Iron Maiden
A Real Live Dead One

THE REVIEW

It was supposed to be the greatest live performance by Iron Maiden, but instead, this double CD turned out to be yet another demonstration of the fact that when Harris handles the production, disasters almost always ensue.
Let's take it step by step: the year is 1993, a dark period for Iron Maiden. Adrian Smith, a great guitarist with a knack for creativity, left after Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, being replaced by Janick Gers, who is absolutely not up to his level. After him, even Maiden's historic voice, Bruce Dickinson, tired of Harris's prog ambitions, left the group, plunging it into a crisis that wouldn't end until his return in 2000. In this period of creative crisis, Harris engaged in commercial operations to ensure the survival of "his" creation... this live album is one of those.

What was supposed to be the definitive Live is divided into two CDs: in the first, the more interesting, A Real Dead One, there are older tracks from the first five albums, while in the second, A Real Live One, you find the more recent hits. The only reason one might be interested in buying this live album are some gems contained in the Dead section: Where Eagles Dare, Prowler, Transylvania, and Remember Tomorrow.
Having surely read the rating, one might wonder: what are the flaws? First of all, the choice to record all the tracks from different concerts, a choice that makes the Live quite unengaging. Harris's production is very poor and the sound is horrible. And then last but not least, Dickinson's performance. On his farewell tour, from which all the tracks were taken, Dickinson is absolutely unmotivated and tired, and his performance reflects that, and the rest of the band gives the same impression as well.

In short, poor Harris really blew it with this double live album, as much as it pains me to say it as a fan of the band. To be avoided like the plague. If you want a proper live album from Iron Maiden, go for Live After Death.