Post your favorite photo or story about Aja or Heather you have :)

[Maiden Afganistan]

Originally Posted by A7

That's an awesome shot, dude.

Did you see the pic of Sara dressed as a nurse?HOLY SHIT!! I know she was a teacher, which is hot as well, but if she ever decides to get into the medical field, I'M GETTING HURT!!!

[MattDouglas]

Originally Posted by Maiden Afganistan

Nobody else has a favorite moment or pictures to share? Brian? Red Shirt? Dennis? Matt? Danny? Chris? Jeff? Jeff, you should have about 106ish! lol!

Of course I have Aja and Heather stories to share

I'm in Idaho (I return to VA tomorrow), and finally got the wireless working.

Favorite Heather moment:
Coach House July 28th 2007. It was 2 days after my birthday. My party was the day before. Almost everyone I invited stood me up. So when I walked into the coach house I was feeling rathed bummed (nothin like the Maidens to cheer you up). What I remember most wasn't the show, though it was a damn good one, but afterwards, as usual, I waited around to talk to everyone, letting the new eager fans go first. While hanging with everyone, I ended up a a rather lengthy conversation with Aja. After chatting for a while Heather interupted (she'd been standing near us silent for a few minutes), and said she had to go, but wanted to say hi to me before she left and gave me a big hug. I was thrilled! Here I was, one night before many so-called friends had stood me up on my birthday, and here was Heather who was in a situation where normally people wait for their chance to talk to her, and she waits around just to talk to me a little bit just because I had been a supportive fan.

Favorite Aja moment:
Please read this whole thing as it's gonna sound really creepy if you only read the first part. There's backstory which is essential to understanding why this was such a significant moment for me.
It was at the Second Wind in Santee (i believe in April 2007). During Run to the Hills, Aja looks me right in the eyes on the "raping the women and wasting the men" line. Yezs, I know this sounds fucked up, but here's the backstory. About 10 months previous, I was out singing karaoke. Me and some friends decided to try this new place that had just opened. I statred out with Run to the Hills. I was cut off in the middle of the song, no explanation from the host. A couple minutes later I was approached by one someone who worked there (whether it was the manager or the bouncer I have no idea). He said he "didn't fuckin appreciate me singing that song". I asked why. He said I was encouraging rape, and how could I do that, especially with women in the place. I was rather stupified. I know the song is portraying that and all the other atrocities the white man did to the red man as atrocities. I could see there were women in the place rocking out, who obviously didn't take the song the way this guy was. But despite all that I was making myself feel particularly shitty over the fact that someone thought I was encouraging rape. So when Aja, who is half my size, was able to look me in the eyes when singing about such a dark and gruesome subject, I imagine she must have some pretty large trust in me and must see me as an okay guy. I told her the backstory and thanked her profusely for it a little while later, and she said she was really happy to know that her performance had a healing effect on someone.

[darthrya]

I really don't have a favorite story about Aja (or Heather, who I, regrettably, hardly knew). I just know her for making me and my wife feel like we were always special guests to the shows. What's really amazing about it is that she's done that with a lot of her fans.

[Jeff Milne]

For my 80th show Aja had me briefly come on stage and mentioned it. That was nice, but nobody seemed to hear her correctly. As I was walking back to my car somebody congratulated me on my 100th show and the next day somebody emailed me to congratulate me on my 88th show.

At Aja's 2nd to last Canes show, a drunken idiot was next to me in the front row and started pre-heckling Aja before the show began. He kept saying "Can you sing?" and "Can you really sing?". She was kind enough about it, but I finally yelled "Yes, she can! Shut up and enjoy it!" But instead of doing so, he said he needed more beer and left his prime spot. I never saw him again, no big loss.

It usually takes a new member 6 to 8 shows to look at me in the front row and display any hint of recognition, but with Heather it took 10. The 15th time I saw her, she was meeting somebody to buy Maiden tickets for the Forum show. She somehow mistakenly thought I was the person she was buying them from and someone else present rather bluntly corrected her error, perhaps causing some embarrassment. She never forgot who I was after that and usually gave me a hug or half hug after each show.

When Phil Campbell took Heather's place on the Trooper at the last McMurphy's show, she came into the audience and seemed to be doing an impression of a rabid MaidenS fan. She had a beer in one hand, was shouting loudly and kept bumping into me from behind. I thought it was funny.

I'll miss them both and hope their (figuratively) big shoes are well filled in the upcoming 6th lineup.

[A7]

Originally Posted by Jeff Milne

When Phil Campbell took Heather's place on the Trooper at the last McMurphy's show, she came into the audience and seemed to be doing an impression of a rabid MaidenS fan. She had a beer in one hand, was shouting loudly and kept bumping into me from behind. I thought it was funny.

Yeah, I remember that. She was bumping me too.

[BRIAN MAIDEN]

I liked the time, a short while ago, when the Maidens were playing the Galaxy Theater. During that long instrumental break in the middle of "Alexander The Great", Aja disappeared from the stage. She later reappeared high up on a balcony just in time to finish the song! With the spotlight right on her, as she was belting out the lyrics, she sure seemed to embody the spirit of Bruce Dickinson!

[Maiden Afganistan]

Another favorite Heather moment is when she would ride on Chris' or Mark's shoulders during Sanctuary. Whenever they would run by the merch table she would always give me a high five while still playing - NICE!

[Metallicat180]

Originally Posted by BRIAN MAIDEN

I liked the time, a short while ago, when the Maidens were playing the Galaxy Theater. During that long instrumental break in the middle of "Alexander The Great", Aja disappeared from the stage. She later reappeared high up on a balcony just in time to finish the song! With the spotlight right on her, as she was belting out the lyrics, she sure seemed to embody the spirit of Bruce Dickinson!

I've seen a video of that. It was VERY cool!!! I liked Heather during that bit to cos she was singing along to the "Marching on!" bit and pointing up at Aja.

[Maiden Afganistan]

Originally Posted by BRIAN MAIDEN

I liked the time, a short while ago, when the Maidens were playing the Galaxy Theater. During that long instrumental break in the middle of "Alexander The Great", Aja disappeared from the stage. She later reappeared high up on a balcony just in time to finish the song! With the spotlight right on her, as she was belting out the lyrics, she sure seemed to embody the spirit of Bruce Dickinson!

I was right there on the balcony! Aja saw me, flashed her trade mark smile, gave me a wink then ROCKED IT! That was the first show I saw with Heather in the lineup as well. Got to meet her parents there.

[A7]

Over the past two weeks, I pondered on what was to become of me as a fan. Like many of you, I had my moments of fear, doubt and depression over losing not only members of a favorite band, but also people we looked up to as close friends. Then I looked back at my PM Inbox, remembering what I had told Aja, Heather, Sara, Wanda and Linda months before - that I would continue to support them until the end of time.

And then there was this one time, at Band Camp, I received an email from Aja. She thanked me for continuing to support her in her endeavors. It's amazing how something good can come out of a situation of grievance. My friendship with Aja has actually strengthened ten-fold this whole week. Before, I would just commend her on the performances I've seen; but now, we talk more frequently, sharing thoughts and ideas on various fields of music.

I'll be receiving my signed and dedicated copy of Modern Babylon later this week. And I look forward to seeing Aja, Heather and the Maidens once again.