1st song of the 1st concert on the 2008 world tour, and the 1st time a western rock band with full stage show came to Mumbai. Played on a hand-constructed wooden stage rig where elephants were used for some of the heavy lifting. There were 35,000 people inside the fences but more people left on the outside, making for a pretty serious security situation. A historical musical day for the country of India, no doubt. It opened up access substantially.

What amazes me is that they're in their 70's and still doing shows like they were 50 years younger. Talk about consistency and showmanship.

As a band, they're second to none at gelling together. They just seem to know what everybody else is doing, and it just clicks. Absolutely brilliant band. Their Live shows are just pure energy... it's rock and roll at it's best...

They are making the most important thing to me, giving people happiness on the masterclass level.

Mumbai, India was the first concert with which they opened the Somewhere Back In Time World Tour in 2008. I also saw them on this tour in Europe.Their sound as a band it s incredible.The sound of the drums hited me in the stomach:)))Nicko's drums tuning also....perfection.

Nicko is top notch!! Always in my top 5 all time favorites. Amazing he gets all that sound with a single kick !!

If you haven't already, go back to the start and have a go with the live version of Phantom of the Opera with Clive Burr.

Maiden have had a lot of peaks in their career, and the Golden Years tour (2008-2009) was definitely one of them. Revisiting their most legendary tour (World Slavery), an incredible setlist packed with hits, a killer stage show, playing football stadiums internationally...it was an awesome time to be a Maiden fan. I was at the New Jersey show where they recorded Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which you also reacted to. The Flight 666 documentary (where this performance is from) is amazing too.

Those bell patterns are Nicko's signature sound

Paschendale live is another epic

Sadly, Nicko, who is now 71, suffered a stroke in Jan of 2023 and was partially paralyzed for awhile. Through a lot of hard work, he has recovered, and toured in the summer of 2023 but has had to simplify some of his playing. But he is still a solid drummer. Even now Maiden is still doing shows with the same energy and I feel even more enthusiasm and enjoyment than they did in the 80's and 90's.

"THE MASTER" Steve Harris is kicking ass on that bass

got to catch them a few times around this era, 2010 was my 21st and last Maiden show, my first being 1990 with Anthrax. I think they were all as good as ever, live, but had the advantage of maturity and loving being together far more than they did in the 80s and 90s when youth, booze, vinegar, made it a higher stress thing all around (to the point of Smith and Bruce leaving, after all). The shows I caught for 2009 and 10 were simply fantastic. Somewhere Back in Time one year, Final Frontier the next. Loved every second of both, but I am as a HUGE fan of Brave New World thru Final Frontier era of Maiden as I am of the 80s stuff.

I’m a drummer. I’m pretty average, not fantastic or anything, but you know decent. Nicko McBrain is my role model in terms of how I approach my style of playing. The amount of times I have tried to just play along to Aces High and failed… man… I usually make it through the intro and verse, but the bass drum and ride pattern in the chorus just kills me! It’s an amazing song, and the Nicko’s work should not be underestimated. He’s just brilliant!

Being down front on the barrier in front of Steve at the end when he machine guns the crowd with his bass & the song wraps was a bucket list item for me. I was fortunate enough to live it out a handful of times on the Legacy tour and I damn near cried tears of joy. There is no better live band. Period. Up the Irons 🤘

This was in Mumbai, India, considering Maiden get ZERO airplay in India, it shows you their power to attract a crowd of this size all through word of mouth. Amazing. 🤘🏻🤘🏻 #UpTheIrons

You have to see sign of the cross from the rock in Rio concert. One of my favorites

How good a pick Nicko was following up Clive became clear with the very first song he performed: "Where Eagles dare" from Piece of Mind. Go for it! Also a special treat for you should be the ONLY song EVER with Nicko playing double bass pedal; something that really challenges him: "Face in the Sand" from Dance of Death.

Still blows me away that Nicko played all of their songs with a single kick-drum.

Holy fuk, what an incredible performance. I’m in Australia and I have tickets for September. Up the Irons.

Thank you. Looking forward to your cover with eager anticipation.

Greetings, I remember crying for listening for the 1 and only time in Ecuador at the opening, so powerful and clear sound, it was the same tour from the video, the best time of my life!

Brother it was in Mumbai and I was there Up the Irons 🤘🏻🤘🏻

Andrew, you have YET to experience the BEST Iron Maiden songs...

I've been going to see them live since the mid 80's and I 100% agree this 2008 show was peak Maiden.

I would argue that every Iron Maiden show is peak Maiden. The older they get the better they get.

They are STILL amazing live! Saw them in 2022 and going again in November this year.

I saw Maiden 2019 Legacy of the Beast Aces High was the opening song. It was amazing. Also had a B-52 flying over the stage and part of the audience. The best live show ever

Saw them twice on this tour, at Twickenham and at Wacken. Both incredible shows. Can’t believe it’s 16 years ago now! I haven’t seen them since. I need to rectify that.

