gempa bumi, si buta dan si kudung,( My Maiden Oz 2011 Backpack part 2)

masa aku sampai Melbourne malam2 buta, ada satu pompuan ni ngah panik2 gitu kat airport nye internet, aku lak tengah happy2 dapat first to barrier Melbourne yang last2 aku tak pergi Q, pasal Mat Salleh ni semua besar2 tinggi2, sekali dorang rempuh, abis la tulang rusuk aku kat barrier tu.

ok, back to the story, pompuan ni terus cakap kuat2 "anyone going Christchurch?", aku was like apa sey? then aku tengok pompuan Mat Salleh pegi kat dia macam console dia cakap baik2, then dorang cakap pasal Flight Semua Cancelled. So baru aku tahu rupanya ada baruuuu je Gempa Bumi dan anak2 pompuan tu semua kat bandar Christchurch dan dia nak pergi carik anak2 dia kat ChristChurch tapi smua flight pergi Christchurch kena cancelled tu jam, dan dia tersangkut kat Melbourne.
Macam susah nak cakap aku tengok keadaan auntie ni, dia nak pegi carik anak2 dia gempa bumi tapi dalam keadaan flight semua cancelled pasal gempa bumi tu sendiri.

Sokkabar kat sini semua ngah cerita pasal gempa bumi ni, dan kat Brisbane Soundwave smalam, Bruce dedicate Blood Brothers kat mangsa banjir Queensland dan jugak gempa bumi Christchurch.

Aku tahu ramai mati, kesian tu aku tengok ada pelajar2 dari Jepun buat rombongan berpuluh2 orang kat satu bangunan tv tu eh? aku flip2 sokkabar je.

si buta lak, kat Melbourne, aku nampak budak ni, kira dah 30+ gitu, botak, pakai tshirt simple, all black depan blakang kecik je '666'. Eh, pakai tongkat untuk orang2 buta, bapak dia kot ada satu uncle mat salleh tua bawak dia. Lepas show, aku lalu kat tempat seating, ooo dorang seat first row seating paling dekat stage. So si mamat tak nampak was looking down, and aku was like, mamat ni just enjoyed the best band ever live, tapi dia tak nampak, macammana agaknye, aku rasa mesti bapak dia kena bilang dia...ooo ni part apa jadi, oooo ni part apa jadi kenapa audience was doing this doing that.

si kudung lak... malam tadi kat Brisbane was like 40,000. So aku was like, tak boleh masuk area depan ni pasal aku bawak beg sling. Tapi....pasal konsert rock melayu banyak ajar pasal cammana nak beat the security, so lepas je Slayer main kat stage 4, aku terus pergi stage 1 dan menyusup masuk sampai depan la jugak 7th layer from front gitu, sekali sebelah aku ni...
ada satu mat salleh, badan besar, memang size dorang, dan dia ada part tunggu Maiden tu dia macam tengah distress so pompuan sebelah dia ni aku assume bini dia macam attend kat dia, then aku tengok bawah, aku nampak siak ah dia satu kaki aje , lagi satu kaki bionic gitu macam besi gitu.
Aku was like, hello!!! ni 40,000 orang, aku pun tengah takut kena penyek, dia lagi satu kaki, and that is " commitment!! " haha.

Slayer was like macam binawe betul untuk aku, aku was like, lepas Dimmu Borgir main kat stage 4, aku tak mau gerak aku menyusup depan pasal dulu aku tengok Slayer tiket murah, kat blakang sekali nampak lampu kelip2 je, ni aku nak tengok dorang depan2...
hah kau!! Slayer by 2nd song je aku kena tolak ke belakang dan ke tepi 10 meter ada lah..
Giler babi mat salleh masa Slayer main, kasut dah tercabut, spek dah pecah, tak tahu apa lagi la... Aku was like, jangan korang siku muka aku dah... rabak ah kalo hidung patah ke, gigi patah ke masa Slayer tu..
Oooo Slayer was takde Jeff Hanneman pasal dia tengah operation kat spital kot?
Exodus nye gitaris Holt ke hapa tu ambik posisi dia dan solo Hanneman semua dia takeover.
Slayer main satu jam.. ok la..

ooo Sydney lak, kita kat sini, suka lambung2 air mineral water kan? buang2 kat sini sana?
Sydney dorang suka lambung beer. $&@^ betul... jangan kena aku dah...nasib baik tak.
Lantai jangan cakap la......dah macam kat pasar basah waktu hari hujan dan ikan2 semua baru sampai....becak licin...tapi ngan beer. ooo gini Sydney nye crowd eh, tapi mungkin it was Thursday nite.
Melbourne was like relak...mungkin pasal hari rabu...
Brisbane was like, masa Slayer ngan Dimmu Borgir was like, buang2 kasut boot, aku kena sekali kat atas mata aku... topi koboi. Nasib baik, kalo boot Doc Marten kena kat muka aku tu hari...tak ke ada masuk sokkabar " shortie asian knocked down " haha.

kejap kejap... aku nanti la balik sana aku upload, tapi ni Melbourne Hisense Arena waktu Maiden main solo arena show, minggu depan dorang main Melbourne lagik tapi headline soundwave Festival untuk 40,000 orang gitu...
BUKAN gambo aku ok, aku link dari website Maiden.



Ni lak Sydney, kantoi kan ni gambo?? MAIDEN DID NOT SELL OUT SYDNEY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER!! There are seats on the last few rows of the highest stands. pity
Jadi dorang cover last few rows tu ngan curtain.
Tapi kat lantai dan seats lain semua tiket abis la...
Pasal hari ni, Maiden main lagi skali kat Sydney untuk 50,000 headline Soundwave.
Jadi actually yang Entertainment center dalam 9,000 ni lebih kepada intimate show, dan untuk betul2 minat Maiden aje.




