3/15/08: What a night last night at the Meadowlands for Iron Maiden's second US show on the Somewhere Back In Time Tour. I arrived at the show around 4PM, checked out the stage and walked around the venue a bit before doors opened. Hung out for a bit with Maiden's manager Rod Smallwood and that's always fun. I've known Rod many years and I appreciate greatly the fact that he acknowledges my long time support of the band and rewards me with some cool opportunities for me and my audience. Trust me, after 25 years you'd think this would be easier for me than it is, but Rod is a no BS guy and does good things for the people he knows truly support Maiden and cuts through all the politics and crap! It was a crowded scene backstage and the band members started showing up at the gig around 5. Saw all of the guys and got a big hug from my bud Nicko who is always a trip! In the dressing room I recorded an interview with Bruce that I will air on both XM and the syndicated FM show. He talked about the just announced new shows, the tour, the plane, his solo stuff, whats next for the band, and more. After we recorded the radio interview we moved to another room where I shot a TV interview for MSG. This will air this Tuesday and Wednesday in the show MSG,NY. It will feature my interview and footage from the show as well. The one theme from both interviews that I got from talking to Bruce is that he and the band do NOT want to be viewed as nostalgia and this is not some sort of make good for the last tour when they played the entire new CD at the time. He says this is all part of a plan the band has had since he rejoined and he embraces the bands young fans and looks at this tour as a way to introduce the old music to them more then anything. I really get the sense that although Maiden love the US fans, they are also a little bitter that here they are more known for the past and don't get the same exposure for their new music. Globally they are regulars on radio with new music, here they are not, and I really think it annoys them as to how they are viewed here. They also do even bigger numbers live outside of the US. So although they love to play here and love the fans they have, it's just a whole new level outside of the US, which probably explains why touring here is not that extensive as it used to be. Bruce also noted that they are all getting older and need more rest and need to spread out the dates to deliver great shows (he joked about how Nicko will be 75 when they are 60!). He also said his favorite song in this tour is Ryme Of The Ancient Mariner. You will hear the interviews on the radio shows and be sure to watch MSG Tuesday night 3/18 or Wed AM 3/19 and the show MSG,NY for my interview on the TV side. It repeats often.
After my Maiden interviews were done, it was my turn to be interviewed. Sam Dunn who did the Headbangers Journey film is on the road doing a new doc on Maiden. Look for it end of the year and I did a long interview for the movie about Maiden and my 25 years of playing them on the radio. Should be a cool film as Sam and his crew do great work and they have full access with the band and tour. By the way, after Maiden they told me the next film subject they will do is Rush!
Around this time backstage started to fill up with guests and all the band were hanging around. Opening the show was Lauren Harris, Steve's daughter. She did a 30 minute set that went over OK (not easy to be a female fronted rock band in front of a Maiden crowd). She won me over right away when she opened her set with a cover of UFO's "Natural Thing"! After her set I chatted with her for a bit. Really nice girl who is happy doing rock and just finished her first CD. I told her of my love of UFO and she said she also loved the band because growing up she heard her Dad playing it so much. Cool!!
I then had the INCREDIBLE honor to go ON STAGE in front of a sold out Meadowlands to intro Iron Maiden and address the crowd. This happened about 10 minutes before Maiden came on and it felt incredible to look out into that crowd and get everyone chanting "Maiden,,Maiden,,,Maiden". I thank you all for giving me such a warm welcome when I was on stage, and also while I walked around the arena. Again, my thanks to the management and Maiden for this awesome opportunity! I came off stage and watched the show from the floor. UFO's Doctor Doctor came over the PA, as always with Maiden when they come out, (2 UFO songs in one night!!!) and they kicked into Ace's High. The band was unreal and so was the set list. Revelations was a highlight for me, as was Wasted Years. My only knit pick was that I would have liked different songs than Moonchild and Clarevoyant for encores, although ending with Hallowed Be Thy Name was classic. Would have also liked more than just "Iron Maiden" as the only song from the first two CDs, but I get the era they were going for. Bruce sang really well and the crowd was just great. Not an empty seat anywhere. Then I went on stage with all my contest winners to sing Heaven Can Wait. So cool and there will be a photo on Maidens site soon of this. Just a great night. I'll see you all at PNC and MSG in June and have plenty of tickets and more cool opportunities with the band in the coming weeks, plus of course free tickets, from your ONLY Maiden radio source in the NY area for 25 years and proud to be! Thanks to all, it was a great night for metal and me personally.