They've been at their peak for 40 years, amazing band.

Thwy still are the PEAK of Metal. SAw them last year my 6th time live and they didn't lose some of their energy and fun since I saw them my 1. time 20 years ago. and I will going to see them live again when they play next time in switzerland for sure.

Great Stephen Taylor interview man. Loved it

Excellent, some metal! \m/

One of the most creative Heavy Metal bands of all time! Up The Irons!

Saw this tour at Twickenham stadium, was awesome. Finally saw Alexander The Great live last year, still one of the best live bands out there.

I love everything about them except their music! But despite that small detail I can definitely still appreciate their shows and showmanship.

UP THE IRONS !!!!

Maybe you have noticed but Nicko plays the drum kick matching the bass perfectly

Aaaahhh… my very first indoor concert. 12/21/1984 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL. 9th row center!! We paid $50/ticket from a scalper… saved for months. Twisted Sister (Stay Hungry tour) opening for Iron Maiden on the Powerslave tour where of course they opened with Churchill’s Speech into Aces High!! Peak would have been this tour. They’ve been like this since 1984.

I play this in a cover band, and it's really cool! A fun thing about the song is that the tempo subtly increases as it progresses. It's a real workout!

One of their greatest tunes! Awesome reaction!

I got to see this tour in Ohio!! 🤘🏾🤘🏾it was killer!!

Saw them in 1988. Still the best concert i have ever been too. Of course i am a die hard Maiden fan, so there is that. Lol

Iron Maiden ❤

This song is about Spitfire pilots scrambling to engage the enemy. Great reaction. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

🤩👍💥💯🎼 *UPTHEIRONS* "Churchill´s Speech"....and then Let´s GOOOOO !!! 🤘😎💙🎶

I love 😊Clive Burr style too.

Nicko was playing with the Royal Marines band the other week for a couple of nights at the Royal Albert Hall for RM and RN charities. There are some clips on youtube.

As a youngling Powerslave was the first album I bought. In those days cassettes were all the rage. Great album!

Been a day since this has popped on my USB vehicle playlist.

Fantastic T-shirt!

Aces High opens up the Powerslave album from 1984. Would love to see your take on the song Powerslave from Long Beach Arena from the World Slavery Tour. Mad Mummy Eddie and Adrian Smiths favourite solo. 🤞🤘

Maidens' music is for the ages....timeless

I was at Twickenham on this tour. Absolutely epic show

Always fun to watch!

Luckili I played on drums for several years. And I uderstund. I adore his style🥁😁

actually hard to believe that bruce isnt on Coke 100% of the times

My intro to Nicko was Where Eagles Dare. Probably my favourite Maiden track

Caught Somewhere In Time!!! You should react to that song🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

Going to see them this year in Ft. Worth TX. Can’t wait!

They had 2 peaks really, 84/85 and yeah about 2008 ish. Live After Death had great playing from that era, but Clive Burr shouldn't be forgotten, his feel gave maiden the X factor from 79/80 to 82 when he was fired. Bit of a pisser, was a fantastic drummer.

Hi, check out Sign of the Cross from Rock in Rio 2001! Great drumming by Nicko!!

Playing Spark Arena in Auckland on the 16th of September this year... just putting it out there...

Insane crowd!!!

Bruce was 50 that summer, celebrating his birthday in Hungary, at the "zeroth" day of the Sziget Festival 🫡

The nod at the end says it all

I know that Maiden peaks at their live shows, but I'd love if you look at studio versions of some of what I think are their most underrated songs (that they seldom or never do live)... My personal favorite, "22 Acacia Avenue"; also "To Tame a Land" (I think you'll appreciate the base there); "Back in the Village" (insane guitar intro in that one) As far as live shows go, I'd suggest: Brighter than a thousand suns (from live at Abbey road) Sign of the Cross (this is from Bailey era but there's the 2001 live Rock in Rio version with Bruce)

Hey Andrew, so remember back when you did Austin Archey (Lorna Shore) and you wanted to see a live drum-cam of him? See if he could maintain that level of zen in a live setting? Well, he finally remembered his youtube password and posted a drum-cam of their hardest song on drums. Into The Earth, it's about 290 BPM. He plays it perfectly, and well.... I'm not gonna spoil anything about the zen, but I watched it twice, second time just watching his face. Also, as a bonus, there's a footcam in the corner of the video the whole time! He knows what the ladies like. Here's a link! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iLpppdmnqdLGpHU.htmlsi=014_hPuzR_oxn7Dc P.S. was gonna try and paypal this but that's too much for me, so I'm gonna resort to spamming, again. :)

Awesome how all these metal bands are finding a second (or third) life in Asia and India. Hard to compete with a big live show, but you should check out the Japan band Nemophila - here is their cover of Aces High - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/f9WBdNmhzq_Ifqs.html

Remember, Nicko uses only one kick on his bass drum. He believes that using doulble-kicks is, quote: undrummerish.