Aku tengok kat kamera aku, aku dah snap 600+ fotos dah backpack trip ni..
tapi ada la berapa foto yang sangattttt aku suka...
nanti la aku share ngan korang kalo kamera dan memory kad semua masih ok...
Kamera aku mandi air masin la....air laut Sydney Harbour haha.

Nanti aku share la, cammana aku belanja kat sini dan cammana aku jalan kaki dan jadi pelancong tapi tak banyak keluar duit tapi dapat merasa jugak la tempat2 kat Sydney especially. Sydney mahal giler to the max.

betul2 budget giler aku ni trip, tapi kalo dah lapar mesti nak kena makan...
penat ah makan roti ngan oren jius...
so makan la macam2 kebab, mau kang lidah melayu aku nanti terus jadi lidah turkey dah haha.
ooo cakap pasal lidah... MALU aku nak cakap kat Australia ni, English aku dah la Phua Chu Kang hahaha.
Dorang tak paham, dan they look at me funny when I speak the English haha.

first time - Melbourne( My Maiden Oz 2011 Backpack part 1 )

I hope to upload the photos and some brief comments on my backpack trip to Melbourne some time soon. But first a word from the sponsor huhu.

- Melbourne cantik giler. Lawa tempat dia.
- First Time naik ERL sendiri. OK aku tak sesat.
- First Time naik kapalterbang sendiri. Aku kena ketawa ngan aci kerja kat LCCT.
Aku takde boarding pass, tapi aku terus pergi beratur kat tempat nak gi clear immigresen. HAHAHA. Pasal selama ni, aku main ikut je belakang bini aku. Aku tak reti ni semua.
- First Time kat Melbourne.
- Aku nasib baik dapat tiket.. Hurray. Timakasey banyak2 kat satu taper old timer aku respek sangat.
- OOO.. dia tunjuk aku cammana dia tape...giler babi beb equipment dia. Siap jumpa geng dia satu kepala. Betul2 hardcore Maiden fans.
- Melbourne CANTIK GILER!. Dan jugak SEJUK GILER. Bayangkan aircon kat dalam bangunan airport, mall, Hisense Arena , tapi kat luar cuaca lagi sejuk. Dah la aku tido kat airport...oppsss
- Sampai je immigresen tanya " DI MANA ANDA TINGGAL NANTI?"
- aku jawab " errr... errr..... Saya kasi email address boleh? " hehehehe. Boleyyy... hehe.
- EVENT TSHIRT untuk Australia ADA!!. Lawa.... Eddie ngah pegang Oboe ke hapa tu, nak rembat Kangaroo yang jelmaan kacukan Eddie Final Frontier haha. Kangaroo Eddie pegang boomerang bentuk Kunci magik Final Frontier.
- Programme pun ada, bukan buku, folded postergramme. Lawa.
- Ooo I am so happy, aku buat sesuatu kat Melbourne nye Mainden show ni yang aku tak pernah buat kat mana2 dalam hidup aku haha. Nanti aku cerita.
- Aku dah cakap? Melbourne lawa... Dan free aku jalan2 satu bandar...cantik , berapa ratus gambo aku petik..
- Aku lapar nasik.... kurus la aku ni macam...takde nasik, anyway nak makan apa pun semua mahal, dah tu jalan kaki gi mana2...
- ooo lupa, setlist kena rombak, Talisman jadi 4th song... cara Bruce cakap macam nak pastikan dia boleh nyanyi ngan baik lagu ni. DAN memang best berbanding ngan Singapore nye Talisman yang aku cakap kat review aku minggu lepas, aku tengok Bruce susah siak nak nyanyi lagu ni kat Singapore.
- Nanti la cerita panjang. Insyallah panjang umur.


- Melbourne is so nice and pretty, and walking around the whole city taking photos free. Very good place to backpack...and there are lockers at the bus terminal once you arrived from airport, and its 24hrs lockers....now I know.
- There is an event tshirt for Australia. Eddie seems to swing an oboe on the Final Frontier Eddie which is now a kangaroo who is holding a boomering shaped like the Eddie cross key.
- There is tour programme in shaped of a poster. Nice.
- Maiden reshuffled the setlist....SPOILER ( talisman is now 4th song and Bruce is top form in every song really, He is better than ever in Maiden's history. )
- I am looking for rice. Hungry hungry hungry... hehe.
- It is so cold... I cannot stand it... I feel it my fingers...I feel it in my bones...hehe

k, dah tu je bye.

4 a.m - lay you down in a bed of roses...

pukul 4 pagi, bas aku belum sampai lagi, 4.10 kot, so takkan aku nak baring, nanti konfem aku tertido punye, so aku duk je.
Then kucing hitam ni datang baring belah aku, buat kawan la haha, ala...sayang sayang..haha,



so layan je kucing manja ni,
takkan aku nak ajak borak ngan wak kang siak, dorang pun ngah lepak, then macam orang ngantuk disorok bantal, aku letak beg aku umpan kucing ni buat pillow, terus dia landing tak ingat dunia, membuta la apa lagi.
Siol betul, lawak nye bas aku sampai 4.15am gitu, aku kejut dan kena angkat dia tepi, punye la liat betul nak gerak.. kalo dia melepas atas beg aku, gaduh besar ah haha.
Besok keluar paper headline
" Big fight at bus terminal between two different species " haha.




Doing her best impression of Dio's sign \m/



This cat reminds me of my favourite cat in the world , the crazy, egoistic, paranoid, delusional, gangster, bully ( who is actually a chicken ) , havoc, happening, most attitude, but at the same time lovable character - Bucky Katt.

Last kopek..




