Words: Kahmel Farahani
© Aggie Anthimidou Photography
For most artists, selling out the Kentish Town Forum in London would be a major milestone. For Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson, this probably counts as a small and intimate show.
Tonight anticipation is sky high, in no small part because this is Dickinson’s first solo tour in over 20 years. Even more tantalising, this tour is in support of Dickinson’s rather excellent new album The Mandrake Project.
© Aggie Anthimidou Photography
As the lights go down, the band walk on and launch right into ‘Accident Of Birth’. When Bruce Dickinson himself runs onto centre stage, it’s a matter of a few seconds before every pair of hands in the venue is held aloft and clapping along. ‘Laughing in the Hiding Bush’ follows. Propelled by a mean riff and Dickinson’s soaring vocals, it’s the perfect song to get the crowd headbanging along.
© Aggie Anthimidou Photography
“Hello” says Bruce, smiling and staring out to the sold out crowd as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“We were going to do Brixton but it was shut, so next time we play London, bring a friend and we’ll sell that place out too!”
© Aggie Anthimidou Photography
Dickinson has assembled a young and fiery band that is more than cable of pulling off his new and old material with style. The star of the group, however, is undoubtedly bassist and singer Tanya O’Callaghan. With fingers like lightning and her dreadlocks flying as she bangs her head, she is a fabulous stage presence and a superb bassist.
© Aggie Anthimidou Photography
The Mandrake Project itself is an excellent new record and one that really expands as it’s being played live. Bruce himself seems to be extremely happy to be able so showcase his solo material again after such a long break;
“I’ve got 20 years of not playing this shit so we have a lot to choose from. We’re talking about doing a new album anyway “
© Aggie Anthimidou Photography
Dickinson isn’t afraid to dig deep into the literary for inspiration either;
“This next song is partly written by the poet William Blake- its about building a sacred place within your own heart – its called Jerusalem”
The ‘Resurrection Men’ is superb; epic, heavy and packing a catchy chorus, its one of the best songs from the new album. It’s followed by another new one, the crushing gothic of ‘Rain On The Graves’.
© Aggie Anthimidou Photography
An extended drum solo and jam follows, which culminates on Bruce taking out a theremin and playing it in a call and response to the drums. Dickinson really defies terms like “ageless”. His voice and his stage presence are totally undiminished and still the gold standard for anyone in heavy metal or live music in general.
© Aggie Anthimidou Photography
“There is one song I really would be remiss if I didn’t play for you” Dickinson comments before launching into the epic fan favourite ‘Tears of the Dragon’. It’s followed by the crushing heavy guitars of ‘Darkside of Aquarius’. The sole let down of the evening is not hearing any songs from Bruce’s Tattooed Millionaire album, but you can’t have everything and he certainly can’t be blamed for wanting to focus on newer material.
© Aggie Anthimidou Photography
The encore pushes the gig into the 2 hour mark and Bruce finally brings the house down with ‘The Tower’.
“We’ll see you all again. Twice actually, once like this and then again with the other day job…”.
With that, the grateful and at this point exhausted fans take their leave knowing they have seen a master at the top of his game. There are very few singers or musicians in general who are such a perfect testament to hard work, dedication and honing one’s craft as Bruce Dickinson. A superb evening from one of heavy metal’s heroes.
© Aggie Anthimidou Photography
