The Legacy Continues:Iron Maiden Slays In Greensboro
The Legacy of the Beast World Tour Keeps Metal Alive For The Masses
“Woe to you, oh earth and sea
For the Devil sends the beast with wrath
Because he knows the time is short
Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast
For it is a human number
Its number is six hundred and sixty-six…”
When “The Number of the Beast” was released in 1982, the spoken word introduction of the song would forever come to symbolize Iron Maiden to a new generation of metal fans and for generations of metal fans to come. The album of the same name would put the already popular English metal band on a path to metal superstardom, establishing a rabid fan base around the world the likes we have never seen before. Decades later, Iron Maiden continues to produce top-notch music, selling out arenas everywhere they go. Indeed, the band has such a reputation for selling out shows that a popular meme circulated here in the United States comparing political rally turnout to an Iron Maiden show.
Maiden is currently out on the road bringing The Legacy of the Beast World Tour 2022 to cities around the U.S. and Shutter 16 was able to catch the show at the Greensboro Coliseum this past Tuesday and check out the metal legends in action.
Opening up the show was the Dutch metal band Within Temptation. This was my first time catching them live so I was eager to see what kind of energy they would bring. Led by the exquisite vocals of Sharon den Adel, the band’s sound lends to the symphonic metal side of things but with some gothic metal influences as well. The band took to the stage amidst a bevy of red lights and strobes, kicking off their set with “The Reckoning” from their 2019 album Resist. The blistering guitars of Robert Westerholt and Ruud Jolie were nicely contrasted with the lush keyboards of Martijn Spierenburg creating a truly unique sonic experience. Vocally, den Adel is quite the powerhouse, soaring throughout the capacity crowd in attendance. Although the band has been around since 1997, their music is still fairly new to many here in the U.S. and it was refreshing to hear something a bit different. If you’re headed to a Maiden show, be sure and get there early enough to check out Within Temptation’s set.
Soon it was time for the main event. As a taped intro of UFO’s “Doctor, Doctor” played, everyone rose to their feet and sang along as we knew something epic was about to occur.
“Beat the warning, the sound of the drums
Set the beacons afire for them all
Call to arms all the men, far and wide
Have to fight now for dynasty, pride at stake…”
The stage lights are dark, with spots solely shining down on drummer Nicko McBrain’s kit as he takes his spot behind the massive drums. Surrounding the kit are giant versions of Japanese pagodas setting the scenery for the first three songs which are all from the band’s 2021 release Senjutsu. The band members appear kicking off into the title track as lead singer Bruce Dickinson makes an appearance in a Samurai outfit, haired tucked up neatly into a bun, Samurai-style. The crowd is screaming, fists are in the air and we are off on a wonderful journey together as one. It is here that we have our first appearance of the official and much beloved Iron Maiden mascot, Eddie. This time Eddie is in a full metal Samurai costume and engages in swordplay with the other band members. It’s a thrilling opening with another two songs from the Senjutsu album yet things have only just started to heat up.
“Oh, God of Earth and Altar
Bow down and hear our cry
Our earthly rulers falter
Our people drift and die
The walls of gold entomb us
The swords of scorn divide
Take not thy thunder from us
Take away our pride”…
The stage now becomes a cathedral of sorts with stained glass windows as a backdrop and four giant chandeliers hanging from above as we enter the next segment with “Revelations.” This is the point in the show where things really get taken to another level. The band is on fire. The triple-guitar attack of Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers is like no other. They feed off each other, trading licks and leads throughout the performance while the masterful basslines of bass guitarist and songwriter premier Steve Harris hold it all together. Dickinson sounds in top form and gets the crowd going with a venue-wide chant during “Blood Brothers.”
“The sign of the cross
The name of the rose
A fire in the sky
The sign of the cross…”
The backdrop changes again to feature what appears to be a tormented soul above the flames as copious amounts of low-level fog billow out across the stage creating a spooky, mystical scene for “Sign of the Cross.” The choral chanting begins before the guitars kick in as the audience claps in unison. The eerie vocals of Dickinson begin and he appears in a hooded robe. This is the first point in the show that massive amounts of flames appear at the rear of the stage, further creating that sinister atmosphere that is a perfect companion to the music. Toward the end of the song, Bruce grabs a giant cross as he runs from one side of the stage to the other before the cross lights up and he holds it up high, fireworks go off from above and Bruce returns to the top of the rear platform of the stage, head covered in the hooded robe, bowing his head down to the cross in front of him. Now, my friends, this is a metal show!