I want to lay you down in a bed of roses...
... cause tonite I sleep on a bed of nails :-)

some ears can accept it :-) & jugak Todd's Diary untuk Singapore show

To the person who records the Singapore show below, a million thanks.
Unfortunate for Running Free song though.
I wish I had passed my device to my better half to record it, with me its ruined by myself being an idiot haha.

2011 Maiden Singapore's First Distributed audio recording, waiting for more sources if any
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=01FZS3NI
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=A0YJRO7N
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XIQ0LXRP

I keep replaying Coming Home, in this stillness of night

Moscow opening night 2011 Maiden bootleg was very impressive recording. I love it but for bootlegs I personally like loud audiences. This was a bit muffled?
Moscow
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2CF3N743
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BT87G677
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8ZI8ID9S

Those interested should check out Wickerman.
Janick starts and the band continues, and seems as it should be Blood Brother, and Bruce was supposed to take his time to give a short speech, and he have to immediately start to sing Wickerman immediately after Trooper.
Was Bruce still removing the Red Coat of Trooper song costume? Because he can be heard saying "Hello!" once Janick starts and mumble something about " blood brothers ", which should be the right song to play with Bruce giving a speech first. Definitely the 1st verse was a great scene for those in the Moscow audience.
First night of the previous 2009 leg of the Somewhere Back In Time tour also I think has two minutes to midnite wrongly start from the Maiden planned setlist. I think that time was Adrian..
Also, Bruce really sings Where The Wild Wind Blows fantastically amazing.


Cut and paste of Todd's Diary for Singapore show

Check out the Nicko part where seems he can hear the audience OVER his drumming.

Also korang North Borneo Troopers nye gambo pun masuk dalam website official Maiden.

Todd's Diary - Singapore
Published: February 20, 2011


We flew out of Moscow some time in the afternoon on Saturday the 12th. Now we were supposed to leave at 3 but due to traffic, our car didn't make it in time so the flight was slightly delayed and the rest got on us a bit when we finally made it. This and the de-icing of the plane, which I'm told is very important. We finally landed in Singapore on Sunday at 9:00am after an exhausting 11 hour flight with a fuel stop somewhere I can't pronounce but near Dubai. Days were already becoming a blur and we were only on the second date of the tour!



The island of Singapore is located between Malaysia and Indonesia and surrounded by the Indian Ocean. About 23 percent of Singapore's land area consists of forest, nature reserves and rainforest, primarily Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. To the north of the Singapore River is the colonial district, with its many reminders of British rule.

We hit the tarmac after 9:00 am and again were met with a crowd of photographers and video crews and a lot of them were airport employees!!! Shouldn't they be guiding in planes or something?!?! When the hatch doors opened, I felt like I was in one of those British Invasion clips with all those screaming fans as the band waved and walked down the steps. It took us a little bit to get into customs as the band were pulled into photo ops with excited airline employees (again, what about the incoming planes?!? I guess meeting Iron Maiden is MUCH more of a priority than landing planes!). At some point Ian must have given "the look" and everyone dropped everything and marched in quickly. The WORST thing you want to hear is Ian look at you and say " Can I have a word?" You know you're in trouble when he calls you over.





What a difference in weather. We went from the sub zero temperatures of Moscow to the hot and humid climate of Singapore. I'm a California beach boy. I'm used to dry heat. Also, being a tour rookie, I was just a tad over-dressed for this this new climate with a sweater, jacket and jeans. I not only got it from the crew, I was soaked to the bone by the time we hit the tarmac. Rookie!

We were taken to the hotel in usual caravan fashion and after working a bit I decided, hey, I've been to Moscow so I am a well-seasoned traveller and can manage a trip out for food. I ended up taking a taxi around 11 at night to Mustafa Centre in Little India for a little bit of Indian food. I was a little reluctant to let the cab go but again, I was a seasoned traveller now. Fast forward to after 1am. I'm sitting in a taxi line for 20 minutes and finally decided to cut the line and grab one before they got to the taxi stop. Yeah...doesn't work. After over an hour of trying, getting hit by one in the process, I figured out that no one will pick you up by flagging so back to the line I went only this time much further back. I finally got back around 2:30 and crashed from exhaustion.

The next day was a non-show day as well. BTW-you NEVER says "day off" around here. Whisper it and expect some kind of response such "Oh you have a day off do you?". After some breakfast and a much needed shower, band photographer John McMurtrie, William from EMI and I grabbed a cab (after the night before I felt a little safer in numbers) to China Town for a look around before we had to be back to meet Bruce, Steve and Rod for dinner.

We got back, changed our shirts for the second time (very muggy) and met with Rod in the lobby for a beer. Bruce trickled down shortly after followed by Steve and off we went to Raffles Hotel, named after Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles, for some food and the infamous Singapore Slings (fruit juice mixed with gin and brandy).



I don't recall all to much other than at some point someone said it would be a good idea to return to our hotel in one of thecycle-driven rickshaws outside the front of Raffles. Squished into one rickshaw on a tiny seat was William, a six foot journalist and Bruce, speeding along the streets of Singapore racing Rod, John and myself on a second rickshaw. All I remember was there was some haggling going on and apparently the next morning Rod phoned William and asked if he remembered what happened. William had no clue. "You idiot" Rod chuckled. "You paid the guy 50 quid for 10 minute ride! Over here you ask how much *BEFORE* you get in" Rod laughed. "What did you pay?" William asked. "Nothing! He asked me and I told him I haven't gotten any money and I pointed at the wad of bills you gave him and said to take it from there, its more than enough for a 10 min ride and I walked off!" We do not take kindly to our team getting ripped off!





