Rock in Rio: Live

Rock in Rio: Live
Recorded during Iron Maiden’s headlining performance at the Rio Rock Festival in January 2001, the double CD Rock in Rio finds the legendary metallers in fearsome live form. Revitalised thanks to the return of original singer Bruce Dickinson for 2000’s Brave New World, the one-time east London bar band clearly relished tearing through their back catalogue and choice new songs in front of a 250,000 crowd–their biggest ever–and the result is traditional Old Metal at its squealing, pummelling best. Established classics such as “Wrathchild” and “Two Minutes to Midnight” re-emphasise all that is unashamedly great about proper heavy metal (the rock-solid riffing, the brick-shithouse rhythms, the outrageous solos), while the early-1980s hits “Number of the Beast” and “Run to the Hills” prove that Iron Maiden can deliver a sing-along chorus that will rattle around the inside of your skull for hours, if not days. What really makes Rock in Rio, though, is the crystal clear, almost studio-quality production and the rabid reaction of the South American throng, who do their best to drown out the band whenever presented with any of the live favourites. Proof, if any were needed, that Dickinson and compadres are up there with the rock greats. –Ian Watson

Customer Review: Best live album ever!!!
This is a totally amazing offering from Iron Maiden, the kings of modern British Heavy Metal, and is definetly the best live album i have ever heard. Every song, even ones i didn’t particularly like when they were released, sounds absolutely amazing helped by maiden’s excellent musicianship and a dedicated crowd of 80,000 all who knew every word to every song. This album only serves to remind me what an excellent live band maiden are, not only due to their excellent musical talent but also down to the unique way they manage to stir up and excite any crowd. Highlights include “Dream of mirrors”, “Iron Maiden”, “Evil men can do” and “Fear of the dark.” This is a must have album for any Iron Maiden fan and in my view is their finest live album ever - much better than their recent “Death on the road.” Also, not bad value considering their are two discs both of which contain several very long songs. Enjoy. Best served loud!!!

Customer Review: The Greatest Concert Ever?
*This is a review of both the CD and DVD

What is the greatest live performance of all time? Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock? The Who at Leeds? Queen at Live Aid? Pah, not any of those that’s for sure. On the 19th of January 2001, at 2 minutes past midnight, Iron Maiden took the stage at the Rock in Rio festival as part of their “Brave New World” album tour, and changed perceptions of live rock albums for good.

The main ingredient to the success of the show is not just the supremely gifted sextuplet of vocalist Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris, guitarists Dave Murray, Janick Gers, Adrian Smith and drummer Nicko McBrain plus their ability to perform, it’s the audience that make the concert so darn special. Hearing 250,000 fanatical Brazilian fans sing along with not only the lyrics but the riffs and solos as well is a sight and sound that’s as awe inspiring as it must have been daunting.

The intro to the concert; “Arthur’s Farewell” perfectly sets up whats to come. It sends an eerie feel down the back of your spine, half anticipation/excitement building, half spookyness. It’s a perfect piece of music to represent Maiden. As soon as it receedes and Adrian Smith launches into the opening riff of “The Wicker Man”, you know you’re in for something incredibly special.

The first three songs: “The Wicker Man”, “Ghost of the Navigator” and “Brave New World” fantastically show why Iron Maiden are one of the best if not THE best live band on the planet. The riffs and solos are instantly memorable, the bass and drums are played perfectly and the crowd are so fired up by it they add another musical layer to the songs. Bruce Dickinson’s singing and his ability as a showman leaves you in a trance, he’s that good.

“Wrathchild” is one of the highlights of the DVD, as soon as Bruce announces the song it just turns the crowd into a bunch of lunatics. From that Maiden go into “2 Minutes to Midnight then two more songs off the excellent “Brave New World” album, “Blood Brothers and “The Mercenary” with the brilliant “Sign of the Cross” in between. Then, it’s “The Trooper”. Definitely one of Maiden’s best songs, the crowd roars with delight when Bruce announces it and screams all the way through to it’s end.

The last song to be played off the Brave New World album, “Dream of Mirrors” is a 9 and a half minute epic that unfortunately the crowd don’t seem to get into as much this time. But the lack of noise from the crowd is more then made up for by the noise made by Maiden. Following on is another 9 and a half minute epic, “The Clansman”. Thankfully the crowd do get much more into this song, the cries of the chorus ‘FREEDOM!’ echo round your speakers long after they’ve gone. “The Evil That Men Do” isn’t a huge fav of mine on the CD, but it is on the DVD as it features the appearance of a 10foot tall Eddie trying to attack Janick as he plays the solo!

And then, it’s “Fear of the Dark”. Nowhere near the standard of their best songs, this performance of it is now my favourite Maiden song of all time. What makes it so special is the extra effort Bruce seems to put in with his singing and the deafening noise the crowd make. My favourite bit of the entire show is the crowd making more noise at the start of “Fear of the Dark” then Dave Murray, Janick Gers’ guitars and Steve Harris’ bass are making together! On the DVD it’s even more spectacular, as 500,000 arms go up in the air, swaying to the opening minutes, then going berserk for the rest of the song as well as singing their hearts out more then at any time so far in the concert. Bruce (of course) takes this once in a lifetime moment in his stride, calmly and sarcastically telling them: “I can’t hear you! Sing it with me my friends!!!”.

As soon as Fear ends, “Iron Maiden” starts up. It’s the best I’ve ever heard Maiden play it, and you realise just how much better that third guitar makes the songs sound rather then the standard two. When “Iron Maiden” finishes, the band salute the crowd and walk off the stage. The lights dim down and there is silence for 2 whole minutes, before the band reappear with “Number of the Beast”. The relief and joy going round the crowd can’t be described in words, you’ve just got to hear it for yourself. Maiden then follow “Beast” with “Hallowed be thy Name”, before Fear my favourite song. As before the six piece line up and the sound of 250,000 pairs of hands clapping to the beat actually improve it, which in Hallowed’s case is almost impossible.

After the vaguely disappointing “Santuary”, in which the crowd don’t really get into the song at all, Maiden close the show with the ever popular “Run to the Hills”, a song which even Bruce says: ‘You’ve all wanted to hear this, and you f***ing deserve to hear it.’ It’s the perfect way to close the show, and it leaves you gagging for more, but alas, that’s it.

So then, a near perfect rock show. My only criticism of it is that there are perhaps too many songs from “Brave New World” in the set list. But as BNW is just about my favourite Maiden album ever, I shouldn’t really be complaining at all. This concert made me fall in love with Maiden more then ever, and if there’s one Iron Maiden album you must buy, make it this. It’s essentially a thick slice of their greatest hits coupled with the spine tingling sound of passionate, die-hard fans, and it leaves you both mesmerised and with a taste for much more Eddie.

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