“Now the crowd breaks and a young boy appears
Looks the old man in the eye
As he spreads his wings and shouts at the crowd
In the name of God, my father I’ll fly…”
Next up we have a giant Icarus at the rear of the stage as the smoke continues to billow out and the venue is going wild because we know “Flight of Icarus” is about to happen. Dickinson is once again on the rear platform of the stage, this time with a backpack flamethrower. As the band jams, Bruce runs to the top riser on each side of the stage to shoot flames at the audience in spectacular fashion. As the song ends, massive flames shoot down from the top of the lighting rig to the top of the Icarus. At this point of the show, one can only wonder what will Maiden do next. Well, something cool is in store of course. As “Fear of The Dark” begins, Bruce is dressed in a plaque doctor outfit, carrying a green lantern that he swings around shining like a beacon in the dark as the crowd sings along pumping fists in the air.
“I’m waiting in my cold cell when the bell begins to chime
Reflecting on my past life and it doesn’t have much time
‘Cause at 5 o’clock, they take me to the Gallows Pole
The sands of time for me are running low…”
The audience begins clapping along with the band as Dickinson appears in a small jail cell for the haunting live version of “Hallowed Be Thy Name.” As the song builds in intensity, a hangman’s noose is dropped down for Bruce to grab onto and guitarist Janick Gers takes a spot at the front of the stage, cranking out the leads on his guitar as he twists and shimmies, launching his guitar cord in the air.
“Six six six, the number of the beast
Hell and fire was spawned to be released…”
Now, we get to the most metal part of the evening as the stage goes dark with the exception of some red lights amidst the fog as the spoken words of “The Number of the Beast” hold everyone in anticipation. Once the first verse begins, the stage lights up and giant flame pots are lit up at the rear of the stage for this Iron Maiden classic. Fans are going wild and the band is feeding off of their energy as everyone shouts along “Six, six, six, the number of the beast” horns held high in the air. After this amazing spectacle, a giant horned beast inflated at the rear of the stage, and Bruce yelled “Scream for me Greensboro!” as the band closed out their regular set with the title track from their 1980 debut album Iron Maiden showing everyone why Iron Maiden is the best.
As the stage went dark, cellphones lit up the venue as we waited for our metal heroes to return, and return they did!
“The bugle sounds, the charge begins
But on this battlefield, no one wins
The smell of acrid smoke and horses’ breath
As I plunge on into certain death…”
With the crashing of Nicko’s cymbals and pounding of his drums, Harris, Murray, Smith, and Gers let it rip right in front of his kit before running to their places on stage for “The Trooper.” The backdrop changed yet again to the iconic Redcoat version of Eddie as Dickinson appeared in his own Redcoat uniform waving the Union Jack from high atop the rear platform of the stage. The guitars were searing as Eddie made his second appearance of the evening. Dressed in of course the Redcoat uniform with a backpack fogger on his back and a sword in his hand, he engaged Dickinson in a sword fight as the band played. Another colossal performance from Maiden! And it wasn’t over yet! Next, we were introduced by Bruce to the Scottish freedom song “The Clansman” during which he had the audience shouting out “Freedom! Freedom!” before closing out their encore with one of their most famous songs, the rousing “Run To The Hills,” which is also one of my personal favorites. At the end of the song, Bruce ran back to the rear platform again where a giant TNT box was set up. Pushing it down, he ignited the final explosion of the set. What a night! As the stage went dark, the venue lights still didn’t come up and nobody dared leave their seat or their spot on the floor.
Two video screens on each side of the stage began to show military footage of planes while Winston Churchill’s most famous speech from World War II began.
“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender…”
Everyone began losing their minds because this could only mean one thing! Aces High!
“Run
Live to fly
Fly to live
Do or die
Won’t you run
Live to fly
Fly to live
Aces high…”
Lights were blazing, the fog was rolling and a giant replica of a World Ward II bomber flew over the stage. The band was jamming at an entirely new level as Dickinson ran around in his fighter pilot outfit. The plane circled and moved back and forth across the stage as the entire band came to the front of the stage for one final metal salute. Amazing!
Despite having little to no radio airplay, Iron Maiden has gone on to sell over 130 million albums worldwide, garnered tons of industry awards, and continuously sell out shows around the globe. This is a testament to the band’s talent and appeal. They are the true pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and will forever hold a place in the metal kingdom and in our metal hearts. Until next time, farewell and “Up The Irons!”
Click Here To See the Full Gallery of the Evening!
If you happened to capture any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.
The U.S. leg of the tour closes tonight in Tampa, Florida but don’t worry the band will be back on the road with The Future Past Tour. Here’s hoping they add some U.S. dates later in the tour!
Click Here for Tickets and Tour Information!
