Iron Maiden in LA Tonight

[T.B.]

Great show, 100% sold out very few scalpers selling seats and appeared to be
a really tough ticket for anyone hoping to core anything just before the
show. I've seen Maiden 7 times dating back to the NOTB tour opening for
Scorpions at Long Beach as well as one of the '85 Long Beach shows and this
was as good as the original Powerslave tour was and LA gave them a really
impressive welcome. Haven't heard a Forum crowd that loud when they came on
after the pre-recorded UFO chestnut "Doctor Doctor" since original Roth era
Van Halen. Only real beer break spots are during Powerslave and Heaven Can
Wait. The first hour through Ancient Mariner was Godlike. The setlist was
the same as it's been on the other dates this tour except Can I Play With
Madness and Run To The Hills are switched so that Hills is near the end of
the main set.

The only downsides really had nothing to do with the show. The fucking
monkeys directing traffic into and around the Forum parking lot would send
scores of cars into dead end parts of a lot already filled causing huge
traffic fuckups all over the lot. I wound up parking partially on a
sidewalk, great spot for $22 bucks. Then, no one knew working the doors
which entrances reserved seating and general admission floor people were
being let in so that was a huge clusterfuck as well. I wound up just going
through an unguarded door in the club entrance which was supposed to be
reserved for VIPs and people working there. It took me about 40 minutes to
drive the 35 miles there, an hour and a half to get down to the floor once I
paid for parking. I hope its another 10 years before I have to go to that
shithole again.

The sound and view was pretty good and loud from my position about 50 feet
straight back from the stage but when I went for a piss and came back and
hung out near the soundboard for Heaven Can Wait, it sounded pretty muddy
and weak that far back. I can imagine people sitting in the upper nosebleeds
suffered through some lousy sound. Anyone (like myself) that wonders why
that "3rd guitarist" Janick Gers(sp?) is still in the band will be more
pissed than ever after seeing the guy spend most of his time spinning his
fucking guitar around him and basically half-assed playing and posing like a
poor man's Yngwie Malmsteen. It really doesn't appear he's in the live sound
mix much except for a few solos. The guy is basically a band cheerleader
with a guitar. On the other hand, Steve Harris is every bit the bass
monster he's always been. Bruce still sounds pretty damn good although he
clearly doesn't have the power anymore to sustain a phrase or scream like he
did up through the early 90's.

The good news is that Bruce said before the encore that they are coming back
for a couple month US tour in May and June and hitting a lot of major cities
including 2 more SoCal dates, thankfully at the old Irvine/Verizon outdoor
ampitheater. Also, they are coming back with a more elaborate stage with
more "Eddie stuff," no doubt a big mechanical prop like the old days that
was behind the drum riser. Tonight, they just had a guy in a huge, tipsy
Somewhere in Time era 15 foot tall Eddie costume wearing a Lakers shirt
(pretty funny). Here's some of the dates off the official site:

Wed 5/21/08 San Antonio, TX - Verizon Wireless - on sale 3/1 10am
Thu 5/22/08 Houston, TX - Woodlands - on sale 3/1 10am
Sun 5/25/08 Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion - on sale 3/1 10am
Mon 5/26/08 Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion - on sale 3/15 10am
Wed 5/28/08 Concord, CA - Concord - on sale 3/9 10am
Fri 5/30/08 Los Angeles, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - on sale 3/1
10am
Sat 5/31/08 Los Angeles, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - on sale 3/1
10am
Mon 6/2/08 Seattle, WA - White River Amph - on sale 3/8 10am

One last thing, around the 3rd song, some fucktard decided a good way to
bully his way up front was to take a running charge from way the hell back
and just plow full speed ahead decking anyone in his way. He managed to slam
right into my fucked up shoulder which had the good grace to not start
hurting like hell until I got out of the show. The payoff was he bounced off
me into some other guy on my right who really clocked him with his elbow.
Right now, I'm waiting for my Heath Ledger cocktail to kick in so I can get
some hopefully pain-free sleep.

T.B.