My stomach never seems to quit and I was still hungry so I walked across the street to see what they had to eat at the food carts courtyard. Against my better judgment I decided to try some kind of Indian type burrito. It looked safe and there were loads of tourists and locals there eating so I figured, what the hell, I have a little Imodium at the hotel and I dug in. Very tasty. I did take out my camera to grab a few shots but it was so humid, the camera lens steamed up and this is all I got.





SINGAPORE -- Show Night

Finally, off to Singapore Indoor Stadium with Bruce, Rod, William and Matt. Droves of fans were waiting for the band as we pulled into the carport. Of course we jumped out with the usual crowd chants of the crowds gathered at the end of the carport and Bruce jumped out and waved to everyone as we walked into the venue.



I LOVED the Singapore crowd. There are so passionate about Maiden. I've never seen more Iron Maiden patches, flags and t-shirts gathered in one place. I also noticed how young the crowd and how many girls were in the audience. I would guess the average age group was between 15-35. They appeared to come from many parts of SE Asia inc the North Borneo Troopers (see pic), with a number also from India, Australia and, of, course, our regular friends from Finland!!





As I was standing there waiting for the band to come on, one of the things I found interesting was each section of security up front had a huge tub of water near them that they handed to the thirsty crowd. Never seen that in the states and DEFINITELY not in LA. Anyway, when the lights went out and the band hit the stage, the crowd went ballistic! The band sounded phenomenal and they really played off the intensity of the Maiden fuelled crowd. Production, lights, sound, everything was in top form but then again, that's to be expected. It is a Maiden show. Nicko even remarked he could hear the crowd OVER his drumming!





At breakfast in the hotel that day a well-meaning older chap pointed out to Bruce that the ex-pat (ie British) contingent in Singapore were quite laid back so it could be a quiet concert. We don't know how many ex-pats were there, certainly some, but they sure as hell weren't quiet!!! Little do they know of Maiden and their fans!

After the show we headed back to the hotel to knock a few down so the band could unwind. I got into a cool conversation with Adrian about the old metal/hard rock scene and bands like Saxon, Tygers of Pan Tang, Angel Witch, Thin Lizzy and of course Gary Moore (RIP). During the course of the night, fans would summon up the nerve to ask for a photo and autographs. Funny thing, the professional side of me wants to tell fans to please let them have a breather after they just delivered an amazing show to them but the fan side me completely understands this mentality. I've been there many times before. What amazes me is that after all these years Maiden is really good to their fans and always try to accommodate when possible. They get it. It's rare these days with so many big egos out there. Another thing that impressed me was that they just got off stage and here they are, Bruce, Nicko, Janick and Adrian, discussing the set list, the song order and how well it all worked. Always in show mode and wanting to give the best performance possible.

The next morning, off we went. Luckily the flight to Jakarta was only a hour+ flight. Up The Irons Singapore!

- Todd



Hit page 2 for bonus shots!

Review Iron Maiden 15 Feb 2011 Singapore

A short review and observations on one of the biggest day in Singapore's (and to an extend Malaysia's) rock music fans history.
History is being made, the greatest band to walk the earth had come to play.
They first played Asia in Japan in 1981. Its ridiculous that it takes them 30 years to play South East Asia.

Entry to the Pen A (front standing area) Singapore indoor stadium was quite late, messy and a bit dangerous for the younger fans and ladies, what a joke using red and white tapes. Suddenly I remember that Double Trouble dislocated shoulder incident.
But the crowd control staffs do try not to make it worse. I just have to say I overhear a few guys behind me urging each other to keep on pushing the guys who are squeezed in front. Sorry but this is dedicated to them " knnbccb ". If someone gets hurt, then what is the fun? If things get serious, and the show is delayed or cancelled? Just because of this group of idiots. Anyway, I have a date with Maiden and to get into a problem with these type of people just before Maiden starts is not worth it.

Seeing some familiar faces, coming across friends, introduced to new friends, sms texts to old friends who are scattered everywhere in the stadium makes a nice feeling. Its sort of a unplanned reunion really going to these shows.

Earlier in the day, taking the MRT in the afternoon, coming across others with Maiden tshirts with a warm smile, and of course outside of Peninsula you can find Maiden fans gathering in the late afternoon. Even the previous day at JB, you can see travellers who seems bound for the Maiden show.

Ooo even having lunch of nasik ayam penyet at the hawker center and all of us in Maiden tees, and the nasik ayam penyet guy also mentioned " So today, Maiden is playing right? ", and also while we were window shopping and a shop seller say he cant go for Maiden's show because he need to keep his shop opened.

At 8 pm the opening band plays. One sentence about opener Rise To Remain, at least they are not booed, just the insistence chants of Maiden! Maiden! but the singer ( Bruce's son ) knows how to say the right things.

The waiting time for the changeover of the bands is filled with looking at the faces of the Maiden's crew on stage with some of them prominent in Maiden fanclub magazines and dvds and wriggling thru from nearer front to the back to keep in touch with my love ones in front and back

The MEXICAN WAVE by those in the seats are fantastic. Just like old days watching football at Kallang Stadium, ooo we are at the same area, no wonder la. The only thing missing is the expletive tat!tat!tat!tat!tat!tat!tat!tat!tat! BHUT* !! to the hated referee, linesmen and visiting teams Hahahaha.
Maiden old stories say, seeing Maiden is like watching a football game, but the whole stadium crazily supports for one team.
There are some caucasians Maiden fans near me, and they were impressed by the Maiden fans at the seats.

Oooo I got the full show's audio bootlegged recorded, but of course the most horrible recording with all the self made chaos by myself- jumping, shouting incoherent noises and attempts on singing, really act like a loony. The wire in my head got shorted once the piano intro to Doctor Doctor starts.
A bit embarrasing but I cant helped it, its Maiden. I am so sorry if my behaviour disturbs the peace of people around me haha.


