Part 4.
Iron Maiden gig in St.Petersburg, 2011-07-10
I met Nika and her friend, who was to take her as his guest, and who, I knew, didn't like Janick, being a long time Adrian's fan. But thankfully he didn't say a word against him, once he saw my shirt :) We got to the venue quite early, so we went to the nearby store to buy some water, then walked around it to find Gate 4, where they were to give us the wristbands, didn't spot it or rather mistook it for just a technical entrance, 'coz there were large black trucks undoubtedly carrying IM equipment. The gate was open, so we didn't see the number on it. We went to the main entrance, and asked the security guy - he told us that #4 was the main door. I thought it was suspicious, but what could I do? So we waited with the rest of the crowd, which was quite small and not organized in usual queues as it happens in Moscow and was organized perfectly in Finland. But once it was time to issue the wristbands and then past that, we started to get a bit worried. Luckily, I got a call from a guy I promised to give my spare wristband to - he was already at the gate 4, and it was exactly that one with the black trucks. I fucking knew it! But I decided that the Piter locals would know better :) Stupid of me, I should always listen to my inner voice :)
But nevertheless we got to the gate on time, got the wristbands and joined the small queue of IMFCers. Among them there was a couple from Rio, Brazil! That's amazing! I knew about an Aussie and a Canadian who were coming to the St.Pete gig, and now Brazilians. People from every corner of the world! What other band has such dedicated fans? :D And then the 4th gate were closed! The security guy told us that we won't be let in here and that we should use the main entrance. Fucking hell! We went there but of course no one was about to let us in ahead of the rest of the crowd. Still we fought our way ahead to one of the doors, so when they opened, the local IMFC gang got in first. We found another gate 4 already inside the venue, while the most active guy from the fan club tried to find out what was going on. Not counting on much, I gradually made my way to the front of the door, so I would be let it one of the 1st, fttb or not - I wasn't going to give up on my place in front of Jan that easily :) There we waited for another hour or so, during which came the news that our fttb wristbands certainly wouldn't gain us any early entrance. Well, that's Russia for you! People from the FC were furious, 'cuz many of them joined just for the FTTB, not because they love the band. But I think we should be used to it by now :) Finally, the door opened, we rushed inside and half a minute later I was at the barrier, in a perfect spot to the right of the stage - or so I thought initially. Turned out it was too close to the center, so I was standing mostly in front of Steve and could see mostly Janick's bum :) Well, can't be 100% right on the 1st gig :D
I had a nice company around me - a guy on the left read Neil Gaiman in the original on his phone and shared some candies and the girl on the right was a great fun to talk with so we even decided to meet after the gig :) At a little past 7 the opening act started playing - the local band called Lowriderz. Nobody liked 'em... The music was reminiscent of Dawn, and it didn't suit Iron Maiden crowd at all. Almost no one even clapped. I did. A bit :) You gotta show some respect :) But I was damn glad when they were finally gone :) And what a contrast that was to the opening act before the Helsinki gig just 2 days ago :D
Iron Maiden crew took their place on the stage, tuning the instruments. Before the gig and during the Lowriderz set there was a camera guy standing almost in front of me, right in the direction of Janick. I was quite upset about it when I realized that he'll be standing there the whole gig. But I needn't have worried! One of IM guys came and told him to fuck off from there, 'coz the fans won't be able to see behind him :) In exactly these words :) And get rid of the tripod too and hold the camera on his shoulder like it's done on the other gigs. How much the crowd cheered! And even more when he pointed one of the stage fans at us briefly - it was damn hot there!
A little time later, less then I expected, 'Doctor doctor' started playing, then the lights went off and the show started! It's an absolutely different experience when you're standing in the front row! I can't even express how excited I was!
During the intro to the Sattelite 15 everyone watched the stage very intently for the 1st sign of any of the band members. And I spotted Bruce, but not on the stage yet :) I saw his feet (!!!) showing upside down behind the left part of the decoration :) Like if he stood on his hands :) Oh, Bruce, you never cease to amaze me :D
A short time after that the band ran out on the stage and since then my attention was focused only on one guy - mister Janick Gers :D And it was absolutely fantastic! Watching Janick playing and dancing and jumping around (and humping his guitar :D) just a coupla meters away from you is absolutely incredible! Yes, I'm hooked for life, no doubt about that :) As if I wasn't before :) But now it's even more prominent :)
It was incredibly hot in the venue. Jan and the others were dripping sweat. I haven't seen them so wet on any video I watched :D Not that I complain about that - looking at a sweaty Janick is very...lets say...exciting :lol: But also because of that Janick may have hurt a finger on his left hand - it may have slipped on a string or smth like that, but he obviously was a bit uncomfortable with it closer to the end of the gig :( He still played amazing though! That bit before his solo and the solo itself from Blood Brothers - no words to describe it :) And FotD - the thing that inspired me to pick up the guitar again. And Dance of Death, a little part of which I filmed on video - so I can perv on dancing Janick for months to come before the next tour! And... Everything, really :)
Jan was his usual whirlwind of energy self, not standing still for more than a second, apart from the times when he played acoustic guitar. Talisman sounds absolutely fantastic live! As does When The Wild Wind Blows, which caught my attention back at the Moscow gig. But now everything was twice as good, 'coz I knew all the lyrics, every riff and solo, and was watching it from the best position imaginable :D And how he runs and dances, and jumps during FotD! Just how much energy this 54-year=old man has? :D
