IRON MAIDEN

Split, Poljud, 10.08.2008

Finally - Sunday, August 10th. We've been waiting for this since last years' Christmas, when the tickets when on pre-sale. Iron Maiden coming to Croatia for the third time was really something special for the many fans the band has here, even more because the last time they were here was in Velika Gorica in 2003. The band visited Croatia at the end of their current tour named "Somewhere Back In Time Tour 2008".
There were 20 to 25 000 Maiden-fans on the concert that night, which is twice the number from Gorica. Next time they come, Bruce's words will probably come true: "Next time everybody bring a friend so we'll sell the place out!".
The concert started at 22:30, which was an hour late, due to Bruce's flight being late, since he was the last one coming to Split. The other band-members came a day in advance and have already taken a round in the city the night before. Some fans were unhappy with the concert being late, but let's face it - if there is a band in the world that's worth waiting for, it has to be Maiden!
The support bands were Lauren Harris (I think there's no need to mention she is Steve's daughter) and Rising Dream, a local Croatian band that didn't wake much enthusiasm in the audience.
Maiden's concert began with a prelude - UFO's "Doctor Doctor", and then nothing less than that pure adrenaline rush called "Aces High". Everybody started jumping and singing/screaming rightaway. It has begun.
The always great "2 Minutes To Midnight" followed, and then it was time for my all-time favourite Maiden-masterpiece "Revelations". I got into a trance enchanted by its out-of-this-world main melody, and it was my first of the many concert's peak moments.
The action on the stage was energetic as always, with Bruce jumping around, changing costumes according to current songs, Steve "shooting" his bass at the audience, Nicko going crazy behind the drums and the guitarists bringing us more and more wonderful walls of strong and melodic riffs. Janick was interesting as always, with his guitar-acrobations including throwing his guitar in the air and playing it with his foot.
According to the visual part of the concert, that was mainly that of the two popular albums from the 80ies; "Powerslave" and "Somewhere In Time", Eddie came onstage as a mummy and a futuristic cyborg.
The whole bend were at their best - but what is the greatest thing about Maiden is not only they perfected their playing abilities a long time ago, but the fact that they seem to give their whole selves into what they do when they play a concert - there is so much emotion and energy in their performances that it's a must-see for every rock-fan, even those who are not actual fans.
Bruce joked the whole time and proved there is more than one showman (Nicko) in the band. He started the epic "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" with the words: "This is what not to do/When a bird shits on you". The song itself is a classic we haven't heard live for a while, and it was one of the many peaks of the concert that was so great in many ways.
Even though there are songs that are being played live for the third decade now, it was great to hear them. There might be better Maiden-songs in global, and we all could have our own opinions on which songs should be included in the set-list, but once you hear songs like "Iron Maiden", "Fear of the Dark" ili "Run To The Hills", it's clear why they are played live so much - they're great live songs. Even if there are better songs, these are the ones that are made to be played live, while maybe some other great album songs wouldn't be such good live songs.
So, we've heard "Heaven Can Wait", on which a number of fans from a local fan-club came onstage to sing the chorus with the band - it's a great Maiden-tradition, really. They played also "Can I Play With Madness", "Moonchild", "Clairvoyant", "Number of the Beast", and even "Fear of the Dark", the only song written after 1990 that was on the concert.
Bruce started to introduce the band-members to the fans, and the great "Italian drummer" Nicko got the biggest applause. After one bis, the concert was over, with the last song being "Hallowed Be Thy Name". The crowd asked for more, but after almost two hours of playing, the band left the stage.
All in all, it was one of those concerts to remember, and as the newspapers wrote, one of the two biggest concerts in Croatia this summer (the other one being, of course, Manu Chao). If you ask me, those two were worth more than one concert season, and if we continue this way, we'll all have to work some extra hours to afford them all, but trust me - it's worth it!

Report: Sara Profeta
Photo: dominionart.net