The Show review.

Maiden intro tapes starts at about 8.55pm with UFO's Doctor Doctor from Strangers In The Night being the cue. Followed by Satellite 15.
The Final Frontier immediately followed by El Dorado and I really love the way the band starts the second song at the end of the first.
Dave Murray's smile was infectious from the beginning. Marvellous.


Surprised third song as I dont know the setlist. Two Minutes To Midnite. The crowd was awesome. And I am not sugar coating it. The crowd are superb, I keep turning around to the sides and behind, even those up at the highest seats seems to have a really great time just like we in front. Most of them standing already.
When Steve Harris was machine-gunning the audience just after the guitar solos break of this song, I was so happy to see that.

Bruce says next "How are you Singapore, This is the First Time For You and First Time For Us, and certainly its not going to be the last time". He also mentioned the fans from Japan, India and from where Maiden live who cant seems to get away.
Bruce says he was given a word of warning in the morning while having breakfast by a certain expat to be careful of the Singapore audience "who will be very quiet and will sit down."
Laughing my ass off when I heard Bruce says this, at least Maiden wont have a quiet and sitting down fan as long as I am part of the fans haha.
Luckily Bruce respond was 'Bullshit.'
Bruce says a few things about the meaning of Coming Home before Maiden starts the song.
Really love Bruce on this song, also his additional " Where Are We Going?!! " and " Singapore where are we? " before the chorus.
Adrian live solo for this song is already transformed haha. Its just the second time they are playing this song live.
This song Coming Home is so huge live. Cant wait for the official live in Chile 2011 dvd really.

Next, backdrop change and its the backdrop for.....could it be Dance Of Death?? A quick glance to Janick side, yes an accoustic guitar being setup!!...together with the poetry reading intro, I cant believe it, I think this was the best moment for me the whole night! I really love this song and to see this song live is a dream come true. I was so happy thruout this song haha. The crowd really knows to sing the two times melodic part of the instrumental section. I love this crowd haha. Really into Maiden.

Next, I see Bruce runs backstage on Dave's side...could it be? yes backdrop change to The Trooper. Very impressive and how the whole place love this song.
Only I noticed the madness began when the band starts this song, not when the backdrop already appears a moment earlier haha.
Did I say I keep turning around and look at those in the seats and seems everyone is having so much fun. I am very proud to see so much love for Maiden. I was listening again to the bootleg and find that the audience is really loud as one.
Anyway, Bruce never walk and wave his flag on the left platform for this song. He only goes to the right platform to disturb Janick with the flag during the solos.




Next, Bruce says " I do believe we have a sold-out show tonite here Singapore for the first time. ". And he mentioned this could be a start of playing a lot of new places in Asia. He says Maiden do not know what to expect before the show.
He mentioned Maiden could be back in London with the crowd last night because it was amazing and he's not bullshitting.
He says a thing about being Maiden fans everywhere in the world, they play to Muslim audience and tomorrow they're going to a big Muslim country ( Indonesia ) and no matter what religion or creed or what colour you are if you're into Maiden you're part of the family.

Blood Brothers next.
I am at the usual "kumpulan Wings on the Double Trouble stage" side of the audience haha but thanks to the big screen, we got Janick Gers for his climax solo of this song in all its glory.
Maybe I got to switch to Janick's side at least one time if I got a chance to see them again?

Wickerman next. Ooo I was expecting Ghost Of Navigator, but this one is so much pumping live song. Really love the audience singalong for this song especially the mass participation -hohoo hohoo hohoo hohoo- ending.

Backdrop changes to something I've never seen before... also the sound of blowing of winds!!
Yes! Where the Wild Wind Blows.
Bruce Dickinson really perform this song very well and with emotions. Arms around himself all that. I really like his singing for this song, although it would be nicer if he is in some kind of prop costume like in the backdrop artwork haha.
I was afraid for this song live, because seems during recording only Steve has a picture of what he wants and imagination of this song and he split the band recordings into seperate portions and Steve patch it all up into one complete super song. But live this song conquers. You dont realise this is a ten minutes song because its so good.
I cant see Nicko but his drumming is always there to remind us haha.

Talisman next. What I can say for this song is, its a new song, they only play it twice live, it will only get better and better. Its not an easy song for Bruce to sing each night, although he is said to like to sing this song live, and the placing of this song in the setlist really must be challenging for him.
I dont know, maybe some crazy thing happen, Talisman dropped for House Of Doctor D or Mother Of Mercy or worse Wratchild hahaha. Or maybe replaced by Starblind, I can dream can I.
The light show for this song is the best of the best. The one I like most. I was most of the time looking up at the lighting rigs flashing away haha.

Next The Evil That Men Do. A big surprise for me haha. Cue pandemonium as people around me were counting the " one two three four! " at the start. I like it surrounded by like-minded people. Another loud crowd participation song. Cant wait for the Maiden England DVD and next history tour and hope they play Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur too next time. More chance to see them haha.

Next Fear Of The Dark. The people of Helsinki 1992 which appears on A Real Live One will never expect that they transform this song into a live monster and how the rest of the world followed it. I was listening to the audio recording of this Singapore show and it was really magical moment. I think this bootleg version could turn out to be my favourite version of all Maiden live recordings of this song. Yes its a low quality one record by me but the crowd is so loud. Seems like everyone of the audience is singing it. I think I will upload the audio of this version to youtube.
I wasnt really paying attention on stage because I keep looking behind and it was a beautiful sight to see, the whole indoor stadium was having so much fun.

