Am I the only Maiden fan that can't listen to "The Trooper?"

[spideyjg]

I will quote a little part from an interview to Steve Harris in the Rolling Stone Mexico, "We have never wrote songs thinking in the fans"

Key difference is he says they never "wrote" a song for the fans. Performing live most every band out there has to suck it up and play the hits.

A lot of folks got their undies in a twist because IM played the entire new CD this tour.

You can't win.

I love the fact the ladies will throw us die hard Maiden fans a few bones and play some uncommon songs. Sea of Madness, Another Life, Alexander the Great, Invaders, and Genghis Khan are tracks you are not likely to hear at an Iron Maiden show but I love 'em. They know the crowd has folks wanting to hear the obscure stuff.
Hell at the Galaxy show there was a guy near me I thought would pee his pants when Alexander started.

Jim

 

[FBKdrummer]

Excellent post FBKdrummer!

Thank you. I was afraid it would come off preachy (if there is such a word.) I just feel that whether you are a musician or not, it is very easy to cast stones (metaphorically) from the floor of the arena as a fan. After I posted that, I almost edited it down, because the main statement in all that is that once you reach that level in the music world, it really is more of a business.

 

[Metallicat180]

Thank you. I was afraid it would come off preachy (if there is such a word.) I just feel that whether you are a musician or not, it is very easy to cast stones (metaphorically) from the floor of the arena as a fan. After I posted that, I almost edited it down, because the main statement in all that is that once you reach that level in the music world, it really is more of a business.

No, I totally understand what you mean. I know the first time I saw Maiden, if they'd not played "the classics" I would have been disappointed (as I know many people were last tour) but then you've got people who've seen them countless times and want to hear something more obscure. The band has to try and please both hardcore and casual fans which is very difficult to do.

 

[darthrya]

Thank you. I was afraid it would come off preachy (if there is such a word.)

Not really. You make good points. It still doesn't negate the fact that as a fan, and I have the right to be demanding, selfish, and indignant because the band did not play exactly what I demand of them.

 

[Air Raid Siren]

The band has to try and please both hardcore and casual fans which is very difficult to do.

Not really. You make good points. It still doesn't negate the fact that as a fan, and I have the right to be demanding, selfish, and indignant because the band did not play exactly what I demand of them.

Ah hahahaha! Case in point!

A very interesting post FBK- and on a side note ( generally speaking of course & is simply IMOHO) - for a band to complain that they have to play songs that people absolutely love them for creating, make them go mental and have also given them the opportunity and means to be able to create art in the first place really need to get back in touch with reality!

Personally I never get tired of the reaction people have to the Big 3. It makes it fresh and fun every time!

 

[Metallicat180]

Personally I never get tired of the reaction people have to the Big 3. It makes it fresh and fun every time!

I recall Dave saying something like that on the Rock In Rio dvd. He was asked if he ever gets bored playing certain songs and he said practically the same thing.

 

[darthrya]

When it comes down to it, really matters what most of the fans want. Any band that cares tries to meet the needs of the majority. Unfortunately, I'm often in the minority!

 

[MattDouglas]

- for a band to complain that they have to play songs that people absolutely love them for creating, make them go mental and have also given them the opportunity and means to be able to create art in the first place really need to get back in touch with reality!

Personally I never get tired of the reaction people have to the Big 3. It makes it fresh and fun every time!

And aditionally, the complaining band would also be getting paid, sometimes lots to play songs that people absolutely love them for creating, make them go mental and have also given them the opportunity and means to be able to create art.