[Scall5]

Post by T.B.
Great show, 100% sold out very few scalpers selling seats and appeared to
be a really tough ticket for anyone hoping to core anything just before
the show. I've seen Maiden 7 times dating back to the NOTB tour opening
for Scorpions at Long Beach as well as one of the '85 Long Beach shows and
this was as good as the original Powerslave tour was and LA gave them a
really impressive welcome. Haven't heard a Forum crowd that loud when they
came on after the pre-recorded UFO chestnut "Doctor Doctor" since original
Roth era Van Halen. Only real beer break spots are during Powerslave and
Heaven Can Wait. The first hour through Ancient Mariner was Godlike. The
setlist was the same as it's been on the other dates this tour except Can
I Play With Madness and Run To The Hills are switched so that Hills is
near the end of the main set.
The only downsides really had nothing to do with the show. The fucking
monkeys directing traffic into and around the Forum parking lot would send
scores of cars into dead end parts of a lot already filled causing huge
traffic fuckups all over the lot. I wound up parking partially on a
sidewalk, great spot for $22 bucks. Then, no one knew working the doors
which entrances reserved seating and general admission floor people were
being let in so that was a huge clusterfuck as well. I wound up just
going through an unguarded door in the club entrance which was supposed to
be reserved for VIPs and people working there. It took me about 40
minutes to drive the 35 miles there, an hour and a half to get down to the
floor once I paid for parking. I hope its another 10 years before I have
to go to that shithole again.
The sound and view was pretty good and loud from my position about 50 feet
straight back from the stage but when I went for a piss and came back and
hung out near the soundboard for Heaven Can Wait, it sounded pretty muddy
and weak that far back. I can imagine people sitting in the upper
nosebleeds suffered through some lousy sound. Anyone (like myself) that
wonders why that "3rd guitarist" Janick Gers(sp?) is still in the band
will be more pissed than ever after seeing the guy spend most of his time
spinning his fucking guitar around him and basically half-assed playing
and posing like a poor man's Yngwie Malmsteen. It really doesn't appear
he's in the live sound mix much except for a few solos. The guy is
basically a band cheerleader with a guitar.

I'm assuming two possible reasons they keep Gers around is a) he co-wrote
some of the songs on the last two albums and b) Steve might be concerned
that Smith may jump ship again. Just thinking out loud here...

[RICK scampiliano]

Anyone (like myself) that wonders why that "3rd guitarist" Janick
Gers(sp?) is still in the band will be more pissed than ever after
seeing the guy spend most of his time spinning his fucking guitar around
him and basically half-assed playing and posing like a poor man's Yngwie
Malmsteen. It really doesn't appear he's in the live sound mix much
except for a few solos. The guy is basically a band cheerleader with a
guitar.
=========================
I'm assuming two possible reasons they keep Gers around is a) he
co-wrote some of the songs on the last two albums and b) Steve might be
concerned that Smith may jump ship again. Just thinking out loud here...
--
=========================

A couple of points:
Janick has actually spent more time in Maiden than Adrian. Jan(90-99),
Ade(81-88) plus both from 99 to present.
I don't think any one thinks the '90s albums hold a candle to the '80s
stuff, nor were there as many, but in terms of years of service, Janick
has seniority.

As for songwriting, he has credits on every album from FOTD on. In the
case of the last three albums, I think he co-wrote the best song on
each(GotN, DoD, TL).

[massimo]

SET LIST please?

Post by RICK scampiliano
Anyone (like myself) that wonders why that "3rd guitarist" Janick
Gers(sp?) is still in the band will be more pissed than ever after
seeing the guy spend most of his time spinning his fucking guitar around
him and basically half-assed playing and posing like a poor man's Yngwie
Malmsteen. It really doesn't appear he's in the live sound mix much
except for a few solos. The guy is basically a band cheerleader with a
guitar.
=========================
I'm assuming two possible reasons they keep Gers around is a) he
co-wrote some of the songs on the last two albums and b) Steve might be
concerned that Smith may jump ship again. Just thinking out loud here...
--
=========================
Janick has actually spent more time in Maiden than Adrian. Jan(90-99),
Ade(81-88) plus both from 99 to present.
I don't think any one thinks the '90s albums hold a candle to the '80s
stuff, nor were there as many, but in terms of years of service, Janick
has seniority.
As for songwriting, he has credits on every album from FOTD on. In the
case of the last three albums, I think he co-wrote the best song on
each(GotN, DoD, TL).