Iron Maiden is next, and how I love the start, the spotlight turns on one by one on each guitar player. Really nice lightings by Maiden, and this is just Singapore, it would be a spectacular lighting show in Europe if I can see them there.
Ooo before I forget, the walk-on hideous predator+motorhead ugly breeding combination that results in something we call Eddie appears on this song. After the show my better half mentioned that Eddie stays a bit longer on stage this time, I think so too, complete with a guitar hang on him, I really like the way Eddie walks over after fooling around with Janick and seems to signal for his guitar to the crew at the side.
End of main show, and Nicko came to the front to throw his drumsticks and cymbals covers.

Maiden takes a short break, the crowd were still in momentum, and the spoken intro for The Number Of The Beast is played. The light show is nice with all the red spotlights.
Love the " and I'll make Singapore fucking burns!! " part haha. How those who accuse Maiden of being Satanic must be shivering at the thought of this HAHAHA. Luckily we dont have people on the street with banners demanding cancellation and ban of the Maiden show here.

Hallowed Be Thy Name is next. Again cue pandemonium. The singalong, the usual screams on Bruce's signals during the instrumental break. Exciting. We always hear the screams on the live cds but its enjoyable to do it ourselves haha. Anyway again not for the first time tonite Bruce is not exactly 100% with his lyrics on some of the classic songs. Excusable as its just the second show.

Immediately after the Dave and Nicko delay ending to this song, which as far I am concerned they can delay it the whole night haha, Nicko starts Running Free.
For those familiar with bootlegs from the North American 2010 tour, Bruce throws his cap and wears a British Cop helmet. 'Helo! Helo! Helo! What have we got here' British cop routine.
"Spend The Night in a Singapore jail!"
and did Bruce mention something about caning while he is chatting away about being a law abiding 'Singaporean' citizen during the jam and singalong segment of this song? I really catch no ball of some of his talks.



TWO HOURS!! Thats whats the indication of my recording time including Doctor Doctor intro tape. Inclusive of Nicko's farewell when the band left the stage its 2hrs 1min haha. After that we have Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life weewit weewitt weewiitt weewiittt! played on the speakers.

So am I happy? Yes of course, Maiden can turn up for just one song but of course it must be Alexander The Great, and I would be very happy.
Its just the second show, they will be so much better once they are at Santiago to record this tour Live DVD.

So what is missing?
No Pyros. So is it only for the Singapore show? as maybe it is not approved by the authorities or is it for the whole tour? There were no pyros on the 2010 North American Final Frontier Tour too.
Still No behind the curtain huge Eddie too. I think Maiden still cannot fit this section into Ed Force One? maybe they need to change to a Jumbo 747 plane next time.

There are about two interviews before the show with Janick Gers by Today and Dave Murray by Straits Times, and I think the one statement that stands out is by Janick on this question and answer.
Do you think you’ll be working on new music on this tour and recording too? Well, we came out with the album at the end of the last tour, and this tour is meant for that album – although it’s slightly later than we planned. We finish in August, then we’ll take a break and put some new music together, so it’ll be the year after next I think!

So it means they have concrete plans in place and we will definitely have studio album number 16 coming out in 2013 or early 2014. Hip Hip Hurray. We can forget Steve Harris 'we will do 15' words. I really think Maiden will start their next history tour next year 2012 end of the year once the dvd of Maiden England come out, and by the looks of it, I think Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur will be on the tour dates and maybe they will skip Singapore for next tour if its end of 2012. Hopefully they play all three, but just my wild guess. Its a hard life ,the tickets prices is definitely not cheap, so I have to reduce all entertainment and skipping Pet Shop Boys and Belinda Carlisle concerts if they play in KL or Spore haha, and try to save it all up for the next Maiden tour tickets. Two years in advance. Pathetic. But first I hope to see Maiden again next week. Lets see if things work out as planned.

Last but not least , some photos. Front and back.

(Berulang aku tegur - Jangan keluarkan dari poket nanti hilang haha, pasal kejap2 keluarkan tengok kejap2 keluarkan tengok.)

Ulasan pendek Iron Maiden 15Feb2011 Singapura dan report Straits Times. Full review besok lusa kalau senang.

- Masuk PEN A memang macam celaka. Aku asyik terbayang je bahu terkeluar bila berasak tu. Kesian kat love ones aku. Tak sampai hati aku tapi apa nak buat. Maiden punye pasal. Korang baca report Straits Times aku tampal kat bawah.
Ada satu peminat dah beratur dari malam sebelumnye haha. Giler betul.

- Rise To Remain, aku tak boo langsung haha. Geng baik abis haha. Kira kejap je la aku civilised people.

- Mexican Wave. Ombak Mexico. Best ever la peminat2 kat seats. Salute. Korang ingat ni Malaysia Cup, Tiger Cup, Suzuki Cup ke dok? haha. Takde cuma tattattattattattattattat Bhu**!! kat cam siol nye referee, linesmen dan visiting teams aje haha.
- Muslims, Really aku suka Bruce mention pasal Muslims dalam suasana malam ni.
- Crowd happening giler, aku kejap2 toleh belakang, kejap2 toleh belakang dan kat seats, happening aku tengok sampai kat atas2 semua diri.

Penat lak taip sikit2 ni, aku curik2 taip ni.. nanti la malam aku buat full report giler babi nye apa aku nampak dan dengar kat show ni..
ok I leave you guys with the newspapers cutting of Straits Times Singapore hari ni. Kawan kerja aku kasi tadi... see? betapa best jadi peminat Maiden. Orang siap kasi sokkabar pasal ada review Maiden haha. Thank you my good fren.

Grave of Prophet Moses - Makam Nabi Musa dan majalah karisma baru

( I am still maintaining ignorance of Maiden's setlist. It will be lots of fun not knowing what is happening on Tuesday night if we do go.)