What disappointed me a bit - is that Jan doesn't pay as much attention to the front row as I thought. He looks further into the audience. As a consequence, he didn't notice my custom t-shirt with his name and portrait on it until the second half of the gig. But when he finally did, he squinted to see it better and gave me such a smile that I thought I would melt right there and then :) And then he reached to me, as he usually does. Daaaaamn! Fantastic! But I wish I had an Aussie flag to draw attention, as I planned before the gig, but I couldn't find one. But it doesn't matter, he still noticed it in the end :) Don’t know though if he recognized me or the picture on my shirt from the day before, but it doesn’t matter much :)
But in fact I stood not so much in front of Janick, but more in front of Steve. And he's amazing too! What is it with British bassists that they love to ‘shoo’t from their basses? :D And I just love the way he looks right into your eyes, almost inside your soul, and watches, if you sing along or not :) I did, every single line :D Before my trip I had a bit of a cough and wasn't sure if I'd be able to sing during the whole 2 gigs. But after the Helsinki show the cough was mysteriously gone :) Iron Maiden not only brings an awesome mood, but also heals! :D
During the first song Bruce's mike stopped working, even though everything was checked and rechecked by the crew before the IM set. But I didn't even notice it at first - I was singing along, but then I noticed that it was a bit quiet. But it got fixed pretty fast. Also Bruce said how Moscow was ok, but St.Petersburg is the real deal! I booed :) St.Pete's organization was definitely shit :) His jokes however mostly repeated what I already heard in Helsinki 2 days ago. But watching him sing the beginning of Dance of Death right in front of me, with joking about that "one drink and no more" is really cool! If only he didn't blocked Janick from my line of sight :D
But the coolest moment of the show was during Coming Home. Our fans decided to do something special during the gig. And as the chorus of this song started, they launched dozens of paper planes into the air! Bruce was really surprized and very happy to see it :) Some of the planes landed on the stage, and Bruce picked them up and threw back to the audience. He was so into it, that he almost forgot to sing. And it all looked fantastic! You can watch the video
HERE :) For once I'm really proud of our fans for coming up with such a great idea. As far as I know it hasn't been done before! And it bring a nice dose of spontaneity into otherwise well defined set.
Dave and Adrian rarely went to our side of the stage, as usual. But when Dave came, it's amazing what a good rapport he has with Janick on the stage. They are always joking and laughing. And during The Wickerman they even sang the oh-oh-oh part in Steve's mike :) Janick looks beautiful when he sings, pity, he doesn't do that often :)
Adrian was wearing a tank top due to the heat, not his usual waistcoat. And if in the beginning of the gig it looked normal, when he returned to our side near the end of the gig, his neckline was *very* low probably 'coz of the heat and extensive sweating, revealing a very big portion of his chest. I'm not H's gal, but I gotta admit it looked damn sexy :)
Nicko couldn't be seen much behind his drumkit, only a coupla times I caught a glimpse of his blond head :) But he still was awesome!
If I'm honest, everything was just as usual (except the paper planes part), I knew the setlist since February, I knew what to expect and where to look, but the fact that I experienced it from the first row makes it the greatest gig I've ever been too! During the 5 months break after my 1st gig I came to appreciate and love every song in the setlist which didn’t change since then. But still my most favourite ones are songs from 2000 onwards – long, powerful and complex. Like Dance of Death, Blood Brothers, Talisman and WTWWB. And during the last 2 the backdrops on the stage are absolutely amazing! And the Big Eddie looks fantastic up close :)
And the Janick's fight with the walking Eddie, and the way he runs between his legs never gets boring :) And neither do Janick's antics with his guitar during 'Iron Maiden' :) Up close you can see, how difficult it actually is, though I never doubted it :) And the guitar between the legs and the amp thrust - incredible to watch with your own eyes :)
As a bonus for the fantastic concert, I caught Steve's wristband! I'd prefer Janick's, of course, but he threw it too far to the left and someone was faster than me... Steve's wristband was very wet with sweat, and stayed that way for almost the whole next day :)
Once the gig ended, "Always look on the bright side of life" started playing from the speakers - and this time, unlike in Helsinki, hardly anyone sang it. I still didn't care and sang and whistled and danced to it on my own - so elated I felt :D The perfect song to ensure you have the best possible mood after the gig, as if the Maiden set itself isn't enough for that :) And I sang and whistled it for days to come :D Addictive bugger :)
Some people complained about the quality of sound. I never felt anything was wrong with it. I could hear Jan's guitar perfectly, 'coz his monitor was quite near - and I didn't need anything else, really :D
On a side note, next time I'm going to the gig - I'm leaving the camera at home :lol: I'm quite obsessive with it :) If I have it in my hand, I can't stop taking pics, and while standing at the front it's quite difficult to reach your bag and put it away. Just for the record, my little 'gig camera' had 976 photos on it :) I think that about 150 are not from the concerts, the rest are live shots over 2 days :) That shows you my addiction to taking pics (about 80% of which are of Janick :D). But such excessive snapping has an advantage too - I've got quite a lot quality shots (20% is a good number for a shitty compact cam). Anyways, next time I definitely go without a cam :D, even though I'm good at concert multitasking - I still rock to every song and sing every line :)
So, as you probably already guessed, the gig was one of the most fantastic experiences I've ever had! I only wish there was more of it. Even two Maiden shows in the row aren't enough. Just 4 months ago I thought that other FCers who went to 10-15-20 gigs a year were a bit crazy. 2 months ago I thought that 2-3 gigs is cool, you don't need more since the setlist is the same every time. Now? Now I totally understand Lis and all the other IM-travelers - the more gigs, the better. And it's never enough! Next tour, here I come! :D