Oh my god what a beautiful t shirt

love nickos drumming

Great reaction. Just another point to keep in mind, on this first show of this tour starting in India before moving on to Australia and around the word, everyone in the band other than Bruce was ill before the show. But like true professional s the show must go on. Great video that follows them on tour. Check it out if you get the chance. Up the Irons!!!

One of the best songs of the band, but at the same time it is one of the main causes of Bruce's vocal wear and tear. Singing this song for an entire year almost every day during several non-stop tours destroyed his vocal cords. He himself demanded that the song not be played again on the last tour, because his throat was almost dead after each concert (on the previous tour they played it at the end, when he was already exhausted).

Kings.

This song is the opening song of 1984th Powerslave. Yes, they played it still this fast. Last time 2018/2019/2022 at the Legacy of the Beast Tour. With a Spitfire under the roof. One of my favs of Maiden. 2022 Aces High was first time the closing track of the setlist. Great tune for an ending track. The way to the door gets a bit faster .. do do do diiiillliiiiliiiliii😂 Maybe you react some material of the last album "Senjutsu" recorded in spring 2019, released in sept 2021. "Hell on Earth" would be great. Sad thing, there is only smartphone footage on the internet. Mostly in 4K front of stage, so its okay.

I love the shirt color with the SWIT

Don't forget Bruce also flyed the plane with the whole crew and equipment to India! Ed Force One! ✈️

Hi Andrew new subscriber here I’ve been a maiden fan for many many years can’t beat them,are you going to see them this year ?

Awesome review man! I suggest you listen to stranger in a strange land from the 2023 future past tour you will love that one man it's a great video!

It's crazy to think , when you go back to this Performance, half the guys (Adrian Smith, Steve Harris and Bruce Dickenson) were sick with stomach virus, there were buckets around the stage in case they needed to vomit......, Unreal stuff, the way The Perform Live.., It's Incredible

This is Rock, Heavyrock💪💥🥁👍

I saw I.M in 2019 in Hartford Connecticut and they had the best stage show I've ever seen The set pieces the sound although I don't think $150 USD for outdoor lawn seats was not with it Otherwise a great show 🤘✌️🧐😎

I think you should check out some B-sides for more excellent drumming. The B-sides of the singles in 1984, Aces High & 2 minutes to midnight are perfect. Rainbows gold & King of twilight.

Love the shirt!

I suggest you to watch and react to Trooper live from Tokyo (Flight 666 tour, 2008, the same of this video). The fill by Nicko at the beginning is epic. 👏 for your work

FKN BRILLIANT! 🤘❤🤟

And now NanowaR of Steel: afraid to shoot into the eye of a stranger in a strange land

I couldn't play Nicko's cymbal setup. He has a bell cymbal right where I'd want a crash to be, for example, and most of his crashes are on the left. It's unique to him. But, that being said, I built a few fantasy drum kits on drumstructor and most of them have paiste cymbals with the main crashes being the signature series heavy full reflector ones that Nicko uses and the ride cymbals he uses as well.

Peak Maiden was 1988, when they had 5 members, and all the guitarists were good.

You gonna watch a show when they play NZ? :) Defo should!

Maiden always toight like toiger. Even after Nicko had a stroke

Opening track of ya old Powerslave album

Just for fun, check out the Ayuka cover of this song. Young lady also does some nice Rainbow covers.

One of my favourite maiden tracks. You have to check out the flight 666 doc some time.

Up the Irons! 🎸 The torch of old school heavy metal is now passing to Lovebites, an all female metal band from Japan. I suggest to start your journey with “The Crusade”, a tribute to Iron Maiden “Aces High”. Your channel will be invaded by the Wolfpack 🐺🤘🏻

Writers credits on songs are so behind I think. There is credits for lyrics and melody, if you don't contribute to either your name won't show up. Nicko has those credits on one song. ONE. Despite being a part of the bad since the fourth album, technically already the tour for the third. Steve has said in many, many interviews that him Jamming with Nicko is the backbone of the songs he writes for the band, and you can tell. Straight from their first album, first song on that actually you can tell how the writing has changed, how the rhythms have changed. Especially in the metal genre there should be writing credits for the rhythm, Nicko is instrumental to the post 70s maiden sound and if you only read the writers credits you would never know. And I do Agree the late 2000s are a great time for maiden, coincidentally also some of the best for Nicko. I think his live performances where at an all time high, he was always on fire, but especially after he finally stopped just going with whatever speed he wanted to at the moment he was allowing the band to fully thrive. Also I think a matter of life and death has some of the most creative maiden drumming on it and is recorded absolutely beautifully. My personal standout for Maiden drumming and it is from around that time.

Killer tour killer shirt

So, when is someone going to tell him Nicko plays with his left stick upsidedown? 😂

The song is the dedication To the r a f durham world war two