Apa pun, aku suka tengok suratkhabar lama, mungkin berita sukan dah basi, tapi ada berita masih penuh informatif dan menarik minat aku. Ni, bila aku ada masa, nanti aku ambik keratan2 suratkhabar yang aku sorok kat tepi, aku akan baca.
Pasal ni best pada aku, jadi aku share kat sini.
Aku betul harap dapat gi Baitulmuqqadis nanti, tak tahu cammana, tak tahu mana nak cekau duit, tapi Insyallah.
Tapi benda2 gini takkan aku nak pergi sorang, so Aku masih tak paham pasal paspot Msia or and Spore and mana negara boleh pergi or what, apa aku tahu pasport Singapore boleh masuk no problem, tapi kena bawak dua pasal tak mau ada clash kalau kena lalu imigresen beberapa negara lain. Lepas je guna clear imigresen Israel, tak pakai lagi dah. Aku tak paham untuk Msia nye, tapi tu hari aku tengok tv, crew TV3 lepas apa River Jordan waktu dorang buat rakaman untuk " apa tu makna Israel? " nye segment.
Ni semua angan2 mat jenin aje, tapi who knows. Cam aku cakap Reading and gaining knowledge is for everyone, sekolah tinggi ke sekolah rendah aje. kolar biru atau keja kontrek, semua as good as anyone. So is travelling, cuma pandai2 je la ikat perut bertahun2, mungkin berdozen tahun. Anyway, gi Baitulmuqadis pun kalau niat beribadah pun lagi bagus. Masing2 nye mentaliti la ni semua.

Ini ialah keratan suratkhabar singapura 27 dec 2010, pasal masjid dan makam Nabi Musa (Moses). Terletak kat Jericho , Jerussalem or Baitulmakdis.
Kumpul duit dari orang2 biasa, Cuba nak upgrade tempat tu.. pasang kemudahan asas etc.
Apa aku belajar baca ni ialah, kadang2 kita Tak yah nak tunggu golongan high and mighty, orang biasa mata-mata ramai2 pun Insyallah menjadi jugak. So well done.

Kat artikel pun cakap pasal Abu Dharda. Baru ni aku jumpa nama ni, tak pernah tau pun sebelum nye. Dia sahabat Nabi Muhammad dan majistret pertama kat Syam ( Syria ).


This is a last year Singapore news article on the condition of the Grave of Prophet Moses and also the mosque at Jericho Jerussalem.
It would be great to be able to travel there. I know, right now its beyond imagination for the expenditure, but..Who knows if tomorow I stumble on General Yamashita treasures haha.
The article talks about the financial contribution done by some well-wishers to ensure a more improved and comfortable visit to Moses Grave by visitors, such as toilet facilities , water supply etc.

Also interesting in the article is about a Abu Dharda, the first Magistrate or Judge in Syam which is now Syria.

I'll try to upload a few of the articles such as the grave of Prophet Abraham, Isaac etc next time.

Here are the news articles -


















































































Another thing, I bought the new issue of Karisma magazine with Maiden on the cover.
Many well written articles on Maiden, insightful and certainly not boring. Congrats to the writers of the Maiden segment which includes an old Maiden fan Krenmaut haha. So if you see this magazine in Malaysia, Singapore or Batam, buy it.
If you cant read Malay, buy it and get someone to translate all the long long articles for you.

Frustration

Here I am hoping not to know anything about the Russian show and guess what?
The first show of the new tour has not even start yet in a short while in Moscow and
Rod Smallwood ( Maiden's manager ) just post his internet diary and
on the bottom paragraph, this is what he typed




This has taken a couple of hours so it's almost time to go. I am always nervous but excited before the first show on a tour especially with a number of new songs involved ( especially can't wait for XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, already one of my all-time favourites -- gives me chills down the spine)

I had deleted the title. At least he can say " spoiler in last paragraph " haha.

But still... Its a SUPER SUPER SONG!! AND I AM HAPPY!!! HOOO HOOO HOOO!!!

I dont want to know!! lalalalala ( sambil tutup telinga )

This is quite a long post, a bit of Malay first.

Mulai lebih kurang 4 atau 5 jam dari skarang, Masuk je midnite Hari sabtu ( Moscow kul 7 malam gitu kot? ), sampai hari selasa ni, banyak website dalam internet aku takkan pergi.
- Aku tak mau tahu apa jadi kat Moscow, Russia
- Aku tak mau tahu apa lagu dimainkan
- Aku tak mau tahu cammana bentuk dan rekaan pentas, prop dan cahaya lampu pentas
- Aku tak mau tahu apa baju dan pakaian dorang pakai.
Tak Mau Tak Mau Tak Mau.

Pasal aku nak rasa thrill dia. Aku nak surprise!!, surprisee!! surprise!!
sepanjang 100 minit pada hari Selasa ni.
Mungkin pun dengar intro satu lagu tu aku akan mengeluh " lagu ni dorang bawak?!!, takde lagu lain ke!!!" . ( Ini akan terjadi kalo Wildest Dream ada haha ).



Ok, Firstly check out the damage on Ed Force One nose. Something must have happened.
ooo Love the photos of Ed Force One in Moscow Airport at night,
and also all these fans, lucky fans who travelled from all over the world and meet Janick in Moscow Red Square.
Background song in my mind now " MOTHER RUSSIA " hehe.

Roughly a few hours more after this blog is posted, late night Friday onwards , I will stop going to some websites, as I am trying my best not to know what is happening on the first gig in Moscow.

If all goes to plan, we are going for the second show of this tour, so I think I can managed to keep myself in a well and be blissfully unaware of the setlist , the stage designs, props, lightings and what Maiden is wearing this time around.

