Iron Maiden

Scream For Me, YouTube! Live After Death with Uncle Meat and Harrison

Thanks to all who joined our special live episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden celebrating Live After Death.  I always like to write up a little show summary every time we do a live episode.  For Harrison and I, scheduling guests required pre-recording episodes for this series.  However, we aim to do the live albums as live episodes, because why not?  Most of them do not have special guests attached to them, but Live After Death had to be an exception, due to its importance in heavy metal.  This week our special guest was show co-founder and viewer favourite Uncle Meat!

Together, the three of us broke down the album, side by side.  Each side of this album has its own flavour.  I had a favourite.  We discuss the spectacular vocal acrobatics of Bruce Dickinson, some (perhaps) excessive crowd interactions, some nearly definitive versions of songs, and some interesting stage banter.  We also go deep with the three B-sides:  “Losfer Words”, “Run to the Hills” and “Running Free”.

Finally, we take a really good look at the original vinyl itself, the gatefold, the Easter eggs, and much more!

And speaking of Easter eggs, we’ll see you next week for our special live Good Friday afternoon show, and following that, our 100th episode celebration!

Thanks for watching!

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

 

 

 

 

 

Show Notes:

Words for Joelle and Roger.

 

SCREAM FOR ME, YOUTUBE!

Recorded:
14–17 March 1985 (sides 1–3) Long Beach Arena
8–12 October 1984 (side 4) Hammersmith Odeon

Released 14 October 1985 (audio)
23 October 1985 (video)

 

The first release of Churchill’s speech added onto Aces High.

 

SIDE ONE

String of hits, five in a row.  Easily the best first side of any live metal album.

Aces High – a lot of really really “clean” backing vocals – overdubs?

Revelations – “Nice to see ya, to see ya…nice.”  “Written about religion, or about washing your car, actually it’s about hanging a pair of curtains.”

Lot of “extra singing” from Bruce.  “yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah oh, oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah…”  Also lots of variation from the album melody.  Lots of extra power from Bruce vocally.

And then “Oh, oh, it is you…”  “Motherfucker!” – Nicko?

 

 

SIDE TWO

“This is what NOT to do if a bird shits on ya!”  One of the most famous song intros of all time?

Also lots of that “extra singing”  – “Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah…”

Followed by “Powerslave” as a serious 1-2 punch.

Ending with Beast is a great record closer.  Intro is interesting as it’s pitch-changed with effects added.  Also Bruce sings the complete choruses and not just “six”.

 

 

SIDE THREE

Another side of smash hits.  “Hallowed” (funny twang in Bruce’s delivery)

“Iron Maiden”, “Run to the Hills”, and “Running Free” with the long audience participation section.  Kind of the definitive version of this kind of concert activity.

“Hills” is the only song I like a lot less than the album version.  Guitar opening sounds thin, Steve’s bass too plunky.  Bruce doesn’t sound as enthused compared to Beast Over Hammersmith.

 

 

SIDE FOUR

“Wrathchild” is a brilliant addition from the Di’Anno days though “Killers” would have been great too.  A definitive Bruce version of “Wrathchild”.  Lots of that “extra singing” and you can hear Harris on the chorus clearly.

“Acacia” – “Speak to me, Hammersmith!”  – I like Bruce’s echo – “I know a place where we can go go go go…”  Great guitar solo work here.

“Damned” – “Let me see those hands, yeeeah!”  Magnificent vocal performance by Bruce, top notch all the way!  Lovely guitar harmonics after Bruce sings “If he had lived, he would have crucified us all!”

“Boots” – Very frantic vocal delivery with speed.

“Phantom” – an absolutely epic way to end the album.  When I first got it, it was an unexpected track.  It was my first time hearing it.

 

B-SIDES

“Losfer Words” – Feels faster and more intense than the album version.  A great bonus track and the only live performance available to buy.

“Sanctuary” – Too much “extra singing” in this one!

“Murders in the Rue Morgue” – “Got a surprise for ya!”

🅻🅸🆅🅴 50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 10: Live After Death

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 10:  Live After Death

A special 🅻🅸🆅🅴 episode

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #98

Some call it the greatest metal live album of all time.  It was certainly of an unusually high quality when it was released in 1985, for Iron Maiden’s Live After Death was over 100 minutes of masterful classics, accompanied by a generous booklet with liner notes and hundreds of tour photos.  It had no equal in heavy metal.

