So there i was at work on Monday 1st July 2008, 9am as usual, i checked my email to find…….I was one of only a handful of people who will sing 'Heaven Can Wait' Live on Stage with IRON MAIDEN.
I could not believe it, My favorite Band of all time and little old me?

I had a ticket for Twickenham standing already, but saw in the previous Friday’s edition of The Sun in the Bizarre column, a competition for the above, why not i thought…….i entered and I won.

So what happened…

Well i have to say, IRON MAIDEN were on form from the word go, From Winston Churchill's intro to Aces High (Also the answer to the competition) To the lights coming on, and the famous ERIC IDOL Hit, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

I’m 2 months from 30 years old and i was a kid again, I even Crowd Surfed for the first time since i was about 17 to my favourite (And best song of the night) The Trooper, i have already told my wife that is the song i want playing when i leave this earth – can you imagine the faces at my funeral??

I was told that i could bring someone, And because he introduced me to Maiden and was still one of their biggest followers, i asked my brother.

My Brother had decided to hire a limo for him and others who were going and met me in a considerably drunken mess – the nerves of singing with ‘Bruce Dickinson’ finally got to him i think.

We were told to go to the side of the stage at the start of song 8 Rime Of The Ancient Mariner and we, along with Iron Maiden Fan Club Winners would be taken to the stage for the Chorus Of ‘Heaven Can Wait’, I did this and waited for my brother – who had at this point been in the crowd with me and forgot the cue. I rang him and thank god for Vibrate, He came with seconds to spare and we were taken up behind the band and told what to watch out for to go on stage.

This was the first time that i had seen the band so up close, even from the mosh pit they look different. I was feet away from Nicko McBrain, The greatest drummer on the planet and my all time hero.

I was sweating and now becoming a girl and getting a little emotional…….

We were on, 80,000 fans in front of us screaming and following Bruce Dickinson's cue to raise the volume, i danced and jumped about again like a teenager and sang my heart out.

I looked over to my brother who was posing with one foot on the monitor(Ala Steve Harris) Pointing to his T shirt – Needlessly but taking advantage of getting his band 'Drugdealer Cheerleader' promoted via the big screen and hopefully the DVD release. Tut Tut Big Bro.

But then we had to leave, We jumped down and ran back to the front of the crowd, But the only things i remember after this were the Song Iron Maiden Eddies 2 appearances and Some idiot trying to pick pocket me

WE DO NOT WANT YOUR SORT>>>>

He didn’t ruin my day…

All i have to add is that i want to say to anyone who has not experienced IRON MAIDEN, go now, find tickets and buy their back catalogue (Even with ‘Blaze’ ) you will be a fan for life.

I hope the new album has a few shorter tracks this time around, there is nothing wrong with any epics, but with their popularity growing, lets get them in the charts on The Radio and recognised as one of the major influences in world music.
Maiden are here to stay, Let the Kids hear them…

The shows are superb and the atmosphere is always fantastic, I have seen them more times than i can remember and have never been let down (Again, even with Blaze)

The band is also in its prime with the best line up they ever had, and guys who look like they love to play, all with smiles,

…..and like wise the crowd

Thanks, The Sun, EMI, Eddie RIP, Nicko, Bruce, Steve, Dave, Janick and Adrian, I Love ya!

The full setlist for the night was as follows:

Aces High 10/10
2 Minutes to Midnight 10/10
Revelations 10/10
The Trooper 666/10
Wasted Years 10/10
The Number of the Beast 10/10
Can I Play with Madness 10/10
Rime of the Ancient Mariner 10/10
Powerslave 10/10
Heaven Can Wait 665/10
Run to the Hills 10/10
Fear of the Dark 10/10
Iron Maiden 10/10
Moonchild 10/10
The Clairvoyant 10/10
Hallowed Be Thy Name 10/10

www.ironmaiden.com