The following is an expert from the diary I posted on the IMOC board.
February 18, 2008
The afternoon was spent having a few beers, talking to other fans, an organizing the items for the Clive Aid auction later that night at the Key Club. I contributed IMFC mags 12 and 26, a Killers belt buckle, ‘Give Me Ed… Til I’m Dead’ European pre-tour shirt, and an AMOLAD Hot Topic T-shirt. There were many other cool items that others contributed as well. I think it was around 7 PM when people started leaving to make journey up to Hollywood and the Key Club for the Iron Maidens show.
Jason, me, Khan, Dave, and John Hunter followed Kristy and her gang all the way there… thanks for leading the way Kristy! The doors opened at 8:30 and security said ‘No cameras”… pissed me off… especially when many people inside had them and they didn’t seem to care. This guy was told to jump in line right behind me… I looked… recognized him… right when a security guy asked for his name on guest list I said “Sam Dunn!”… shook his hand and said hello. Jason and I went straight to front of the stage and stood there until the 10 PM start time. We were on right side in front of Wanda and Heather. The infamous DTT and his wife showed up… many fans did… it was a really good turnout for the Maidens (remember they were the opening act for Metal Skool).
Wanda’s set list was taped to the stage right in front of where we were standing (and now it’s mine signed by the whole band), so I could see the set list before hand and was excited to see Alexander The Great on it! The Maidens came on at 10 PM and opened with Different World. The blast from a fire extinguisher at the start, and several more times during show, was the only complaint I have… it gets all over your clothes, skin, and isn’t safe to breath. The rest of the props were cool and the Eddies and Edwina they use are awesome… better than some the real Iron Maiden have used. The full set list was Different World, Die With Your Boots On, Killers, Wasted Years, The Trooper, Ides Of March/Wrathchild, Alexander The Great, Number Of The Beast, Children Of The Damned, Phantom Of The Opera, 22 Acacia Avenue, and Run To The Hills.
The sound wasn’t the best, upfront anyway, but I was impressed and thought the ladies did a great job. I’ve had their CDs since whenever they came out, but this was my first time seeing them live. The ladies are all very talented, energetic, and appreciative of their fans, and of Iron Maiden, not surprising for a tribute band, huh?
Linda laid down a solid beat (and also used only the second Powerslave ride cymbal out publicly yet); Wanda did a fantastic ‘shy’ version of Steve Harris; Sara reeled off some awesome Dave solos and seems to be the crazy one onstage; Aja can really belt it out, although the vocals were a little lost up front; and Heather, well, she was the more active one in front of me, so I paid more attention, and she was awesome in every way… her playing in Alexander The Great blew me away… she nailed the whole middle part and solos that Adrian himself claims he can’t remember how to play! Heather also decided toward the end to just jump into the crowd… that was a shocker… I helped hold her up with a few others, getting tangled in her lead or wireless cable, then gave a big final push towards the stage watching her head when it stared angling down again. Wow! This may sound weird, but it was one of the coolest rock and roll moments I’ve ever seen, it was just so unexpected! Heather would later write “Thank you 4 saving my life!” when she signed my 8x10.
Jason and I headed downstairs after the show to where the meet and greet was going to be and on the way I bumped into my friend Chris (maidenmemad) and chatted for a couple minutes. The room downstairs was packed with people by the time we got there, smelled like a gym locker room, and the ladies were already down their meeting fans. Sam Dunn was also there talking with people. I was desperately trying to find Kristy who had my CD and DVDs I wanted signed in her purse… in the meantime I bought a color 8x10 they were selling.
It took a long time because there were so many people and the ladies were doing shots between signings, but one by one I met them all and got everything (both CDs, set list, and 8x10) signed in the end. I also got photos with each of the ladies thank to Dion... huge thanks for that. I spent some time chatting with each of them and found them all to be very friendly, down to earth, and truly appreciative of their fans, much like the real Iron Maiden. I loved Heather’s hat too… OK... I admit it… I have a crush on Heather now.
Thanks for a great evening, ladies, for being so cool, and taking the time to sign all my stuff and take photos.
February 19, 2008
I also saw Aja and Linda from the Iron Maidens again after the show by the merch booth and, sadly, Linda missed most of the show after losing her purse and ticket, hopefully she can make the Irvine shows. I heard Wanda was there too, but I didn’t talk to her, and I scanned the immediate area for Heather to no avail.
Aja - I was going to exchange your shirt for a small, but when I finally got to the front you were gone.
I can't wait to see you all again and wish I lived closer to west coast or that you play closer to me.
