|
IRON MAIDEN/DIO/MOTORHEAD "GIVE ME ED 'TILL I'M DEAD" TOUR
I was picked up by my buddy Chris in his 84' Rabbit, where we would then drive down to Boxboro, MA to pick up my other friend Nate, up at his girlfriend's house, and then proceed to the Centrum for some heavy metal action! As I got into the car, Chris immediately said that the breaks were a little soft when the car got started, but when it was turned off...the breaks went back to their normal tension. We really didn't think anything of this, so we took off down the highway. About 5 minutes into the trip we took a pitstop in order to get some drinks, and Chris wanted to get some break and transmission fluid just to make sure. So we got into the car, and drove off. However...this is when the problems started to happen. Chris said he had to push his breaks all the way to the floor to get them to work, and had to start using the e-break to aovid not being able to stop fully. I really didn't think it would hinder the trip much if the e-break was capable of stopping us with the aid of the regular break, and I think Chris was in the same mindframe. However, thankfully Chris remembered that he had to get his cellphone, so we went back to his house and he got his cellphone, and he decided to fill up on brake fluid to see if that would make any difference. So we fenangled around with this for about a half an hour and then took off. On the way Chris TOTALLY lost all control over his breaks, to the point where he almost overshot his turn because he was having trouble slowing down. This led us to go back to the gas station we were at. We looked under the car to see if we could see anything, but we didn't notice anything unusual, so we asked this lady attendent if she knew anything about cars, and she said that the break lines or something had ruptured (she seemd to know what she was talking about). There was a tow truck guy whom we asked and he agreed with her. She then came up with another scenario: that when Chris put the fluid in, he forgot to have me pump the breaks to prevent air bubbles. So after thinking about what to do next, we noiced a leak trickling down the left frontal tir, and it was obvious to us at this time, that it wasn't air bubbles in the break lines...something definitely ruptured. So begrudgingly Chris drove the car home SLOWLY using only the e-break. 3:00-3:30 PM EST -- CHRIS'S
HOUSE Chris and I, fearing the worst, shuffled into the house. Chris called his Mom who advised him to call AAA, which he did. Chris then spent the next hour calling everyone he could think would help us...using every tactic in the book (including bribery). I then decided to give it a shot and called my mother who said that there was no way she, nor anyone we knew, would drive 2.5 hours down to Boxboro, drop us off, and then drive back. I tried my damndest with her, and it didn't work. Chris and I at this point had given up all hope that we would miss our FIRST Iron Maiden concert. With a heavy hand, I picked up the phone and called Nate's girlfriend's house to give him the news. Upon hearing the news, Nate issued the biggest sigh I have ever heard out of anyone and then proceeded to ask me several times if I was fucking joking. I assured him we were not...and silence issued between us for a good minute. Nate, then with a last ditch effort, came up with a last ditch plan to get us there! He said I should ask my Dad if he could drive us an hour down to the border of Maine, where Nate and his girlfriend would pick us up. I actually thought that this might work! So I called up my folks, and talked to me Dad who agreed! I politely asked him to get his fanny over to Chris's house ASAP. Chris and I with a new sense of reassurance, sat on his chouch. 4:45 PM EST DAD ARRIVES Dad arrives! Chris and I hurriedly pack up all our shit, run to the car, throw the stuff in and dive in ourselves. My dad then speeds out and proceeds down the highway at 80mph (the fastest that little Ford Escort could go!). A good two hours later, and a whole cherade of trying to find the fucking meeting place, we find Nate and his girlfriend. Chris and I are irate at this point, and Nate is in a similar position. So we pack up our shit in the family minivan, and then proceed to take off. After about a half an hour, we calmed down and started joking around, etc to ease the tension. After about an hour and a quarter, we make it to the Centrum! 8:00PM EST WE ARRIVE AT THE
CENTRUM We saw all kinds of people still coming in, so we didn't feel like the only schmucks getting their late. Despite missing Motorhead's set, we were ready to see the rest of Dio and Maiden. So we make it into the arena, JUST IN TIME to see Dio beginning their set! We were totally stoked! Dio's set started at 8:00 instead of 7:35 (or whenever it was supposed to be at). So we grabbed a few seats and watch the Dio set which was absolutely awesome. Simon Wright went off halfway through the set, on a 15-20 minute drum solo that was very satisfactory. At the end, he played along with some classic tune (its the song they play on the Fourth of July when the fireworks are going)...this was a great duet sort of thing with the drummer. I was quite impressed. I wont give you an entire set list, because I am not familiar with Dio songs, but I do believe they played Holy Diver, and their closing song was the one and only Heaven and Hell! It was great to hear this great Sabbath song in the flesh. It is one of my favorite vocal songs. It was quite pleasing to hear Dio live for the first time. After the Dio set, we went to get some food and all that jazz. Maiden's set started out with The Number of the Beast (including the voice in the beginning which everyone popped for). We sang along to this tune, and all the others (which I soon realized is half the fun of attending a Maiden concert). DUring the Number of the Beast, ther ewas this large 666 sign that blinked on and off whenever those words were uttered in the chorus (the sign is in the vain of the KISS light logo they always use). The set itself was cool. It had the standard ramps and catwalks that allowed Bruce to do his usual running around like a madman. Anyways, the stage had Eddy faces throughout the years from different albums, covering the floor and the actual construction which was cool to see. And throughout the songs, different humungous banners of Eddie dropped down to accompany different songs (The Trooper, The Clansman, etc). As for songs, the next son after Beast was The Trooper which made me go nuts. I was headbanging like a maniac, singing along, and doing the obligatory air guitar. Following this was Die With Your Boots On, Revalations and Hallowed Be Thy Name which were all great performances. Bruce would then go on to lambast somebody near the front who was smoking pot. Bruce said, "If you are going to smoke that shit, get the fuck outta here. I don't feel like falling half asleep while performing ya know!" He said this in a comical manner that made everyone laugh (he also said some other stuff which I don't remember), but it was obvious that he was serious. Bruce talked about how they were proud about the upcoming album, and asked how much albums were worth now in beers. Bruce held the mic down to a fan who said 4 beers and Bruce was like "4 FUCKING BEERS!" That was quite funny. Bruce then talked somemore about how they were proud of the album, and that they were going to play the new single, Wildest Dreams, from the new album. Heating this song live, I honesyl wasn't too thrilled with it. It seemed rather bland to Maiden's standards...but I guess I may have to give it a listen when it comes out. After playing Wildest Dreams, they played The Wickerman and Brave New World. Following these songs, Bruce lead us into the next song by talking about the Scotsman and how they were taken over by the English etc, and how William Wallace lead Scotland to freedom and his ensuing capture and death. Bruce then lead this in to the album once more by talking about the "freedom" to download music. He said alot of artists hate it when people download their music, but Iron Maiden is not like them! He said that if you really feel the album is not worth buying, then by all means: download it! "Iron Maiden is not like other bands that appear in Kerrang!...bands that start with "M"!" However, after this he said that IF you really do like the album, you should just pay for it, because it is the decent thing to do. Bruce then announced The Clansman in which the band began to play. After this they played Iron
Maiden, Fear of the Dark, and finally The Clairvoyant. Bruce said his
good-byes, and the band took off back stage. Obviously the crowd stayed
put and chanted Maiden. They eventually came out after a few minutes
and Bruce said, "Damn...everyone knows you have to have an encore!
Every band does it!" Overall, the concert was a blast and I am really blessed to have been able to make it there. Maiden Set: Number of the Beast Songs cut because of time limitations: 22 Acacia Aveenue
|