Label: EMI Records
Release date: 4. 2. 2008
Length: 188.09 min
Genre: Heavy Metal
Rating: 10/10
In August 1984, Iron Maiden set off on their most ambitious and longest tour to date. In just under a year, the World Slavery tour racked up 193 shows in a hundred different cities, and over a million fans around the world got to see Iron Maiden live. On March 14, the tour rolled into the legendary Long Beach Arena in Los Angeles, where the band played four nights in a row, each time in front of a packed hall bursting at the seams. Today, World Slavery isn’t just one of the most phenomenal tours any band has ever done, one that went down in history for its flawless vocal and instrumental performances, its theatrical approach and its spectacular stage set built around the Egyptian theme of the Powerslave album. In 1985 it also gave birth to the live record Live After Death, recorded in that very Long Beach Arena, which is still considered possibly the best live album of all time, and which was released on VHS a little later.
Almost 25 years later, Live After Death has finally made it to DVD too, and, as is Iron Maiden’s habit, on two discs once again. The first DVD shows off the original concert footage, shot over four straight nights, March 14 to 18, 1985. It becomes clear pretty quickly why Live After Death is such an important and fantastic release. No video or audio recording captures the passion, the indestructible energy and the spectacle of Iron Maiden as well as Live After Death does. From the very first moments of the show, with Churchill’s famous speech from June 4, 1940, at the start of the first real air battle, the Battle of Britain, which tips over into the thundering Aces High, all the way to the bombastic finish with Sanctuary, Iron Maiden pour heart and soul into every single song. The crew was in its best lineup in 1985, at the peak of its powers. Bruce Dickinson sings for an hour and a half at the very top of his game and proves what kind of stuff one of the best vocalists in the world is made of. And Bruce is of course no slouch as one of heavy metal’s greatest frontmen either, which he proves with youthful energy, constant running back and forth, and real, genuine communication with the sold-out hall. The instrumental four-piece is at the height of its power, and during the instrumental section of the epic Rime of the Ancient Mariner it’s easy to get misty-eyed. The video quality is a bit better than on the VHS release, but don’t expect the picture quality of newer DVD releases like Rock in Rio or Death on the Road. Still, the slightly washed-out footage only adds to that “vintage” eighties feel. Priceless! The camerawork is excellent, giving every member enough attention, and the editing deserves praise too, since it doesn’t jump from camera to camera, which is rather annoying on the Rock in Rio DVD. For audiophiles, the sound is a real treat for the ears. In the pleasant, nicely designed menu you can choose between two audio tracks: the original stereo mix by the legendary Martin Birch or the 5.1 remix by Kevin Shirley. It comes down to personal preference, but both mixes have their charms. Martin Birch is a living production legend for a reason, while Shirley’s surround remix drops you right into the middle of Long Beach Arena. The cult eighties Egyptian stage set hardly needs a mention, but there’s no way I can skip the sixth Maiden member, Eddie, who shows up in his mightiest form yet, the mummy, which perhaps only tank-commander Eddie comes close to.
The real treasure chest for an Iron Maiden enthusiast, though, is the second DVD, which hides the long-awaited sequel to The History of Iron Maiden. The second part of the documentary series focuses on the making of the Powerslave album, the World Slavery tour and the recording of the live record Live After Death. The first part is already considered one of the best music documentaries ever, and the second part tops it. Iron Maiden come across in a much more human light, and Bruce and Nicko spill some unforgettable anecdotes. This hour-long documentary is an intimate look at all the members and the crew, and in 60 minutes it captures the indelible mark Iron Maiden left on the eighties. The History of Iron Maiden catches the boys in the toughest moments of a year-long tour, but at the same time serves up plenty of moments that will have you clutching your belly with laughter. If you want to hear the story of the lost Eddie, ‘Arry’s mission and Nicko’s wacky adventures, The History of Iron Maiden Part 2 is exactly what you’re looking for.
The second disc also gives a special place to the hour-long documentary Behind the Iron Curtain, which follows Iron Maiden on their tour through the countries behind the Iron Curtain. The Poles and the Czechs prove that the stereotypes about them are true, a few songs are thrown in, and the Smoke on the Water performance at some wedding is unforgettable. Rock in Rio ’85 offers 8 songs that Maiden played in 1985 at the very first Rock in Rio festival, in front of what is still their biggest crowd ever: 350,000 crazed South Americans. Ello’ Texas delivers a short but thorough fifteen-minute interview with Bruce and Harris, and last but not least, there’s the obligatory gallery and the videos for Aces High and 2 Minutes to Midnight.
A total running time of 240 minutes is more than good enough reason for Live After Death to find a spot on your shelf, and on the shelf of any Iron Maiden fan it’s an absolute must. Luckily, with the Somewhere Back in Time tour, even those of us who were still pooping our diapers when Powerslave came out and the World Slavery tour rolled around will get to experience a little bit of the magic that is Live After Death.
Author: Rok Klemše
Track list:
DVD 1.:
1. Intro
2. Aces High
3. 2 Minutes To Midnight
4. Trooper
5. Revelations
6. Flight Of Icarus
7. Rime Of Ancient Mariner
8. Powerslave
9. Number Of Beast
10. Hallowed Be Thy Name
11. Iron Maiden
12. Run To The Hills
13. Running Free
14. Sanctuary
DVD 2.:
1. History Of Iron Maiden
2. Behind the Iron Curtain
3. Rock in Rio 85
4. ‘Ello Texas
5. Aces High
6. 2 Minutes To Midnight
7. Tour Programme Gallery
9. On the Road
10. In the Studio
11. Artwork Gallery
12. Nuts And Bolts
Lineup:
Bruce Dickinson – vocals
Adrian Smith – guitar
Dave Murray – guitar
Steve Harris – bass guitar
Nicko McBrain – drums