I want to be delightfully surprised song after song, and of course I am ready for a short sigh if I hear the Wildest Dream intro haha. I really dont know why I got a compatibility problem with this song.

Just for some fun, I give myself some headache, going around the possibilities and whats been said and whats been done..

So I think this is the setlist

Intros :

Doctor Doctor

Satellite 15

----------------

-The Final Frontier

-El Dorado

-Ghost Of The Navigator

-The Trooper

-(Welcome Speech and) Coming Home

-Talisman

-The Number Of The Beast

-Two Minutes To Midnite or Wasted Years or Where Eagles Dare

-These Colors Don't Run

-(Dedications and) Blood Brothers

-Run To The Hills

-Fear Of The Dark

-Iron Maiden

-(Band Introductions and) Where The Wild Wind Blows

-Hallowed Be Thy Name

-Running Free

I would be happy if above is the setlist, I think asking for Starblind, Isles Of Avalon, Paschendale, Dance of Death and For The Greater Good Of God is too much.

Also have you all seen this facebook screen?

"Steve's" is the funniest.




Another thing, the first 55 copies of the new fan written book on Steve Harris is sold out.
















































Thats about it, I know some of you guys will be following the twitter of those inside the Moscow Olympic Hall, describing what is happening song by song.

Up The Irons and hopefully I can make it next Tuesday haha.

apa harga sekeping lukisan tak siap dan dikoyakkan?

Korang sanggup bayar beratus2 tak? lukisan artis kegemaran korang yang tak siap, dan dah kena koyak tiga?

I find this amusing, so I share it here.
Derek Riggs tried an incomplete watercolor Eddie it seems, dont like it, tore it up into 3 pieces.
His missus picked it from the dustbin, and put it on ebay.

Winning Bid was US$305. The winner is a member of the fanclub.

































Personally, having a personalized Eddie drawn by Derek, a one of a kind drawing, is great. If he comes out with another book, yes, I would again email to get him to draw me something I want haha.
I am targetting a personalised " stranger in a strange land " eddie next haha

Next Week

A beauty, just a bit boring because of the same old Yellow Blue Lettering,
I'm not surprised if they use a spare from 2008 plane.
Other than that, all is ok, although I prefer the "rumoured" dark blue color body.

The cross keys Eddie will really look nice on the engines of the plane once its fully covered up.
The name of the cities looks nice, I think its worth getting the model of the new plane if it comes out for sale , ( and also if I can afford it, ) just because of 'Singapore' is in it and of course a few places that I hope to backpack to see them also.

As you can see the names of the cities on the old plane model is sharp enough to be seen.

The saying goes failing to plan is planning to fail.. but at the same time another saying goes We can only plan and prepare but God decides. (kita mampu merancang, hanya Tuhan menentukan ). So lets see how it goes.

February is a super busy month
1) Maiden in Singapore, to ensure everyone got a Maiden Tshirt for that night and not still in the laundry.
2) Rumah Spore ada hdb internal upgrading..
3) Backpacking trip to Australia on purpose to coincide with Maiden playing at Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane.
4) Abstaining from surfing any rock music related website from 12th onwards to ensure I dont know the Moscow Setlist/ how the stage looks/ what stage clothes they are wearing.

Again, we see how it goes. Most important is I have put in much effort since some time back for all of the above.


I got a new tshirt, not going to wear it for the Singapore show though.
I always like Maiden designs in white T, such as the fanclub 2008 design.
This is made by a Maiden fan, and I got one from him the other day.
He can contacted thru http://www.facebook.com/jayfrihashim
the design on top and also the Gong Xi Fa Cai Eddie Rabbit are also done by him, and I congkong it for use here.

Aku tak tahu untuk korang, tapi untuk aku, aku kalau boleh tak mau tahu setlist Maiden main kat Moscow untuk 11hb ni, pasal aku rasa berbanding ngan peminat2 lain satu dunia kita beruntung di mana kita dalam situasi kita boleh tak tahu apa lagu2 dorang main.

Maiden ni jangan harap la dorang nak tukar2 setlist tiap2 malam,
jadi bila show ni sampai kat tempat2 lain bulan depan dan seterusnye, peminat2 satu dunia dah tahu apa lagu dorang nak bawak..
Tapi kita..tak. pasal kita show kedua.

Thrill beb, pasal aku pernah untuk Somewhere Back In Time 2008, aku langsung tak masuk internet nye rock websites pasal aku tahu show aku pergi tu jam ialah show kedua selepas Mumbai India.
Jadi memang thrill, abis satu lagu, aku tak tahu lagu apa seterusnye...
Dan happy, pasal aku teka Moonchild , Clairvoyant, HBTN ialah encore dan betul.

Kelakarnye, bila Maiden keluar encore, aku tengok gitar tong kat Dave Murray nye posisi, aku pikir, sial la lagu apa ni dorang nak main ada gitar tong.
Pasal, tu la pertama kali Maiden main Moonchild ngan intro sekali,
Dulu 1988 dorang akan guna intro tape, jadi memang happiness betul aku bila dorang start lagu ni..

Glorious Food..Enticing Food..

Snapping food photos while everyone is in a 'hungry-hungry hippo' mode is a bit like the song
BE QUICK OR BE DEAD.
So here are some of the photos of the dishes at different places that were fortunate enough to be snapped before they are gone forever.

A Eddiefied Year Of The Rabbit

Wishing everyone who is Chinese a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Gong Xi Fa Cai in the year of the rabbit, Selamat Tahun Baru Cina

I know the flooding is so horrible for some who balik kampung these few days.

and I really like this artwork..

I pressume its a lobotomised Eddie Rabbit haha.

Maybe kept as a pet in the Piece Of Mind mental asylum?

Hope to meet up with this creative person soon.

Up The Irons.