Iron Maiden ‘Tap’ Into Melbourne #REVIEW - Noise11.com
Iron Maiden performed at Rod Laver Arena on Monday 9 May 2016. Iron Maiden are touring Australia as part of the Book Of Souls World Tour.

Iron Maiden Rod Laver Arena on the Book Of Souls World Tour. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

Iron Maiden ‘Tap’ Into Melbourne #REVIEW

by Paul Cashmere on May 10, 2016

in Live,News

Iron Maiden didn’t rise globally until their third album ‘The Number of the Beast’ in 1982 so it is highly unlikely that they were inspiration for Rob Reiner’s 1984 mockumentary on metal Spinal Tap. But they would be perfect for a sequel.

Iron Maiden could never have influenced Spinal Tap but Tap has certainly had an influence on them both visually and theatrically.

Metal is equal parts creativity and cliché. Sure the Mayan based set comes close to Tap’s Stonehenge but where Iron Maiden soars past their fictional colleagues is in creativity, entertainment and depth of catalogue.

Iron Maiden performed at Rod Laver Arena on Monday 9 May 2016. Iron Maiden are touring Australia as part of the Book Of Souls World Tour.

Iron Maiden’s ‘The Book of Souls’ tour is one “hell” of a ride.

Metal surfaced in the late 60s with the birth of Black Sabbath. Led Zep were more of a hard rock blues band, AC/DC came along much later more with Chuck Berry rock and roll influences. Deep Purple’s passing of the torch from Gillian to Coverdale and Sabbath from Ozzy to Dio is most likely the crossroads where Iron Maiden was sparked.

Iron Maiden performed at Rod Laver Arena on Monday 9 May 2016. Iron Maiden are touring Australia as part of the Book Of Souls World Tour.

Iron Maiden stays relevant with their new music. Every album is a story and every tour reflects the current album. ‘The Books of Souls’ centres on the ancient Maya civilisation and the show reflects the theme.

Iron Maiden performed at Rod Laver Arena on Monday 9 May 2016. Iron Maiden are touring Australia as part of the Book Of Souls World Tour.

While ‘The Books of Souls’ has a theme it is not a concept record. One track ‘Tears of a Clown’ is about the comedian Robin Williams.

Tears of a clown
Maybe it’s all just for the best
Lay his weary head to rest
Was forever feeling drowned
Tears of a clown

Another song ‘Death or Glory’ is about the Red Baron, Germany’s Baron von Richthofen, who singer Bruce Dickinson points out was not gunned down by the English or the Canadians but by Australian WW1 Sergeant Cedric Popkin.

So there we have it. Iron Maiden’s show is not only entertaining, it is also educational.

Iron Maiden performed at Rod Laver Arena on Monday 9 May 2016. Iron Maiden are touring Australia as part of the Book Of Souls World Tour.

The setlist for ‘The Book of Souls’ is not a greatest hits. Iron Maiden does not do their best known song ‘Run To The Hills’ and I have no idea why. ‘Can I Play With Madness’ is another obvious omission but the fact is it doesn’t matter. ‘The Book of Souls’ live is like a stage show. Front start to finish it is one huge event.

Iron Maiden performed at Rod Laver Arena on Monday 9 May 2016. Iron Maiden are touring Australia as part of the Book Of Souls World Tour.

Iron Maiden is now a rare and treasured beast. Sabbath is done, Led Zep ain’t gonna happen, Deep Purple should get the Coverdale line-up back together but won’t, there is no more Motorhead, AC/DC has become a farce, Guns N Roses is now a novelty act, Van Halen is a Hollywood sitcom. God help the world if the biggest new thing rock has to boast from the 21st Century is Linkin Park.

We are basically left with Iron Maiden and Metallica. Treat them nice. They are now the senior citizens of metal.

Iron Maiden, Melbourne, May 9 2016

If Eternity Should Fall (from The Book of Souls, 2015)
Speed Of Light (from The Book of Souls, 2015)
Children of the Damned (from The Number of the Beast, 1982)
Tears of a Clown (from The Book of Souls, 2015)
The Red and the Black (from The Book of Souls, 2015)
The Trooper (from Piece of Mind, 1983)
Powerslave (from Powerslave, 1984)
Death or Glory (from The Book of Souls, 2015)
The Book of Souls (from The Book of Souls, 2015)
Hallowed Be Thy Name (from The Number of the Beast, 1982)
Fear of the Dark (from Fear of the Dark, 1992)
Iron Maiden (from Iron Maiden, 1980)

The Number of the Beast (from The Number of the Beast, 1982)
Blood Brothers (from Brave New World, 2000)
Wasted Years (from Somewhere In Time, 1986)

Iron Maiden remaining Australian shows

May 12, Adelaide, Entertainment Centre
May 14, Perth, Perth Arena

Noise11.com

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Never miss a story! Get your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to the Noise11 Music Newsletter here

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Follow Noise11.com on Facebook and Twitter

NOISE11 UPDATES are now in Apple News

Related Posts

Paul Dainty - image by Ros O'Gorman
Paul Dainty Sells To TEG To Creative Live Nation Rival

Paul Dainty, founder of one of Australia’s biggest concert touring companies Dainty Group, has sold his company to TEG creating the new corporation TEG-Dainty.

July 4, 2016
Neil Diamond performs in Melbourne at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday 27 October 2015. Photo Ros O'Gorman
Neil Diamond Opens Australian Tour With All-Hit Show In Melbourne

Neil Diamond has returned to the Australian stage for the first time since 2011 and opened the Aussie leg of the tour at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday night (27 October 2015).

October 28, 2015
John Mellencamp - Image By Ros O'Gorman
John Mellencamp, Jewel and Carlene Carter Team For Australian Tour

John Mellencamp will return to Australia in February for his first tour since 2008.

October 15, 2015
Oprah Winfrey photo by George Burns
Oprah Winfrey To Tour Australia And New Zealand

Oprah Winfrey will make a round of appearances in Australian and New Zealand arenas in December.

July 19, 2015
Paul Dainty - image by Ros O'Gorman
Dainty Group Ads Two More Execs

Paul Dainty has announced the appointment of Craig Hartenstine and Ben Shepherd to the Dainty Group.

August 6, 2012