The early years of the nineties saw Iron Maiden go through
some changes. Guitarist Adrian Smith left the band and Bruce Dickinson recorded
his first solo album. Janick Gers, who played with Dickinson on first solo
album “Tattooed Millionaire”, replaced Smith and then Maiden soldiered on until
the end of Dickinson’s tenure. This culminated in an event broadcast on MTV in
North America and on pay-per-view in Britain as Iron Maiden played their last
concert with their famed singer. However, this was more than just a concert as
illusionist Simon Drake shared a stage with band performing ridiculous magic
tricks. It all adds up to some very cheesy and crazy moments, but it’s very fun
to watch.
The set list consists of 17 tracks covering all Maiden’s
career up to that point. Other than taking in the band’s performance, Drake
pulls some shenanigans during some of the songs. The most ridiculous and
comical trick is during “From Here to Eternity.” Drake’s assistants kidnap Dave
Murray and then Drake proceeds to cut off Murray’s hands. When it came time for
the solo in the song, Drake walks with the hands onto the main stage with
Murray’s guitar and plays the solo with his hands. It’s so cheesy, but it’s
awesome.
This Drake character is something else. He is dressed in a
leather jacket with a tough guy shirt on and his hair is a perfect do. He
reminded of the Andrew “Dice” Clay minus the sunglasses. The facial expressions
he makes are humorous as well as his horror magic tricks. He tortures some
members of the audience who anger him. The neatest trick is when he grabs a member of the audience, puts a sack over his head and cuts if off. The devious Drake then proceeds to toss the head to his assistants and play soccer with it. To finish the trick off, he grabs a mannequin's head and draws a clown face on it. He then puts the head in the sack and on the beheaded victim and then voila, the guy has his head back, but with a clown face on it. It sounds a bit silly, but it's sweet seeing it.
With the band itself, most of the Maiden classics are
present like “The Trooper”, “Hallowed Be Thy Name”, “Fear of the Dark”, and “Number
of the Beast.” It was especially menacing when Dickinson began “Hallowed Be Thy
Name” singing on a part of the stage with a hangman’s noose. It was a nice
touch and I give much credit for singing a tough song flawlessly.
Some Maiden bites that are not heard that often like the
instrumental “Transylvania” and “Bring Your Daughter…To the Slaughter” were a
joy to hear, especially the gliding tones of “Transylvania.” I don’t think
there is any way the band would want to play “Bring Your Daughter…” live today.
“Be Quick or Be Dead” was busted out as the show opener and the aggression is
still in place in the live setting. It’s is a really underrated song too;
Maiden needs to dust off in the near future.
The last part of the concert is when the cheesiness is taken
to another level. Iron Maiden finishes with the song that bears its namesake
and as they are taking their final bows, Drake kidnaps Dickinson. Drake then
puts Dickinson in an “iron maiden” and kills him! Eddie comes out with a sword
and chops off his head and puts it on a spike right next to Paul Di’Anno’s
dome. It’s very ridiculous, but it happens except the part about Di’Anno’s
head.
The only improvement this special event needed is the sound.
The vocals are way too low in the mix for the first few songs and the guitars
are way too loud. There were some parts where I could barely hear Dickinson
sing and that was frustrating.
“Raising Hell” showcases Iron Maiden at a time of change and
at a volatile point of the band’s history. Dickinson sums up it perfectly at
the end of the show when he tells the crowd “Well, we’ll see you sometime.” Drake’s
horror magic tricks are good for a laugh and some of it is way over the top,
but in the end its magic and Iron Maiden. I would definitely watch that on
pay-per-view.
