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Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Iron Maiden live

The Swoj Staff were at the mighty Iron Maiden's sold out show in Glasgow on Friday night (we've only just recovered enough to tell you about it!). Opinions were mixed it has to be said. Special guests Trivium went down a storm but the headliners themselves picked a more 'controversial' set list with the first 1 hour and 20 mins being devoted entirely to promoting material from the new album which only left 35 mins (5 songs) for the old classics.

As I've written before, Maiden make no apologies for playing a lot of new material in their set because they see it as their way of staying relevant and offering the fans something different each time, and I have no problem with that. In fact probably most people dont have a problem with that when it is normally split 50/50 but I heard a lot of disgruntled fans leaving the venue and in the club later that night. Personally I thought it was fine but slightly overkill. I dont think the new album (A Matter Of Life And Death) is as great as the rock press would have you believe (an 8/10 in my books) but as always, Maiden's material sounds 10 times stronger live than it does in the studio.

Possibly detecting a note of unrest (or having picked up on it elsewhere in the tour) they have vowed to return next year and play a UK festival and play a greatest hits set. If that happens then all will be forgiven!

In case you're wondering the old classics were: Iron Maiden, Hallowed Be Thy Name, 2 Minutes To Midnight, The Evil That Men Do and Fear Of The Dark (not in order).
This led to much discussion over a couple of drinks about which favourites were missed...lads, fire away with your own personal faves that were skipped...

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