"Here's a little somethin' from a God to a slave. I never should have been let out the fuckin' microwave. I'm on this planet, I'm runnin' amuck, I should give a shit but I don't give a fuck."
These were originally released as a 2 CD set.
These were originally released as a 2 CD set.
Are They Really Live?
Yuh-huh! Overdubbed probably and stitched to together from different performances but whatever.
Where Were They Recorded?
Hoo-boy!. Let's say all over Europe; Copenhagen, Rome, Essen Germany, Lausanne Switzerland, Moscow, somewhere in Holland, Paris, Brussels, Stockholm, Donington Monsters o' rock, at least 6 from Helsinki Finland.
What are the Details? (CD 1)
These two records are from the period around 1992. Bruce Dickson had announced he was leaving the band after a massive European tour supporting the "Fear of The Dark," album. It was the first official maiden live recording since "Live After Death," but then, curiously followed immediately by "Live at Donington," which included many of the same songs.
The way the songs are pieced together makes it sound a bit off, with Bruce starting out saying "Scream for me, Helsinki," then speaking French, then saying "good night, Moscow."
The way the songs are pieced together makes it sound a bit off, with Bruce starting out saying "Scream for me, Helsinki," then speaking French, then saying "good night, Moscow."
"Live One," consists of songs from the period post-"Powerslave," (1985-1992)
You get "Tailgunner," and "Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter," from "No Prayer For The Dying,"
Five from "Fear of The Dark," the decent "Be Quick or Be Dead," and the uh .... sort of whatever ... "Afraid To Shoot Strangers," and "From Here the Eternity," as well as the ballad "Wasting Love." The title track is amazing, with the live crowd absolutely making the whole song with their participation, chanting along like a soccer crowd. It'll give you goosebumps.
From "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son," the overly slick "Can I Play With Madness," the so-so "The Clairvoyant," and "The Evil That Men Do," (my favorite track from that particular album.)
"Heaven Can Wait," is the lone offering from "Somewhere In Time," featuring another awesome crowd sing-a-long in the middle, which is the reason they play it live, "The band sounds a lot fresher playing these (at the time) newer songs. The quality of the material is a big step down and, really, 1990-1992 isn't an era I'd prefer to concentrate on for Maiden. It's still interesting to hear a couple of live tracks that disappeared relatively quickly from the set list.
The Set:
1. Be Quick Or Be Dead
2. From Here To Eternity
3. Can I Play With Madness
4. Wasting Love
5. Tail Gunner
6. The Evil That Men Do
7. Afraid To Shoot Strangers
8. Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter
9. Heaven Can Wait
10. The Clairvoyant
11. Fear Of The Dark
"Heaven Can Wait," is the lone offering from "Somewhere In Time," featuring another awesome crowd sing-a-long in the middle, which is the reason they play it live, "The band sounds a lot fresher playing these (at the time) newer songs. The quality of the material is a big step down and, really, 1990-1992 isn't an era I'd prefer to concentrate on for Maiden. It's still interesting to hear a couple of live tracks that disappeared relatively quickly from the set list.
The Set:
1. Be Quick Or Be Dead
2. From Here To Eternity
3. Can I Play With Madness
4. Wasting Love
5. Tail Gunner
6. The Evil That Men Do
7. Afraid To Shoot Strangers
8. Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter
9. Heaven Can Wait
10. The Clairvoyant
11. Fear Of The Dark
What are the Details? (CD2)
For a band as committed to filling the majority of their sets with material from the album they're touring to support, rather than greatest hits packages, they are pretty rigid about playing the same 5 songs at every concert until the end of time "The Trooper," "Number of The Beast," "Hallowed Be Thy Name," and "Iron Maiden," often in that order. This record includes those and a couple of less favored tracks from the Paul Di'Anno era
"Number of The Beast," has an especially hot crowd reaction, as with the chants of "maiden!maiden!" finishing off the final track. As Wesley Willis might have said "The crowd roared like a lion. It whipped a spider monkey's ass."
This record has a number of things going against it; the mundane-ness of the song-selection for one and also somewhat sluggish performances, since many of these tunes are saved for the end of long-sets full of running, jumping and shrieking. It is natural that Bruce sounds a bit out of breath during "Hallowed Be Thy Name," and the band in general sounds not as fresh as they would have earlier in the night.
This record has a number of things going against it; the mundane-ness of the song-selection for one and also somewhat sluggish performances, since many of these tunes are saved for the end of long-sets full of running, jumping and shrieking. It is natural that Bruce sounds a bit out of breath during "Hallowed Be Thy Name," and the band in general sounds not as fresh as they would have earlier in the night.
Secondly, Bruce's renditions of Di'Anno's songs has been a bit lackluster. "Sanctuary," doesn't sound very good and there should be a court injunction against him ever playing "Remember Tomorrow."He pulls off "Prowler," pretty well.
Likewise, most who consider themselves "real," Iron Maiden fans object Janick Gers' re-interpretation of Adrian Smith's solos. Gers' style is more noisy off the cuff and he often plays whatever the hell he feels like instead of Smith's more melodic composed style. He noticeably screws up leads on "2 Minutes To Midnight," (the rhythm as well) and "Where Eageles Dare."
Likewise, most who consider themselves "real," Iron Maiden fans object Janick Gers' re-interpretation of Adrian Smith's solos. Gers' style is more noisy off the cuff and he often plays whatever the hell he feels like instead of Smith's more melodic composed style. He noticeably screws up leads on "2 Minutes To Midnight," (the rhythm as well) and "Where Eageles Dare."
Due to the staggering number of live maiden recordings and live albums, in general, I wouldn't put any of these versions on a "must have list." The "Live/Dead," concept is an interesting idea but the presentation doesn't make either album especially satisfying.
The Set:
The Set:
1. Number of the Beast
2. The Trooper
3. Prowler
4. Transylvania
5. Remember Tomorrow
6. Where Eagles Dare
7. Sanctuary
8. Running Free
9. Run to the Hills
10. 2 Minutes to Midnight
11. Iron Maiden
12. Hallowed Be Thy Name