[Doctor Bombay]

Post by T.B.
Great show, 100% sold out very few scalpers selling seats and appeared to
be a really tough ticket for anyone hoping to core anything just before
the show. I've seen Maiden 7 times dating back to the NOTB tour opening
for Scorpions at Long Beach as well as one of the '85 Long Beach shows and
this was as good as the original Powerslave tour was and LA gave them a
really impressive welcome. Haven't heard a Forum crowd that loud when they
came on after the pre-recorded UFO chestnut "Doctor Doctor" since original
Roth era Van Halen. Only real beer break spots are during Powerslave and
Heaven Can Wait. The first hour through Ancient Mariner was Godlike. The
setlist was the same as it's been on the other dates this tour except Can
I Play With Madness and Run To The Hills are switched so that Hills is
near the end of the main set.
The only downsides really had nothing to do with the show. The fucking
monkeys directing traffic into and around the Forum parking lot would send
scores of cars into dead end parts of a lot already filled causing huge
traffic fuckups all over the lot. I wound up parking partially on a
sidewalk, great spot for $22 bucks. Then, no one knew working the doors
which entrances reserved seating and general admission floor people were
being let in so that was a huge clusterfuck as well. I wound up just
going through an unguarded door in the club entrance which was supposed to
be reserved for VIPs and people working there. It took me about 40
minutes to drive the 35 miles there, an hour and a half to get down to the
floor once I paid for parking. I hope its another 10 years before I have
to go to that shithole again.
The sound and view was pretty good and loud from my position about 50 feet
straight back from the stage but when I went for a piss and came back and
hung out near the soundboard for Heaven Can Wait, it sounded pretty muddy
and weak that far back. I can imagine people sitting in the upper
nosebleeds suffered through some lousy sound. Anyone (like myself) that
wonders why that "3rd guitarist" Janick Gers(sp?) is still in the band
will be more pissed than ever after seeing the guy spend most of his time
spinning his fucking guitar around him and basically half-assed playing
and posing like a poor man's Yngwie Malmsteen. It really doesn't appear
he's in the live sound mix much except for a few solos. The guy is
basically a band cheerleader with a guitar. On the other hand, Steve
Harris is every bit the bass monster he's always been. Bruce still sounds
pretty damn good although he clearly doesn't have the power anymore to
sustain a phrase or scream like he did up through the early 90's.
The good news is that Bruce said before the encore that they are coming
back for a couple month US tour in May and June and hitting a lot of major
cities including 2 more SoCal dates, thankfully at the old Irvine/Verizon
outdoor ampitheater. Also, they are coming back with a more elaborate
stage with more "Eddie stuff," no doubt a big mechanical prop like the old
days that was behind the drum riser. Tonight, they just had a guy in a
huge, tipsy Somewhere in Time era 15 foot tall Eddie costume wearing a
Lakers shirt (pretty funny). Here's some of the dates off the official
Wed 5/21/08 San Antonio, TX - Verizon Wireless - on sale 3/1 10am
Thu 5/22/08 Houston, TX - Woodlands - on sale 3/1 10am
Sun 5/25/08 Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion - on sale 3/1 10am
Mon 5/26/08 Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion - on sale 3/15 10am
Wed 5/28/08 Concord, CA - Concord - on sale 3/9 10am
Fri 5/30/08 Los Angeles, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - on sale 3/1
10am
Sat 5/31/08 Los Angeles, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - on sale 3/1
10am
Mon 6/2/08 Seattle, WA - White River Amph - on sale 3/8 10am
One last thing, around the 3rd song, some fucktard decided a good way to
bully his way up front was to take a running charge from way the hell back
and just plow full speed ahead decking anyone in his way. He managed to
slam right into my fucked up shoulder which had the good grace to not
start hurting like hell until I got out of the show. The payoff was he
bounced off me into some other guy on my right who really clocked him with
his elbow. Right now, I'm waiting for my Heath Ledger cocktail to kick in
so I can get some hopefully pain-free sleep.
T.B.

Janick Gers is a world class player and deserves absolutely none of the hash
comments posted about him.

[AJAX]

Post by Doctor Bombay
Janick Gers is a world class player and deserves absolutely none of the
hash comments posted about him.

Damn right!

[wings_of_fury]

Post by AJAX

Post by Doctor Bombay
Janick Gers is a world class player and deserves absolutely none of the
hash comments posted about him.

Damn right!

Good setlist? I'll have to catch em when they come back - love Irvine
Meadows!

