Iron Maiden / Scream For Me London – 666 The Run For Your Lives Fan Experience

Marriage proposals, Metal memories and Iron Maiden at their most mighty at the Home of the Hammers. Following the huge success of our Iron Maiden FAN-tastic review from Birmingham, I’m honoured to be back for part deux live and loud from the London Stadium.

Being a proud Brentford FC supporter (sorry, Steve Harris), loads of us Bees and Maiden fans set off from ‘our bus stop in Hounslow’ to the Olympic HQ of that East End club – who we do respect greatly. Not to watch men and women kicking balls but to witness Iron Maiden at their best. And no bubbles.

As we trundled along on the Elizabethan Line, as we call it, it was like the Hogwarts Express of Iron Maiden fans in Maiden T-shirts past and present, all so excited to be going to the gig of the year. 

Friday marked the beginning of the Iron Maiden festivities. Our roving rockstar reporter, Singh Maiden, was at Eddie’s Dive Bar, located right next to the iconic Olympic Orbit Tower. 

“We all came here with great anticipation to meet friends from the old Iron Maiden Forum days, and it did not disappoint,” Singh said. “First, we had to hit the merchandise stand to get the London Event T-shirt, as well as the posters and the match day programme. This fanzine was a great play on the football connection by Steve to his beloved West Ham and stadium.”

“As we fans started steadily pouring into the Dive Bar area with Iron Maiden songs blaring and a video wall playing concert footage,” Singh said, “I met up with friends I had not seen for as long as ten years ago from Japan, Iceland, the USA and far and wide.

“Much lively chatter, laughs and talking about the old days ensued, and the Trooper beers just kept flowing. We felt all set up for the mighty Iron Maiden at London Stadium on Saturday. On a personal note, I met Dave Shack, who always greets me as a Brother.”

Andy Rawll, legend of the loud shirt gang and fellow music journo, popped into Maiden’s first pub home and our favourite haunt for a pint and pie at The Cart & Horses.

“The Cart was hot, heaving and heavenly,” Andy said. “The jubilation and anticipation of the assembled thronged troopers was palpable, and the characteristic hospitality and ale-dispensing efficiency of Kastro and team remain second (or seventh son) to none.” Thanks dudes.

Saturday and our trip on the air-conditioned Elizabethan Line was crackling with excitement as we choo-chood past the Olympic stadium and its surrounding buildings, which was a real pinch-me moment.

Most of us missed out on tickets for the 2012 games, so it was breathtaking to see this sporting site in all its glory. As we alighted at Stratford Station, we were thrilled to see the ‘All on the board’ sign with a brilliant dedication to Iron Maiden. 

Once again, it was hotter than Eddie’s gig socks as we walked through West Hell Field shopping centre in order to reach West Ham HQ. We passed several bars and restaurants all blaring out Heavy Metal in honour of the band.

I don’t think the local shoppers who were just popping in to get some leggings from Primark knew what was going on. 

Once again, fans piled into Eddie’s Bar to enjoy some Troopers as well as carry on with pre-gig banter. Some of the MetalTalk team swung by the cemetery to pay their respects to the late, great Paul Di’Anno and MetalTalk’s very own Steve Göldby.

I was honoured to be invited to the pre-gig hostility [a phrase coined by Ozzy Osbourne that we still laugh at] bash. So meeting up with my fellow journalists, including my new bestie Chantal from The Sun, Dan Silver from the t’graph and Paul Davies of Record Collector.   

As we stepped into the suite, it was lovely to be greeted by the Dark Lord himself, Alex Milas, who was on the decks spinning some stellar tunes to get us in the Maiden mood.  We thanked him again for his work with the Teenage Cancer Trust as one of the key personnel with the Heavy Metal Truants. As a cancer survivor, it’s a charity close to my heart.

And then it was like an old-school reunion of friends and family. From my telly career, it was fantastic to meet up with my former MTV Headbangers Ball colleague Jim Parsons, my ITV bestie and Queen of Soaps Sharon Marshall, Tommy Vance’s producer Tony Wilson and fellow music journalists, DJs and presenters past and present.

It really was a who’s who of rock royalty.  

Providing the hospitality was my ‘Gets Shit Done’ mate, Mark Fuller, of London’s very Metal Karma Sanctum hotel and where we film Trust In Rock. This was a very special shindig with Trooper beers galore, Iron Maiden’s delicious wine (which we lovingly call Lady Petrol) and water, lots of water. Then there was the food.