What I love about y'all (in additon to playing Maiden superbly, being pretty women who play Maiden superbly, and being appreciative enough to have this forum as well as chat with the crowd after the shows) is that y'all seem genuinely happy to be up there doing what you are doing. I give myself a great feeling just watching y'all show that happiness whether it be your deep joy shown in the eyes with accompanying smile to match after you've just belted one out, Linda's vivacious, excited smile pounding the drums or Sara's -it-if-my-hair-is-flying-I'm-having-so-much-damn-fun-tongue-stuck-out-badass expression. I have no knowledge as to what percentage of ticket sales you actually keep, but my estimates are that y'all could theoretically quit your day jobs, if you played a few shows each and every week, and conceiveably live decently, but I've never heard of tribute bands getting rich off it. I've heard slews of performers say "We love you for coming out to our show, tonite", but you, Aja, are one of few that seem to really mean it. I know you would not do what you do without a whole lot of love for the music and performance. While anyone can use music (or any other activity) as mere escape (hell, there have been times when I've been at your shows when I've sensed a sadness from the majority of the crowd thinly veiled by screaming, head-banging, and alcohol), when you are up there I see a genuine spirituality coming from you (even if sometines I forget it just to think to myself "It's just so cool watching the veins in her neck bulge out like that").

 

[FBKdrummer]

A very interesting post FBK- and on a side note ( generally speaking of course & is simply IMOHO) - for a band to complain that they have to play songs that people absolutely love them for creating, make them go mental and have also given them the opportunity and means to be able to create art in the first place really need to get back in touch with reality!

Personally I never get tired of the reaction people have to the Big 3. It makes it fresh and fun every time!

If I gave the mental impression that a band complains of playing the hit songs, I didn't mean to. I do know that playing the same song can cause it to become drull, but no band in their right mind would ever come out and say they hate playing a certain song publically. (Like if James Hetfield announced to the world that Metallica was tired of playing For Whom the Bell Tolls, and Fade to Black, and would never perform them live again.)

That said, I believe even if I listened to my Essential Iron Maiden cd's every day, I would still want to hear the big 3 at any Iron Maiden show I'd see. It's different when you actually get to see the real band performing than it is for the 4 billionth time on the radio. It's at least a different feel and atmosphere. Where most fans differentiate IMO, is on the rest of the setlist. Some want to hear SSoSS, some want to hear Transylvania, some may want to hear Wikker Man. The point is, with as many good tunes as IM has, it would be impossible for them to please everyone. (Although, I'd concede that if they just got up and played the whole new album, I'd think that a ripoff too.)

As far as the crowd reaction spurring you on, Aja, that is the one factor that helps keep the song from being TOO drull. Any good band feeds off the crowd, who feeds off the band, who feeds off the crowd again...etc....

Might be interesting to see what each member would consider their ideal setlist for IM based on a max time or number of songs. (Good example: If they get a 2hr set at Donnington, what would you want to hear?)

 

[Air Raid Siren]

Oh you didn't give that mental impression, FBK - that was just me going off on my own tangent!

As I said, it was a side note - the idea you brought up of the business part of music got me thinking in that direction. Because for many artists the business parts can sometimes take the joy out of it - but it's a necessary evil if you want to keep having fun. A delicate balance indeed!

 

[FBKdrummer]

Oh you didn't give that mental impression, FBK - that was just me going off on my own tangent!

As I said, it was a side note - the idea you brought up of the business part of music got me thinking in that direction. Because for many artists the business parts can sometimes take the joy out of it - but it's a necessary evil if you want to keep having fun. A delicate balance indeed!

Speaking of tangents.. here's one for you. When a band is playing in clubs, trying to raise money for more and better equipment, working toward writing a demo, and hoping to get signed. The general feeling starts to become that it all gets so much more fun and easy once you're signed.

But every band I've ever talked to said it was MUCH easier when they were unsigned. I'm not talking just little bands either, I was told this by Godsmack members when I worked for a webzine. Now, don't get me wrong, there are no regrets there. Heck, that was two records ago now when they told me that.

Food for thought... kinda like when my parents used to tell me that no matter how much I dislike high school, I'll miss it when it's gone.