Tonight on 50 Years of Iron Maiden, Harrison and I will be live!  It’s a gimmick we want to try for live albums:  live episodes to celebrate the live experience!  Joining us is show co-founder Uncle Meat, returning to the channel for this special deep dive.  Not only is 2025 the 50th anniversary of Iron Maiden, but it is the 40th anniversary of this legendary live album.  Meat and I were there in 1985, relishing every note when it was brand new.

Together we will break down all four sides of vinyl (the original CD only featured the first three sides, and the cassette had an edited version of side two, so vinyl used to be the only way to get the whole album).  We will also go deep on the rarely heard live B-sides “Sanctuary”, “Murders in the Rue Morgue” and “Losfer Words”.  For physical media, we will look at the 1995 2 CD reissue, the remastered 2 CD reissue, the original vinyl, and the singles…one of which didn’t even have Eddie on the cover!

Since this is a live episode, we’ll also be able to take your comments live!  Don’t miss this special episode of Grab A Stack of Rock.

LIVE on Friday April 11 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

 

50 Years of Iron Maiden: Updated Playlist

Playlist below has been updated.  All episode dates subject to change.  Tomorrow is our 10th episode, not including bonus shorts!

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 9: Powerslave with bicyclelegs talks music

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 9:  Powerslave

With bicyclelegs talks music

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #97

‘Twas a cool day in both Australia and Canada when three of us braved the scorching desert sands of Powerslave!  Joined by the legendary bicyclegs, Harrison and I took a deep dive into all eight tracks and all four B-sides.  Each time, our guest has picked a personal favourite album and bicyclelegs’ passion for Powerslave is obvious.  Join us for some deep insight into the songs, the lyrics and subject matter, the musicianship and of course the artwork!

As for physical product, we’ll see the vinyl and the new zoetrope vinyl too.  There are some special Reaction figures by Super 7 relevant to the album, and some singles too.

Taking the wheel at the end, Harrison will tell us of the tour, the setlists, and the songs that were played and how frequently.  Harrison is a musical tour encyclopedia, and this is always a highlight of the show.

Don’t miss this awesome episode, and be sure to like and subscribe if you haven’t already.

Friday April 4 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.

Past episodes:

RE-RUN: Steph Honde – An Artist You Should Know!

No show tonight, as Harrison and I are busy working on 50 Years of Iron Maiden!  So, instead, we bring this 2020 interview with former Paul Di’Anno guitarist Steph Honde. It originally aired on my old show the LeBrain Train.  This newly edited interview with the friendly French fireball will run tonight at 7:00 PM EST at the usual places.  My writeup is below.

Steph Honde is a talented singer/guitarist from France who has performed with Paul Di’Anno, Sun Road, Chris Holmes, Hollywood Monsters, Jim Crean, Now or Never, and as a solo artist. In this wide-spanning interview, we discuss his favourite Canadian artists such as Max Webster, Wireless, VoiVod, Rock Candy, and Roch Voisine. We even touch on Celine Dion. We talk about his friendship with Paul Di’Anno, playing live with no rehearsal, and speeding up the songs. Steph talks about the rock scene in France, and going it alone without a label. Steph is a fan as much as musician too, so he gushes over Marillion, touring with DeepPurple, his signed Deep Purple 7″, and a private performance by a favourite musician. We talk about John Sykes, and other influences. Of course, we also had to talk about his epic cover of “Supper’s Ready” on his Ashes of Empire album. Steph’s defiance is refreshing. If he’s going to play without a label, then he’s going to play “Supper’s Ready”, because he wants to. Steph also did an acoustic cover of Deep Purple’s “Sail Away”, which he did to be different. Finally, we ask him what it’s like to open for AC/DC in front of 80,000 people.

This interview was conducted early in the pandemic, so of course that dominates part of the conversation. It’s weird to look back on with 2025 eyes.

Many of those old LeBrain Train shows were too long and could use some refreshing.  This one never got enough views back in 2020.  Let’s expose Steph Honde to a new audience!  You won’t regret giving him a listen.

Streaming Live at 7:00 PM EST on Friday March 28, on Youtube and Facebook.

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Maiden Grail Acquired

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Maiden Grail Acquired

 

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK bonus episode

Back in 2013, T-Rev and I hit up the Hamilton record show, where I first encountered Iron Maiden’s Live!! + One EP.  I held it in my hands.  I didn’t know what I was holding, and I put it back, assuming I had all the tracks already.  I did not.  It was $100.