My dad was a proud East Londoner born within the sound of Bow Bells, so I was thrilled to discover it was my cockney girl’s favourite tucker, Cockles, Gala Pie, Piccalilli and a banging Pie, Mash and Liquor.

So I have to admit I did stuff my pie hole. Mark introduced me to the chef, and of course, I gave him our compliments. 

As with last week’s Birmingham show, it was great to catch up with the Gers, my Brentford family and friends for life. Normally, we just meet up at the famous Griffin Park pub in ‘Ounslow for pre-match banter and beers, so it was lovely to hug and chat in this stunning hospitality suite with stunning views of East London. 

I first met the Gers clan when young Tom Gers created the Chiswick Invasion when he was a mere school kid back in the day. It became a huge success showcasing young rock bands plus raising thousands for Nordorff-Robbins with Shacky hosting and Iron Maiden raffle prizes. 

It was wonderful to see Matt Young from London legends Hekz, who headlined the Invasion, in the stadium. “What an amazing gig,” Matt said later. “I had a tear in my eye from the moment I stepped onto the pitch.”

And this coming from a Power Metal progging bassist/vocalist is a lot.

It was also a delight to see the Richards brothers, who work with the London Drumstick Company and were having a right good drum chat with British Lion/Iron Maiden drummer Simon Dawson. My contribution to the discussion was rubbish as I’m only good at air drums.  

Straight in from Los Angeles were the gorgeous Andrew Daw, my sparkle sister Teresa Beeton and one of my favourite young ‘togs, Kirsten Daw, so it was a right international get-together as Andy Copping, legendary promoter, joined in.

In fact, one of our first MTV Headbangers Ball episodes came from Nottingham Rock City when Coppo was the gaffer there.

I’ve recently been doing the Ghost tour reunited with my legendary MTV HBB presenter, Vanessa Warwick, and they have the no smartphone policy at every gig. This encourages all fans to take in the show just as it is.

I, for one, hate having to look over a glaring smartphone the size of a widescreen TV to try and watch my favourite bands live and loud. I was so proud that hardly anyone raised a phone and raised their devil horns instead.

Then the tannoys announced it was time to take our seats for what was to be my show of a lifetime. I do not need to review the gig as my colleagues have already done this and bought the Eddie T-shirt.

Apart from one arse biscuit from a certain Newspaper beginning with G, who managed to upset every Maiden fan with his nonsensical, too-posh-to-push review. 

So it was an honour to just watch and enjoy the whole show and its jaw-dropping production without my notepad. 

As Doctor Doctor fades, and the iconic on-screen scenes of the band at its birth in the hallowed places of East London, this hometown gig in front of 75,000 created Metal memories forever.

Huge thanks to the fans who sent their quotes to me.

“Iron Maiden were off the scale brilliant and I don’t mind admitting I shed a tear.”

“It was the Heavy Metal Glastonbury.”

“It’s like seeing your team winning, and everyone there is on the same side.”

“After the gig, we just stared at each other in sheer amazement and speechlessness.”

“Emotional East End epicness.”

“We got engaged here. What a memory to have.”

“50 years and better than ever.”

“A homecoming for the ages.”

Bruce Dickinson: “Tonight’s audience are my best friend.”

Steve Harris: “Here we are at the West Ham stadium. For me, it’s amazing. Come on, you Irons.”

I’m still pinching myself that I was there with friends, fans and family. We all screamed for London.  Now I’m looking at saving my pennies as I’m feeling the need to pack my passport and get along to at least another show or ten.  

Thank you to our Iron Maiden family of fans and friends who all contributed to this piece: Sharon Marshall, Paul Fletcher,  Singh Maiden, Alex Milas, Jerry Ewing, Tony Wilson, Toni Corbin, Andrew and Kirsten Daws, Teresa Beeton, Rhys Cubbage, Del Bromham and Stray, Hayley, Dom Zarowski, Marty Zee, Maggie Zee, Sharon Ali, Tina Saul, Sue Shannon, Matt Young, Steven Tiller, Jim Parsons, Rob Davies, George Marinov, Linda Harris, Chris, Polly, Tom, George, Polly, Liz, Dylan and Sandra Gers. Cameron and Leo, Will and Tony Richards.

Huge thanks to William Luff, Coman Kenny, Zeb, Rod, Dave Shack, Mark Fuller, Whitney, Sherene and the Iron Maiden team.

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