Iron Maiden
Live After Death, Special Edition 2008

"Are you listening to this RUBBISH and considering yourself an INTELLECTUAL? WHO ARE YOU, ADORNO, UMBERTO ECO? Do you realize you have such a barren use, to say the least, of the Italian language, like a schoolgirl searching for a husband? You judge, pontificate, from the height of your sick covers and posters with EDDIE of Maiden? Do you realize you're an idiot?" (ValerioRivoli)

 "A bad writer is someone who expresses themselves based on an internal context that the reader cannot know. This way, the mediocre author is led to say everything they like. The great rule, however, involves partly forgetting oneself, in favor of communicable expression. This cannot happen without sacrifices." (Albert Camus)

 "Just to be clear: never thought of being an intellectual, even having read some Camus, I didn't remember the citation above; I extracted it from a book by Severgnini..." (CaptainHowdy)

 

"The Single Greatest moment in the History of Heavy Metal: now made even better". Rating 5/5 (Kerrang!) 

 

Essential things to say:

 A) The Concert is the same as '85: the difference lies in the fact that it is possible to appreciate it not only in the original version proposed by Martin Birch (producer of Maiden from '81 to '92), but also with a "remastering" curated by Kevin Shirley (producer since '99).

B) Dvd 2 (the one with extras) is truly rich, with re-editions and proposals of material, now unfindable, very interesting, and with the continuation of the documentary "The History of Iron Maiden" (started three years ago with "Early Days") focusing on the years '84/85, through period footage and photos, interviews with protagonists (from the group to the roadies) decorated with very amusing and curious anecdotes.

C) I find the Quality/Quantity/Price Ratio of the edition (double dvd) honest (I paid 19 euros in a Major Retail Center...) and affordable.     Something I maybe shouldn't say but I will say anyway:   Fans already know the Live inside out while detractors wouldn't care about the description anyway (perhaps for those of good will here is the review available on DeB), so I won't do it.   Things I add for the Record:    A) Apart from the documentary, the best thing is undoubtedly the footage from "Rock in Rio '85" which exudes all the evocative power of the English group in the Live dimension; among other things, it is the first time it's printed (the recording comes from the live broadcast by the Brazilian state TV and aired across South America) for commercialization, therefore it is an indispensable relic for enthusiasts.   B) Also nice is the re-proposal of "Behind the Iron Curtain," a documentary from '84 (no longer on sale for years) that proposed clips from Maiden's first Tour in Eastern Europe (the Londoners were among the first to bring a complete production to the then Eastern block). It's fun, enjoying all the stylistic and costume ingenuities typical of the '80s Metal, like a dialogue between a Polish fan and Bruce where the former claimed to want to play Metal with a synthesizer "shocking" the latter...   Farewell: 

I'm not a pleasant person, I know.

 

Mo. 

Tracklist:

1. Intro (Churchill's Speech)
2. Aces High (Live At Long Beach Arena)
3. 2 Minutes To Midnight (Live At Long Beach Arena)
4. The Trooper (Live At Long Beach Arena)
5. Revelations (Live At Long Beach Arena)
6. Flight Of Icarus (Live At Long Beach Arena)
7. The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner (Live At Long Beach Arena)
8. Powerslave (Live At Long Beach Arena)
9. The Number Of The Beast (Live At Long Beach Arena)
10. Hallowed Be Thy Name (Live At Long Beach Arena)
11. Iron Maiden (Live At Long Beach Arena)
12. Run To The Hills (Live At Long Beach Arena)
13. Running Free (Live At Long Beach Arena)
14. Sanctuary (Live At Long Beach Arena)

Special Features:

• The History of Iron Maiden Part 2 (60 mins): Band members, crew, friends, and associates talk about the period in the band's career which saw the writing, recording, and release of the Powerslave album, and later Live After Death, and the subsequent massive touring. And not just the serious side!!
• Behind the Iron Curtain ( 57 mins approx): shot during Maiden's historic tour of Poland and other parts to the Eastern Bloc in 1984 featuring interviews, live and offstage footage capturing the atmosphere of this remarkable journey behind the Wall at the height of the Cold War.
• Live Footage - Rock in Rio '85 (50 mins approx): The full Maiden set supporting Queen on the first day of the first Rock in Rio in front of 300,000 manic metal fans. A bloody and stirring performance!! Songs performed include Aces High, 2 Minutes to Midnight, The Trooper, Revelations, Powerslave, Iron Maiden, Run To The Hills, Running Free
• Ello Texas (15 minutes): Interview and live. Caught by a film crew in 1983 at the Alamo and sound checking their show in San Antonio.
• Artwork Gallery, Tour Programme, Tour dates, and photo gallery
• Promotional clips for Aces High and 2 Minutes to Midnight