A few weeks ago, John Clauser from My Music Corner was heading to a record store in Birmingham Alabama.  I asked, on a lark, if he would mind picking me up a Live!! +One and he said “sure”!  He packed it with care and send it to Canada.  A Holy Grail item for sure, I was thrilled to get it.  Now you can watch me open the record as all three of us (John, Harrison and I) take a solid look at the record.  There are different versions available of varying authenticity, so let’s take a good look at this record.

Would you have bought it?  Let us know in the comments.

Past episodes:

Please “like” and subscribe, and help us keep going this year with 50 Years of Iron Maiden, on Grab A Stack of Rock!

Monday March 24 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.

MIX TAPE! Iron Maiden, KISS, Def Leppard and MORE! (You won’t believe your eyes!) on Grab A Stack of Rock

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 96:  Mix Tape I

 

Recorded while I had Covid!  This special “Mix Tape” episode of Grab A Stack of Rock is a potpourri of metal:  there is something for everyone!  In particular, if you have been following us for Iron Maiden and KISS content, this episode is for you!

Topics:

  • Iron Maiden ReAction figures including the rare Maiden Japan #50yearsofironmaiden
  • A unique guitar carving from Kerras Jeffrey (RIP) from Prince Edward Island
  • Darth Vader cameo
  • KISS BstAxn 5″ action figures in box
  • KISS 24k Gold CD for Destroyer bought in 1998 at Carry On Books in Waterloo
  • Tee Bone Erickson’s poetic take on the Northern Lights
  • The best of “Ask Harrison” by Tee Bone
  • Soundtrack from the Video Historia (Def Leppard) with Tim’s Vinyl Confessions – an incredible LIVE coincidence from the LeBrain Train days

The Author Reads:

  • A chapter of Unspooled: An Adventure in 8-Tracks
  • The Rules: The First 10 Years of Iron Maiden
  • Record Store Tales Part 7: A Sh*tty Story

Video premieres at 7:00 PM Eastern.

Friday March 21 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.

 

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Run For Your Lives Dream Setlists

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Run For Your Lives Dream Setlist

 

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK bonus episode

Welcome to our very first “bonus episode” of 50 Years of Iron Maiden!  These bonus episodes will feature shorter videos on a variety of topics.  With Maiden’s 2025 tour beginning in May, we wanted to get ahead of the pack and speculate on the setlist.

Harrison and I set two rules for these setlists, based on what we know from Iron Maiden themselves.  1) Each one of the first nine albums will be represented in the set, and 2) They will at least one song that has never been played live before.  From there we let our imaginations run wild!

What songs do you think Maiden will play this year?  What’s on your wishlist?  Tell us in the comments below, and UP THE IRONS in 2025!

Past episodes:

Please “like” and subscribe, and help us keep going this year with 50 Years of Iron Maiden, on Grab A Stack of Rock!

Monday March 17 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.

 

 

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 8: Maiden Drummers with Glen “Archie” Gamble

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 8:  Drummer Spotlight

With Glen “Archie” Gamble

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #95

Do you want to know who almost replaced Nicko McBrain in Iron Maiden?  Stay tuned because Archie Gamble has the details in this special episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden, on Grab A Stack of Rock!

Former Helix drummer Glen “Archie” Gamble joins us for this special drummer spotlight, bringing us insight as a touring musician.  In this episode, we discuss Archie’s fandom, each drummer’s approach, Nicko’s stance on double bass, a drummer’s retirement, what challenges the new guy Simon Dawson will face, and much more.

Archie’s perspective in this episode was invaluable, as we sat down to appreciate the drummers of Iron Maiden, and catch a glimpse of life on the road and in a band.

 

Past episodes:

Friday March 14 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 7: Piece of Mind with Melissa Nee

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 7:  Piece of Mind

With Melissa Nee

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #94

Here comes Melissa Nee, dropping knowledge bombs all over Piece of Mind!  Melissa is a long time fan, having seen the band on this actual tour.  Her insight, appreciation and multitude of knowledge make this a must-watch episode!

Flying over the valley, to the Eagles’ Nest, we cover the album album track by track from “Where Eagles Dare” to “To Tame A Land”.  Special attention is paid to the lyrics.  Four songs on this album have accompanying books or movies, and this is covered as well.  Most importantly, this album is the debut of Nicko McBrain, replacing the beloved Clive Burr on drums.

As usual, we cover the artwork, both single B-sides, and the tour.  Harrison and Melissa go deep on the live show, setlist and stories.  (There is one important story that happened on this tour, that we will save for the Powerslave episode.)

Please join Harrison, Melissa and I for this mission behind enemy lines:  Piece of Mind!

Past episodes:

Friday March 7 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.