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Live At Donington '92
(1993)
Line-up:
Steve, Dave, Bruce, Janick and Nicko (and Adrian for the last track)
Disc 1:
1. Be Quick or Be Dead (Dickinson/Gers)
2.  The Number of the Beast (Harris)
3.  Wrathchild (Harris)
4.  From Here To Eternity (Harris)
5.  Can I Play With Madness (Smith/Dickinson/Harris)
6.  Wasting Love (Dickinson/Gers)
7.  Tailgunner (Harris/Dickinson)
8.  The Evil That Man Do (Smith/Dickinson/Harris)
9.  Afraid To Shoot Strangers (Harris)
10. Fear of the Dark (Harris)
11. Bring Your Daughter...To the Slaughter (Dickinson)
12. The Clairvoyant (Harris)
13. Heaven Can Wait (Harris)
14. Run to the Hills (Harris)

Disc 2:
1.  2 Minutes To Midnight (Smith/Dickinson)
2.  Iron Maiden (Harris)
3.  Hallowed Be Thy Name (Harris)
4.  The Trooper (Harris)
5.  Santuary (Harris/Di'Anno/Murray)
6. Running Free (Harris/Di'Anno)
From the Donington of twelve years ago, comes a real good live album. It's not as good as Rock in Rio (or Live After Death), but there are a few reasons for this. One, is that it was recorded during a time when Maiden where not at their strongest. They were by no means bad, but they'd seen better days; Adrian wasn't with them and Bruce was changing his singing style. Two is that the first disc is almost entirely the same as the second disc of A Real Live/Dead One (which would be A Real Live One). Three is that Bruce's voice throughout isn't really loud enough (though obviously it's not his fault), and teh guitars aren't that clear in parts (indeed, the opening riff before the drums kick in proper on 23:38 can barely be heard).

But... all this doesn't mean it's a bad album. The set-list is very, verry good. A lot of the classics are there as well as a number of great songs from NPftD and FotD. Bruce doesn't handle some of his vocals all that well, howeever, particually NotB, but then I've never really heard him scream like he did on that song anywhere other than the album. His little song introductions are very nice (or, in some cases, his long ramblings, which are usually very well thought out), especially the some-three minutes of talking before ATSS.

Many of the songs have fun extensions as well. Most notably, FHtE (great crowd interaction), CIPWM (lots of fun live, especially with [I think] Janick shouting "Can I play with" and Bruce screaming "Madness?!!"), FotD (as usual) and a particually fun extension right at the beginning of BYDtTS.

One of the highlights is without a doubt the closing song, Running Free, where Adrian joins the band on stage for the end of the set. Running Free is, as usual with live concerts, extended by roughly two-three minutes as Bruces gets the crowd going. It's also a joy to hear Wasting Love live, and it always nice to see The Clairvoyant and Heaven Can Wait  included on a live album.

An odd thing though, is the enchore. The entire three-something minutes that Maiden made the crowd wait before they charged back on with Hallowed is included, and this really does make a lot of difference to the fun the album provides.

All in all then, a fine live album. Not as good as a certain couple of other live albums, but still an excellent purchase. Plus the cover art is fucking awesome.
22/6/04
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