Written by:	omne metallum
Published:	July 10, 2023
Event:	Iron Maiden: The Future Past European Tour 2023
Location:	O2 Arena, London, United Kingdom

Time is relative or so they say, so by the time the day rolled around that I would get to see Iron Maiden take the stage at London O2 Arena on July 8th on their The Future Past tour, I had waited so long, yet it came around so quick all at the same time. One of the most anticipated tours of the year for yours truly was owing to the tour's focus on the surprisingly overlooked gem that is Somewhere In Time, an album that in recent years has been represented live solely by "Wasted Years". The chance to not only catch the mighty Maiden once more, but also to hear some rarities (more on that later) was something I couldn't pass up. So, ten years after the last time I had seen Eddie take to a stage, I once more ventured out to see the extravaganza that is an Iron Maiden live show.

The group of friends that I attended with decided that it would be fitting to visit The Cart And Horses prior to the show to see where it all began (that theme of time pops up again once more). The pub clearly knows what butters its bread, as it has been turned into a shrine dedicated towards Iron Maiden, with memorabilia-adorned walls and pretty much every beer the band have put their name to. It was quite the contrast to see the band's humble (read: small) beginnings in contrast to their larger-than-life present, though with one common thread, namely that both the pub and O2 were packed with Maiden fans. Playing host to the after-party after tonight's show, one-time Maiden member Doug Sampson would take to the stage with Airforce to keep the music flowing. Rumour has it, Bruce Dickinson was due to be in attendance, though whether it was the Bruce Dickinson or someone asking for more cowbell I don't know, for my train home prevented my attendance. Still, highly recommended for any fans of the band, if only because you want a convenient way to try several of the selections of the band's beers.

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The Raven Age (19:45-20:15)




Opening tonight's proceedings were The Raven Age, a band you may know from some of their music, or by the fact that they have Steve Harris' son among their ranks: who said nepotism is dead, eh? Still, I'm not averse to the band and I went in with a clear mind, though not after being reminded by a friend that I had seen them before (that memorable).

Still, the band were on good form, making the most of being on a stage much bigger than their usual fare (announcing UK tour dates of their own after their set, their London date is at a venue with not even 1/20 of the O2's capacity) and tried to engage an audience in far less intimate settings than usual. With a sound that put their sonic wares on good display, the band kicked into 2nd gear... and stayed in it throughout the whole set. It wasn't without its highlights, with new cuts from their latest (released the day before the show) album Blood Omen providing the majority of their highlights. "Forgive & Forget" was an early high point, while "Serpents Tongue" also caught the ear. Alas, much of the set passed by with little in the way to really get you excited and do more than pass the time until Iron Maiden took to the stage.

Matt James could use a bit more experience in front of large crowds, however, as he kept drawing from the "let me hear you London!" well far too often during the band's short set. Otherwise, The Raven Age did OK in the spot that, though not necessarily earned through merit, they found themselves in. The closing "Fleur De Lis" may not have many running to say they have heard their new favourite band, but at the very least, they have earned a spot on people's radars going forward. While I would have preferred to see Lord Of The Lost (who opened Friday's show), The Raven Age were an OK opener.

Iron Maiden (21:15-23:10)

Now, tonight was actually the band's second consecutive night at the O2 Arena, and after hearing that the band took to the stage at 21:00 after a ten-minute intro, the excitement grew minute by minute until 20:50 rolled around and... nothing. Almost trolling the audience, the screens on the side of the screen went off to big anticipatory cheers, before the lights went up and down to yet more cheers. After twenty minutes of nervous energy, "Doctor Doctor" kicked in and the crowd went wild, before "Blade Runner" blared out of the speakers and the light show kicked in. Modelled after the band's Somewhere On Tour, the retro vibe hit me squarely in the music fan area of my mind as I suddenly remembered seeing images of all the big names in their 70s and 80s primes (that I had to miss due to the minor disadvantage of not being born yet) with giant light shows that could afford no expense spared.




It was then that, after a flash of pyro, there they were, Iron Maiden yet again taking to the stage and kicking into "Caught Somewhere In Time". The crowd came to life like Ed Force One taking off, as the band thundered through a powerful rendition of the track. Segueing into "Stranger In A Strange Land", the band wasted no time in plunging into the Somewhere In Time part of the set, before, lo and behold, the first of three Eddies took to the stage. Modelled on the Eddie that adorned the single cover, Eddie shuffled around before returning backstage as the band continued onwards. It was after "Stranger In A Strange Land" that Dickinson spoke to the audience, explaining that they were late (time, in this case, was relatively certain they were late) onstage owing to a guitarist with the initials D.M. being late to the venue. I don't know what Dave Mustaine has to do with things, but dammit Mustaine, don't you have enough enemies already?




Even though the show barely over-ran, the band must have cut a lot of chatter to compensate, which must have meant Dickinson talked a hell of a lot the night before, as he seemed to talk for ages tonight. Speaking of whom, Dickinson belied his years and put on the kind of performance that anyone in their late 60s should be proud of. Sure, he can't hit all the high notes and does pull the microphone away to hide that he doesn't push himself beyond the choruses, but damn it was a strong showing. In fact, all of Maiden show that the years haven't got to them yet, with Gers in particular fond of raising his foot upon a tall speaker as if to prove his flexibility still. While they weren't running around like madmen, the band's live prowess is still there (for those who want a show, the band more than compensate in other ways).




While I'm not the biggest Senjutsu fan truth be told, I found myself gaining a newfound respect for some of the tracks after hearing them in a live setting, with "Death Of The Celts" in particular becoming a favourite. Iron Maiden also took the opportunity to delve into some deeper cuts, with "The Prisoner" making me throw horns and sing like a loon (one of my favourite tracks by the group), while "Can I Play With Madness" made a return after a surprise decade-long absence.




The biggest surprise of the night was the band finally deciding to give "Alexander The Great" an airing. Its surprise was twofold, one for the fact that Maiden have finally got around to playing it (and damn well at that), but also for the surprisingly muted response from the crowd. Given the fervour some have had to finally hear the track, its reception paled in comparison to "Fear Of The Dark" and "The Trooper" (with no red coat or flag), which both got thunderous applause (lending credence to my dream of a Fear Of The Dark-heavy tour; come on guys, do it, do it now!).




It was with the closing "Wasted Years" that the curtains drew to a close (as well as my hopes of hearing "Sea Of Madness" live) on tonight's show. Despite time being relative, the years are clearly catching up to the members of Maiden; while not impinging on the quality of the show, it does make one wonder how many chances we will get to see Eddie walk the boards. Still, tonight was a top show, and one that will likely resonate in my memory for years to come and rank among one of my Iron Maiden favourite shows I've seen by the band.