Rod's 1er diary from the '08 tour
Publié le: 31 Janvier 2008


Mercredi 30 Janvier

At last, after months of preparation it's time to go!! Only just made it though -- we got final approval on loading of equipment from the European Aviation authorities as 2am this morning and Ian finally got all our passports back with visas from one of the required embassies at 6.30 pm last night. Talk about cutting it fine!!

We all met up in the Harrods's Lounge at Stansted at 8am to hopefully board the plane and depart at about 9am. By "all" l mean band with various family members, management , all the crew, documentary team, Sky News, a few friends who work with us like our agent John Jackson and merchandiser Barry Drinkwater with their wives, tour photographer John ("promise it wont take long") McMurtrie and of course our flight crew and Captain Dickinson.

Of course someone has to be late and this time it was -- most unusually -- Janick, blaming traffic of course! We left the lounge and walked out onto the tarmac and there she was and what a beauty!! It was the first time I had seen Ed Force One for real. Lots of pics of course, but they really didn't do her justice. We boarded and took our seats -- I get 1A of course!-- but only to find the overhead locker full of cardboard boxes so had to stow all my gear further down. This was Dick's idea of a joke -- the boxes were full of photos to be signed by the band for the FC. There is such a backlog as the band haven't been in one place for a while (for which if you haven't received one we do apologise but it is very hard to keep up now as the FC is so popular. I think we have had to stop doing this now due to sheer numbers which band just cant keep up with - but we will catch up with those promised). Apparently I had promised Laz we would get them done somehow on the plane and this was a reminder !!

We had a very nice tour of the runways courtesy of the tower giving Bruce a wrong direction (its tough to reverse a 757!) and took to the air. My seat is already called "the office" and the seat next to me is spare so any of the guys can sit there to discuss whatever needs discussing. Spent most of initial 5.5 hour flight to Baku in Azerbaijan updating band individually on all the good things that have been happening and going through media stuff with Dave, Gaddsy and Scot and Sam from documentary crew. Also talked to Fiona and Matt from Sky about the plans for the coverage and how we could help them get what they wanted for a great news piece. (don't miss it!)

Easy flight, everyone seems very happy with the plane. We have 20 old BA First Class manual seats for band party -- it just wasn't feasible to put in electrics for the modern bed seats, but these are very good seats -- with standard seats behind for crew and anyone else. However these are very comfortable as there is 4 inches more legroom than normal and the middle seat in each bank of 3 is unoccupied. And its all one big area, no partitioning, Maiden style. Behind the crew is the 12 tons of very very safely packed equipment in its own customised and tested-to-death module.

We arrived in Baku to refuel. Whist on the ground Bruce did an interview in the cockpit with Sky News. As refuelling progressed the local airport staff came on the plane and started asking for payments for other services on top of the fuel and handling fees which had been agreed. Bruce asked what other services to be told "Weather Information". "But we didn't need or have any," says Bruce. This got a blank look. And this was after we gave them the signed autographs! I can tell this tour will have a bit of the Wild West about it -- great!!! We had also ordered 200 cans of beer, the small ones, to restock the second leg -- they brought them on and gave us a bill for $1600!! £4 a go -- at an airport duty free!!. Bruce's Yorkshire blood boiled and he told them to eff off and take them away. Maiden are very generous but no one takes the piss. I doubt we will ever play in Azerbaijan -- the whole stop must have been at least 40 min longer than necessary. And we certainly didn't give in to their demands!!

Once we took off for Baku I did an interview with Sky as requested about the plane and the prep -- guess my kids will like to see dad on TV News if they use it. Baku to Mumbai is about 4.5 hours and I spent this getting up to here with this diary, did some other laptop prep and then had a chat with Nicko and a couple of beers.

We arrived in Mumbai at about 2am local time and all crammed into the airport bus to the immigration. Very impressive new airport. Passport control was fast but then an eternal wait for baggage, probably as most of the baggage handlers and other airport staff were busy getting autographs.

Finally outside confusion reigned as the vans provided had no luggage space, just like the old days. Finally got to hote (and what a beautiful hotel it is) at about 4am, where, being a conscientious chap, I finished this off as I know some of you will be waiting for the first news.

So a few highs and lows on our first day but the main thing is that the plane is terrific and everyone seems delighted with the on flight arrangements. As there is no in-flight entertainment the band bought all the crew good quality DVD players and a supply of movies so that and copious amounts of beer kept even our crew content for the duration.

That's it for Wednesday. I am going to try to do these daily although some may be a couple of days late due to time and logistics. This tour will be so eventful with so much happening it deserves a daily report and anyway flying 50,000 miles or more gives us plenty of time on the plane so I may as well spend some telling you our closest bunch of fans what is going on out here. So more soon. Take care.

- Rod

Rod in Mumbai
Published: February 1, 2008


Rod's diary thurs Jan 31 -- MUMBAI, INDIA

Couldn't get to sleep for a while, a bit lagged, but finally got a good sleep and up at about 11.30! A sight-seeing tour had been arranged for 12pm for some of the band, families and friends, plus of course the documentary crew who are getting everywhere, Matt and Fiona from Sky TV and our photographer John Mc. I was very pleased that some of the band went along as it would give our doc and Sky some good local colour for their features and as the band quite like them all they are happy to chat.

Checked emails though and had too much to do to join them so settled down to work til about 3. Its a beautiful room to work from though, a suite with massive windows out to the beach and sea so life is not that bad. Ploughed through then headed down to the gym to throw some weights about and some much needed stretching after the long flights.

