The saving graces of Virtual XI

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Eddies Wingman said:
I dare you to go and say that to Steve Harris.
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I can, and would, say that to Steve Harris.

And like the stand-up guy I am, I would also accept the inevitable tongue-lashing and kick in the balls afterward.
 
MaidenCanada said:
I agree with snake.  

Whenever I think about Maiden, the 90s never happened.

As far as I am concerned, Bruce recorded some great solo records in the 1990s while Steve Harris did some half-decent side project-thingy with some guy called 'Blaze'. It's all worth a listen, but the band Iron Maiden reuinited in 1999.

:D
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How is it a side project? Are you saying Bruce is the band? Cause people like that really annoy me.
 
Batman said:
How is it a side project? Are you saying Bruce is the band? Cause people like that really annoy me.
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I am saying that the 90s were the worst decade to be a Maiden fan.

And the only way I can look back on the 90s with any bit of happiness is to imagine that the X Factor and Virtual XI are Steve Harris solo projects...

...I am only half kidding.
 
  Why is it so hard for people to admit the 90s were the worst decade for Maiden, particularly those two albums with Blaze?  Think of it like your favorite sports team.  You would never brag about a season years back when your team had second rate players and did not contend for a title/championship.  Yes you would remember those teams as part of the teams history, but you would admit they blew compared to great years when you had better teams and were winners.
    Yes Blaze is part of our history.  But the product was/is not as good as the 80's Maiden output or the recent/reunion stuff.  Thats hard to argue.  Just as if Real Madrid or the New York Yankees came in last for a couple seasons but rebounded and once again got better players and won championships, so has Maiden had highs and lows!! It doesn't make you less of a fan to admit some eras are better than others.  Blaze Bailey and those albums were just low points in an otherwise stellar career of this great band. Period.  You are no less of a  fan if you can admit that.
      I have teams in Hockey and baseball, pretty much all sports that I live and die with.  But I don't try and ram the bad seasons down peoples throats as if I believe they were as good as the championship teams, that is insanity. Some times are great, some are not.  Even if the players are wearing the same jersey they did when they were champs, they just were not as good and I admit it. 
 
bornless1 said:
   Why is it so hard for people to admit the 90s were the worst decade for Maiden, particularly those two albums with Blaze?  Think of it like your favorite sports team.  You would never brag about a season years back when your team had second rate players and did not contend for a title/championship.  Yes you would remember those teams as part of the teams history, but you would admit they blew compared to great years when you had better teams and were winners.
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But Maiden didn't have "second rate players" and yes they might not have been as good as they were in the 80's, but they were still pretty good.
   
Yes Blaze is part of our history.  But the product was/is not as good as the 80's Maiden output or the recent/reunion stuff.  Thats hard to argue.
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Why is opinion hard to argue? If someone thinks the Blaze albums is as good or better than the 80's then that's their opinion.

Just as if Real Madrid or the New York Yankees came in last for a couple seasons but rebounded and once again got better players and won championships, so has Maiden had highs and lows!! It doesn't make you less of a fan to admit some eras are better than others.  Blaze Bailey and those albums were just low points in an otherwise stellar career of this great band. Period.  You are no less of a  fan if you can admit that. 
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In your opinion. I think Virtual XI is just as good as any other album in the bands history. You can't tell me or anyone for that matter, that the Blaze era was bad, if I think the Blaze era was a good era for Maiden (in terms of music) then who are you to tell me I can't enjoy it?
 
