Woke up to the sound of ”it’s a drop-and-go”, which means that you have to take what you need for the day because the bus will be parked elsewhere.
Stood outside the Ziggo Dome arena waiting for clearance to get in. Got in.
Not much to do, but wait for soundcheck.
Lunch was amazing. I had Carbonara, veal croquets and chicken. So good.
Soundcheck was smooth. Worked out some kinks. Next up was dinner. I had rice, fried chicken, some kind of beef stew – not bad.
Showtime. Great gig! We were on fire, if I may say so myself. The response we got was better than we could ever expect. We got them to sing along and clap their hands and everything. After the show, I went to give the wireless packs to our tech Chris, I felt someone patting my arm. I look over and it’s Steve Harris – ”you were fuckin’ brilliant”, he said and shook my hand. Life just peaked. I can now die happy.
Quick shower and get ready for Iron Maiden. I saw them at Sweden Rock Festival, where we shared the same stage. And I feel the same way now as I did then – they are amazing. Bruce is an incredible singer. How he can run around the stage while singing like that is beyond me. The ”new” drummer, Simon, is great. Feels more like a Clive Burr-type drummer than a Nicko one. And being a total Adrian Smith fanboy, it’s amazing to see and hear him play all those classic solos. Dave was solid as usual. Janick, highly entertaining. And Steve Harris. What a powerhouse bass player! The basslines, his tone. Just outstanding.
All in all, an amazingly fantastic and surreal experience, for which we are deeply honored and thankful. And, I must add, everyone was super cool, nice and friendly. Top people, all of them. Thank you.
