Re-Enactment – Skin Back Alley

Iron Maiden played a two hour headline set at this weekend’s Sonisphere festival, drawing a nearly 3 year long world tour to a close.

The British metal legends opened with “Moonchild” from their 1988 album Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, with frontman Bruce Dickinson declaring the crowd to be “…a loud and rowdy and thirsty bunch…”

“Tonight is the last night of a three-year tour, its all been building to this. If we don’t get it right tonight then we never will,” he continued.

The remainder of the set – as with previous dates on the band’s gargantuan tour – was based almost exclusively on Maiden’s most well known material from their 80’s run of classic albums, including songs “The Trooper”, “The Number Of The Beast”, “Run To The Hills” and in the band’s encore, “Aces High” and “The Evil That Men Do.”

Ahead of playing “Revelations”, Dickinson revealed that the last time he had sung the song was at a charity concert in Canterbury Cathedral, accompanied by Jethro Tull. “That was much more sedate, but tonight we’re giving it the full bollocks,” he said. “That’s a technical term.”

Earlier in the day Dickinson had flown a Fokker DR1 triplane as part of an eight aircraft strong WWI dogfight re-enactment. The air show had been organised by Dickinson along with the Great War Display Team. The “fight” took place over a wooded area next to the main arena and was accompanied by sound effects and a live military brass band on stage. It was only fitting that Dickinson seemed to be victorious during the display, “shooting down” two other planes and performing a final flypast before Deftones took to the stage.

At the close of Iron Maiden’s set, Dickinson and the band took time to thank their crew, wider team, and the audience for “keeping it real.” Dickinson concluded by saying that “…what’s coming in the next few years is going to make it more real for you guys, believe me!”

Iron Maiden played:

“Moonchild”
“Can I Play With Madness”
“The Prisoner”
“2 Minutes To Midnight”
“Revelations”
“The Trooper”
“Number Of The Beast”
“Phantom Of The Opera”
“Run To The Hills”
“Wasted Years”
“Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son”
“Fear Of The Dark”
“Iron Maiden”
“Aces High”
“The Evil That Men Do”
“Sanctuary”

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson is to lead a World War 1 dogfight re-enactment above this year’s Sonisphere festival, just hours before he is due to take to the stage to headline the event.

Dickinson, a qualified pilot, is part of a group called The Great War Display Team, who fly replica aircraft to commemorate the actions of those who fought and died during the 1914-18 conflict.

Iron Maiden said in a statement: “The show around 6pm features nine aircraft of five different types – all exact replicas of the planes used in combat.

“Bruce will be flying his very own Fokker DR1 triplane – the same model used by infamous German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron.”

Dickinson adds: “The show over Sonisphere is something I’m really excited about – we’re determined to put on an unforgettable display for everyone.”

“We’re planning an extravaganza of derring-do; the manoeuvres we’ll be performing are all based on true-life battles from a hundred years ago.”

“What some of these fighter pilots achieved back then was nothing short of miraculous given the conditions they were working under and the seriousness of what was at stake.”

Last year Maiden arranged a Spitfire flypast just before headlining the Download festival. Dickinson, a qualified commercial pilot, regularly flies the band plane when they’re on tour.

Sonisphere takes place between July 4th – 6th at Knebworth Park. The event marks the 40th anniversary of live music shows taking place in the grounds of the stately home. The Prodigy headline on the 4th, Iron Maiden on the 5th, and Metallica on the 6th with their “By Request” set.

Tag: Re-Enactment

Iron Maiden round out 3 year world tour with Sonisphere set

Bruce Dickinson to lead WW1 dogfight over Sonisphere festival