  Here we go.  Of course you can enjoy it, that is your prerogative.  I enjoy When two Worlds Collide, Virus, a few others.  Mildly.  I think what Maiden Canada, Snake, Myself, the guy at the record store with Snake,...Most other Maiden fans, are saying is that the stuff just wasn't the clean crisp unmistakable Maiden we were used to then,  And have gotten since Blazes' departure.  It just isn't.  It is good, sometimes great.  But not the same.  Not distinctive MAIDEN! If those Blaze backers are serious when they say they like it as much, then hey to each there own.  But it never will sink in with the majority.  Never.
    Play a mix of say randomly..Die with Your Boots on, Flash of the Blade, lighting strikes twice, the Duelists, and say..Rainmaker.  One of these things is not like the others.  That's all.  Play the same songs but replace Lighting strikes with, say, I speed at night by DIo.  Again all songs good, one not the same.  One not Maiden.
 
bornless1 said:
  Here we go.  Of course you can enjoy it, that is your prerogative.  I enjoy When two Worlds Collide, Virus, a few others.  Mildly.  I think what Maiden Canada, Snake, Myself, the guy at the record store with Snake,...Most other Maiden fans, are saying is that the stuff just wasn't the clean crisp unmistakable Maiden we were used to then,  And have gotten since Blazes' departure.  It just isn't.  It is good, sometimes great.  But not the same.  Not distinctive MAIDEN! If those Blaze backers are serious when they say they like it as much, then hey to each there own.  But it never will sink in with the majority.  Never.
    Play a mix of say randomly..Die with Your Boots on, Flash of the Blade, lighting strikes twice, the Duelists, and say..Rainmaker.  One of these things is not like the others.  That's all.  Play the same songs but replace Lighting strikes with, say, I speed at night by DIo.  Again all songs good, one not the same.  One not Maiden.
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Of course it's different that's what keeps the band fresh. Play Die With Your Boots On, Flash Of The Blade, the duelists, Rainmaker, and Isle Of Avalon. One of these things is not like the other either. So?
 
Okay man..BATman....Enough said.  I am listening to "when two worlds collide" as we speak.  I have been all over this tune lately.  It freakin rakes.  Enough bickering.  +  I too have dined on Honey Dew...and maybe more importantly..drunk the milk of paradise!!!!!Rush at the MGM in four weeks!! UP THE IRONS.
 
One of the (many) reasons I like the forum is because the Maiden '90s get respect here.
I've yet to find another place where that is the case.
So while my personal take on VXI is positive, my personal experience is that the people agree with Snake.
 
I like to joke around and say the 90s never happened, etc.  But in all seriousness I like all of Maiden's albums... it's just that the 80s output is absolutely stellar, the 2000s are arguably as great (possibly better?), and the 90s albums, while very good (and sometimes great), are not "Maiden good" like the rest of the 80s and post-2000 catalogue.  That's the only downside of Maiden in the 90s, really. Just a noticeable drop in quality, or at least more of a mixed bag of reactions among even the most devout fans.  And it does happen to be the general consensus across the Maiden world.

I wish I loved the Blaze albums as much as I love their 80s and post-2000 output, but I don't.

But for as much as I trash Virtual XI, I would still prefer to listen to it on infinite repeat for the rest of my life than most other music out there.  :ok:
 
The 90s was awesome.  I got a chance to see my favorite band in a bar alongside about 200 other people and Steve shot his bass over my head and headbanged right in my face.  Guaranteed they won't ever do that again.  For that reason alone I have fond memories of that time even though it was rough being a metal fan.

Those 90's albums were totally necessary.  Anyone who can't hear the genesis of the current sound of the band from that era is deaf.
 
bornless1 said:
Play a mix of say randomly..Die with Your Boots on, Flash of the Blade, lighting strikes twice, the Duelists, and say..Rainmaker.  One of these things is not like the others.
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I know you're referring to 'Lightning Strikes Twice' here, but that song has the typical Iron Maiden sound, just like the others you mentioned. In that regard, none of those songs are unlike imo.
 
I doubt that was 200 people. And that their production would fit in a "bar". I know they had shows for 1000/2000 people club/theatre settings on TXF/VXI tours, but that's about it.
 
That's why Maiden is still playing nowadays. They don't stick to a single formula.

I  don't know what "distinctive Maiden" sound means.
 
That's called secret show, where only a bunch of people get an invitation. They did that occasionally. With Blaze, only once, Norwich, VXI tour, 1998.
 
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