, so the stage was a real and very nice surprise to me. I think this is the most ambitious stage production I have ever seen, maybe with
Somewhere on Tour. The setlist is marvellous, terrific. The only two lows for me where the first two songs, but I had fun to look at the guys. After that, everything was tremendous. I love how they dare to play so many long numbers in a set.
The Red and the Black was the absolute highlight for me, and I went nuts during that marvellous instrumental part.
Blood Brothers was another great moment as (it seems to me) they played it a little bit faster and heavier than before. The new Eddie is great, both the full size and the Eddie the 'Ead during
Iron maiden.
As for the guys, Bruce was not on top form vocally, but he was a fantastic entertainer. He made us laugh several time with jokes in his hesitant french (a discussion about old fans not being really "vieux" but "legacy"). Nicko is really doing well, and I can't add anything to what
Foro said. The guitarists were really at their ease with great solos (no abridged versions from Dave, as he used to do a few years back). I love the stage outfit of Adrian, with this red stuff; he seems to enjoy himself a lot. Harry was great: almost always upfront, jumping, claping hands, encouraging a crowd that followed him.
I hate festivals, but this one was a great moment. Bruce told the crowd (as usual during
The Number of the Beast) that they would return, and I can't wait.