[Gavin]

Post by Doctor Bombay

Post by T.B.
Great show, 100% sold out very few scalpers selling seats and appeared to
be a really tough ticket for anyone hoping to core anything just before
the show. I've seen Maiden 7 times dating back to the NOTB tour opening
for Scorpions at Long Beach as well as one of the '85 Long Beach shows
and this was as good as the original Powerslave tour was and LA gave them
a really impressive welcome. Haven't heard a Forum crowd that loud when
they came on after the pre-recorded UFO chestnut "Doctor Doctor" since
original Roth era Van Halen. Only real beer break spots are during
Powerslave and Heaven Can Wait. The first hour through Ancient Mariner
was Godlike. The setlist was the same as it's been on the other dates
this tour except Can I Play With Madness and Run To The Hills are
switched so that Hills is near the end of the main set.
The only downsides really had nothing to do with the show. The fucking
monkeys directing traffic into and around the Forum parking lot would
send scores of cars into dead end parts of a lot already filled causing
huge traffic fuckups all over the lot. I wound up parking partially on a
sidewalk, great spot for $22 bucks. Then, no one knew working the doors
which entrances reserved seating and general admission floor people were
being let in so that was a huge clusterfuck as well. I wound up just
going through an unguarded door in the club entrance which was supposed
to be reserved for VIPs and people working there. It took me about 40
minutes to drive the 35 miles there, an hour and a half to get down to
the floor once I paid for parking. I hope its another 10 years before I
have to go to that shithole again.
The sound and view was pretty good and loud from my position about 50
feet straight back from the stage but when I went for a piss and came
back and hung out near the soundboard for Heaven Can Wait, it sounded
pretty muddy and weak that far back. I can imagine people sitting in the
upper nosebleeds suffered through some lousy sound. Anyone (like myself)
that wonders why that "3rd guitarist" Janick Gers(sp?) is still in the
band will be more pissed than ever after seeing the guy spend most of his
time spinning his fucking guitar around him and basically half-assed
playing and posing like a poor man's Yngwie Malmsteen. It really doesn't
appear he's in the live sound mix much except for a few solos. The guy
is basically a band cheerleader with a guitar. On the other hand, Steve
Harris is every bit the bass monster he's always been. Bruce still sounds
pretty damn good although he clearly doesn't have the power anymore to
sustain a phrase or scream like he did up through the early 90's.
The good news is that Bruce said before the encore that they are coming
back for a couple month US tour in May and June and hitting a lot of
major cities including 2 more SoCal dates, thankfully at the old
Irvine/Verizon outdoor ampitheater. Also, they are coming back with a
more elaborate stage with more "Eddie stuff," no doubt a big mechanical
prop like the old days that was behind the drum riser. Tonight, they
just had a guy in a huge, tipsy Somewhere in Time era 15 foot tall Eddie
costume wearing a Lakers shirt (pretty funny). Here's some of the dates
Wed 5/21/08 San Antonio, TX - Verizon Wireless - on sale 3/1 10am
Thu 5/22/08 Houston, TX - Woodlands - on sale 3/1 10am
Sun 5/25/08 Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion - on sale 3/1 10am
Mon 5/26/08 Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion - on sale 3/15 10am
Wed 5/28/08 Concord, CA - Concord - on sale 3/9 10am
Fri 5/30/08 Los Angeles, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - on sale 3/1
10am
Sat 5/31/08 Los Angeles, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - on sale 3/1
10am
Mon 6/2/08 Seattle, WA - White River Amph - on sale 3/8 10am
One last thing, around the 3rd song, some fucktard decided a good way to
bully his way up front was to take a running charge from way the hell
back and just plow full speed ahead decking anyone in his way. He managed
to slam right into my fucked up shoulder which had the good grace to not
start hurting like hell until I got out of the show. The payoff was he
bounced off me into some other guy on my right who really clocked him
with his elbow. Right now, I'm waiting for my Heath Ledger cocktail to
kick in so I can get some hopefully pain-free sleep.
T.B.

Janick Gers is a world class player and deserves absolutely none of the
hash comments posted about him.

Absolutely spot on.

[Lukan]

Post by Gavin

Post by Doctor Bombay
Janick Gers is a world class player and deserves absolutely none of the
hash comments posted about him.

Absolutely spot on.

He's an average guitar player. He tends to overplay during solos, most
of which are complete noise.

How many memorable solo's has he done since he's been in the band?

I like "Blood Brothers" solo, I like "Brave New World" solo, I like
"Wasting Love" solo ... otherwise I can't think of too many memorable
solos, unlike Dave Murray and Adrian Smith who have got loads of them.

He's co-written some good material however, some of his contributions
have been great. On that basis I don't have too much of problem with
the guy being in the band, it can only help to have a good collaborator
in the band to work with the other guys.

He did seem totally unnecessary in the recent tour shows that I saw a
few weeks ago though. When he didn't contribute anything to the classic
songs and wasn't even in the band when they recorded them, it was a bit
of a joke. I wonder how Gers himself feels about being up there playing
all that material that he had zero input on....