 

[Air Raid Siren]

What I love about y'all (in additon to playing Maiden superbly, being pretty women who play Maiden superbly, and being appreciative enough to have this forum as well as chat with the crowd after the shows) is that y'all seem genuinely happy to be up there doing what you are doing. I give myself a great feeling just watching y'all show that happiness whether it be your deep joy shown in the eyes with accompanying smile to match after you've just belted one out, Linda's vivacious, excited smile pounding the drums or Sara's -it-if-my-hair-is-flying-I'm-having-so-much-damn-fun-tongue-stuck-out-badass expression. I have no knowledge as to what percentage of ticket sales you actually keep, but my estimates are that y'all could theoretically quit your day jobs, if you played a few shows each and every week, and conceiveably live decently, but I've never heard of tribute bands getting rich off it. I've heard slews of performers say "We love you for coming out to our show, tonite", but you, Aja, are one of few that seem to really mean it. I know you would not do what you do without a whole lot of love for the music and performance. While anyone can use music (or any other activity) as mere escape (hell, there have been times when I've been at your shows when I've sensed a sadness from the majority of the crowd thinly veiled by screaming, head-banging, and alcohol), when you are up there I see a genuine spirituality coming from you (even if sometines I forget it just to think to myself "It's just so cool watching the veins in her neck bulge out like that").

Thank you Matt. I really do mean every word I say. Playing with this band is just so amazing- I love these girls sooo much!

It's nice to know you guys feel the joy with us. It means the world to us that people keep coming to our shows, because times are tough and money is hard to come by - so to have people spend it on our show is truly an honor to us all. We work so hard to make the show the best it can be and we feel well rewarded for our efforts by the response we get from you guys.

 

[Doodoobubbachuck]

It's wonderful to know we bring you joy, Matt. You seem to be very in touch with people's energies.

FBKdrummer, from my experience, life only gets easier once you're signed because you get a little (stress that word little! LOL!) dough for a while and get to tour more and more people get to hear your tunes, but really it's more like starting all over with your band under the rules of a coorporation. You pretty much surrender your control over your music and it becomes painfully apparent how much of it is business.

 

[spideyjg]

FBKdrummer, from my experience, life only gets easier once you're signed because you get a little (stress that word little! LOL!) dough for a while and get to tour more and more people get to hear your tunes, but really it's more like starting all over with your band under the rules of a coorporation. You pretty much surrender your control over your music and it becomes painfully apparent how much of it is business.

Dick Dale's take on the music business........

Jim

 

[Air Raid Siren]

Dick Dale's take on the music business........

Jim

Great vid Jim!
Goes to show there's more than one way to climb a mountain,eh?!

Whether independent or signed to a label and in the jaws of the machine, it's a different level when you make a decision to take the next step. But as my beloved says, "It's better than chopping fish!"

 

[METAL GOD]

I can't stand 2 Minutes to Midnight and a that dune song and most songs after the Powerslave album, except I like Wasted Years....the band sux after that...

 

[darthrya]

the band sux after that...

That was kind of harsh! I think the band puts out great material every year. There isn't an album I don't like. While most of what they put out today pales in comparison to their early years, it's still very good music.

 

[ironmaidenfan09]

I can't stand 2 Minutes to Midnight and a that dune song and most songs after the Powerslave album, except I like Wasted Years....the band sux after that...

Hmmm I happen to think 7th son is their best album, and one of the best albums ever made by any band EVER. And that is after your powerslave album. Each album after 7th son has their moments. The past few Bruce albums have been excellent imo. You must not be too big on Maiden to say what you are saying.

 

[skott with a k]

it's obvious the girls are enjoying the playing as we we enjoy the hearing, that's what makes their shows so fun. linda's the only drummer i've seen who smiles & laughs the whole time (i've seen at least 200 gigs...)

 

[darthrya]

linda's the only drummer i've seen who smiles & laughs the whole time (i've seen at least 200 gigs...)

Yeah - she does smile a lot! Maybe the band can get a sponsorship from Crest Toothpaste for that?