February 18, 2008
The afternoon was spent having a few beers, talking to other fans, an organizing the items for the Clive Aid auction later that night at the Key Club. I contributed IMFC mags 12 and 26, a Killers belt buckle, ‘Give Me Ed… Til I’m Dead’ European pre-tour shirt, and an AMOLAD Hot Topic T-shirt. There were many other cool items that others contributed as well. I think it was around 7 PM when people started leaving to make journey up to Hollywood and the Key Club for the Iron Maidens show.
Jason, me, Khan, Dave, and John Hunter followed Kristy and her gang all the way there… thanks for leading the way Kristy! The doors opened at 8:30 and security said ‘No cameras”… pissed me off… especially when many people inside had them and they didn’t seem to care. This guy was told to jump in line right behind me… I looked… recognized him… right when a security guy asked for his name on guest list I said “Sam Dunn!”… shook his hand and said hello. Jason and I went straight to front of the stage and stood there until the 10 PM start time. We were on right side in front of Wanda and Heather. The infamous DTT and his wife showed up… many fans did… it was a really good turnout for the Maidens (remember they were the opening act for Metal Skool).
Wanda’s set list was taped to the stage right in front of where we were standing (and now it’s mine signed by the whole band), so I could see the set list before hand and was excited to see Alexander The Great on it! The Maidens came on at 10 PM and opened with Different World. The blast from a fire extinguisher at the start, and several more times during show, was the only complaint I have… it gets all over your clothes, skin, and isn’t safe to breath. The rest of the props were cool and the Eddies and Edwina they use are awesome… better than some the real Iron Maiden have used. The full set list was Different World, Die With Your Boots On, Killers, Wasted Years, The Trooper, Ides Of March/Wrathchild, Alexander The Great, Number Of The Beast, Children Of The Damned, Phantom Of The Opera, 22 Acacia Avenue, and Run To The Hills.
The sound wasn’t the best, upfront anyway, but I was impressed and thought the ladies did a great job. I’ve had their CDs since whenever they came out, but this was my first time seeing them live. The ladies are all very talented, energetic, and appreciative of their fans, and of Iron Maiden, not surprising for a tribute band, huh?
Linda laid down a solid beat (and also used only the second Powerslave ride cymbal out publicly yet); Wanda did a fantastic ‘shy’ version of Steve Harris; Sara reeled off some awesome Dave solos and seems to be the crazy one onstage; Aja can really belt it out, although the vocals were a little lost up front; and Heather, well, she was the more active one in front of me, so I paid more attention, and she was awesome in every way… her playing in Alexander The Great blew me away… she nailed the whole middle part and solos that Adrian himself claims he can’t remember how to play! Heather also decided toward the end to just jump into the crowd… that was a shocker… I helped hold her up with a few others, getting tangled in her lead or wireless cable, then gave a big final push towards the stage watching her head when it stared angling down again. Wow! This may sound weird, but it was one of the coolest rock and roll moments I’ve ever seen, it was just so unexpected! Heather would later write “Thank you 4 saving my life!” when she signed my 8x10.
Jason and I headed downstairs after the show to where the meet and greet was going to be and on the way I bumped into my friend Chris (maidenmemad) and chatted for a couple minutes. The room downstairs was packed with people by the time we got there, smelled like a gym locker room, and the ladies were already down their meeting fans. Sam Dunn was also there talking with people. I was desperately trying to find Kristy who had my CD and DVDs I wanted signed in her purse… in the meantime I bought a color 8x10 they were selling.
It took a long time because there were so many people and the ladies were doing shots between signings, but one by one I met them all and got everything (both CDs, set list, and 8x10) signed in the end. I also got photos with each of the ladies thank to Dion... huge thanks for that. I spent some time chatting with each of them and found them all to be very friendly, down to earth, and truly appreciative of their fans, much like the real Iron Maiden. I loved Heather’s hat too… OK... I admit it… I have a crush on Heather now.
Thanks for a great evening, ladies, for being so cool, and taking the time to sign all my stuff and take photos.
February 19, 2008
I also saw Aja and Linda from the Iron Maidens again after the show by the merch booth and, sadly, Linda missed most of the show after losing her purse and ticket, hopefully she can make the Irvine shows. I heard Wanda was there too, but I didn’t talk to her, and I scanned the immediate area for Heather to no avail.
Aja - I was going to exchange your shirt for a small, but when I finally got to the front you were gone.
I can't wait to see you all again and wish I lived closer to west coast or that you play closer to me.
