Hammersmith Apollo, East Ham's Ruskin Arms not withstanding, is as close a spiritual home to Iron Maiden as you are likely to find, therefore it is perhaps fitting that the bands 'Early Days' tour should wind up at the venue and even more fitting that the show should prove to be a benefit for Clive Burr, the drummer responsible for laying down the beat on three quarters of the four albums being highlighted on this tour and now a victim of Multiple Sclerosis.

As the opening strains of UFO's 'Doctor Doctor' and Maiden's own 'Ides Of March' fade away the six members of Maiden hit the stage running to blast through a brutal version of 'Murders In The Rue Morgue', bassist Steve Harris and vocalist Bruce Dickinson covering every inch of the available stage space in the course of the three of four minutes of mayhem that follows.. This frantic introduction to events sets the tome for the evening as sweat drips from the walls of the venerable Apollo and quantum packets of energy are liberally swapped between band and audience.

This show, in keeping with the whole tour, concentrates on songs from the first four Iron Maiden records, the eponymous debut, 'Killers', 'Number Of The Beast' and 'Piece Of Mind'. With this in mind Maiden serve up classic after classic from those particular albums, 'Another Life' , 'Prowler' and 'The Trooper' quickly follow up, the later seeing Dickenson resplendent in the bright red tunic of the Crimean War British squaddie and  proudly waving multiple Union Flags from atop the stage's raised walkways

After the controversy surround the recent conclusion of their stint on the Ozzfest touring carnival in the USA, the Maiden boys seem genuinely happy to be back on home turf in front of a partisan crowd, no more is this evident than in Dickenson who was less virulent in his between song raps than has been reported in some sections of the media, although mention of America and her audiences just prior to 'Phantom Of The Opera' elicited a chorus a wholly expected chorus of boos from those in attendance. 

As with many Maiden shows the main set was rounded off the triumvirate that is 'Number Of The Beast', 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' and of course the bands signature number 'Iron Maiden itself. If there is a better closing salvo in metal than I have yet to see it.. The conclusion of the main set also saw the introduction of the now wheelchair bound Clive Burr to an appreciative crowd. An obviously emotional Burr even managed to thank everyone for the help that he is so deservedly receiving as a result of this, and the previous Brixton Academy Benefit shows. At this point, and to hell with tradition, the band hardly left the stage to wait for the obligatory encore requests and rounded out the show with three early Maiden numbers in the shape of 'Running Free' 'Drifter' & 'Sanctuary' 'Running Free' of course containing the crowd sing-a-long made famous on the Live After Death album and actually throwing in bits of the audience participation sections from Drifter.

So there we have it the end of Maiden's live schedule for 2005 and a more fitting conclusion there could not have been. If there are any criticisms, and these are small indeed, then Jannick Gers, perhaps due to less personal investment in these songs than any other member of the band, was slightly less animated than normal and only truly came to life with his guitar swinging and throwing antics towards the end of the set and the sound was at times muddy with the three guitars not entirely separated in the mix from where this reviewer was perched. However given that Maiden are a band more likely these days to be seen headlining vast outdoors stadiums and indoor sheds, to catch the band in a more intimate setting is a privilege and  one not to be missed if the opportunity arises again in the future..

Oh and to see Bruce Dickinson turning up in a taxi and walking almost into the venue almost incognito was surreal to say the least...

Nic Dawson & Steve Cummings