Reminds me of a story told to me by Phil de Glanville, ex-England centre, and a very good one. He was on the treadmill churning out the miles in the England gym at Twickenham -- the room we will use for our post gig bash on July 5 in fact -- and Martin Johnson was throwing the massive weights around. He went over to Phil and said "Did you see that?? What can you do". Phil thought for a while and said quietly, "Well...I can read!!". Pretty well sums up the forward/backs mentality. Hope you all like rugby. I am currently trying to find out if the Wales v. England game on Saturday will be shown on Oz TV -- should be a very interesting game and give us an insight into how we may progress. On the footie side Steve of course was "over the moon" to hear his beloved West Ham beat Liverpool 1-0!

Had a quiet break catching some sun by the pool then back up to the room to check emails etc and shower and get ready for the press conference at 6,30. Went down a bit early to meet our promoter Venkat from DNA.
As l said some of band, Steve, Dave and Jan to be precise, went off with our EMI guys here sightseeing. They went to the Gates of India. But it took them 2 hours of very slow traffic to get back and were over an hour late arriving back a bit before 7 for a press conference to start supposed to start at 6 -- and with representatives of most to the major news and music media in India attending. Fortunately they all knew all too well about how bad traffic can be in Mumbai -- shame our EMI friends didn't! So we finally got started with an introduction from Venkat although Jan arrived about 20 min after everyone else having been told by someone to stay in his room and wait for a call -- which he didn't get! Jan is always on time and up for anything so I can take his word for it of course!

Funnily enough we had just been asked a question about what it was like having 3 guitarists which Dave quickly pointed out was not always the case. The band are getting good at press conferences and seen to enjoy them a bit. They can be very funny, especially with some of the stupid questions we get from some of the less informed media. One asked as we were rock stars -- yes he actually said rock stars, oh dear -- what was it like backstage at our concerts and Nicko just said if he told him he would have to kill him. People still seem to think its all drugs, booze and naked birds lounging around, whereas our backstage tends to be a few beers and hairy roadies!!

Venkat was very smart as he arranged some fantastic Indian food in the entrance area to the conference room so of course the band hung around. So of course so did all the TV cameras and journalists to they all got much more coverage and more direct questions to the guys!! And the band didn't mind as they were stuffing their faces with some great Indian food. Steve even got his family down for it!

After the press conference I met up with Dave P, our photographer John, Scot and Sam from documentary team and Gaddsy to go through what could be expected the next few days and procedures around photos and filming for our online club and site -- ie. you guys!

Basically John will provide a dozen or so shots daily, some for live section, some for our diaries and Gaddsy will send in half a dozen or so daily. The first batches will soon be up if they aren't already.
Dave is to start 'Maiden TV News' with some 12 five minute or so news pieces throughout the tour, Dave will be the presenter with Johnny B being the cameraman. Dave will tell you more about it in an introductory piece on here soon and the first instalment will be mid-next week we hope. We are of course dependant on time and editing facilities so these wont necessarily be very regular but there will be at least 12 over the period by mid-March.

Then joined Andy, John, Barry and Pete with their respective wives for a bit more excellent curry in the hotel! And It really was terrific.

Went back to bar for a while after and ended out talking with Bruce and Sam about various stuff including what support we could be looking at for the North America May - June tour. Its really not so easy but it was helpful to hear from the the two of them as they are both up to speed more than I am on younger bands, Bruce from his radio rock show and Sam cos he's an obsessive metal fan!! Won't mention any names at this stage though but it is hard to find a band that suits everyone.

Finally got to bed about ...errr?????

That's it til tomorrow

- Rod

Rod - Mumbai Show Diary
Published: February 3, 2008

Rod's Diary -- Feb 1 -- MUMBAI

Woken up by the phone ringing, it was one of our US promoters who I know well so I wasn't too abusive even though it felt like 6 in the morning. He told me it was 12.30pm Mumbai time, which l guess is actually 7 am GMT as we are 5.5 hours ahead of the UK, so I thanked him for waking me up!

Got straight onto laptop to finish off Jan 31 diary, reply to all the emails that had built up, (although I do have a Blackberry so can get rid of a lot when I am out and about, at least those with simple quick answers needed, as typing on Bberry is a pain and quite slow) and sent off a load of my own. By the time this was all done it was past 3. Doesn't time fly when you are having such fun! Realised I was starving so ordered up a ham and jalapeno omelette on room service. Then back to work -- no sun and pool today sadly.

I am leaving at 5.30 with Bruce for the show and have to admit to being very excited indeed. I think these great songs -- especially Rime -- will sound even stronger and heavier with our 3 guitarists now and the show will look great. We packed on the plane everything we could for the show but obviously couldn't get the big mummy on as there is no door big enough for that monster but we always knew that. We had to lose the 2 cats and 2 dogs as we just couldn't fit them in though. But otherwise it's pretty much all there and will look superb. But its hearing some of those songs live again which creates most of the excitement, as I said especially Rime but also Moonchild is very much a favourite of mine.

Its about 4.45 now and am just finishing off to go to show so will complete this tomorrow but just got email from EMI UK with Kerrang 5K review of Live After Death headlined "THE SINGLE GREATEST MOMENT IN HEAVY METAL HISTORY - NOW MADE EVEN BETTER". They certainly got that right -- if I do say it myself this DVD is a masterpiece of content with 2 great concerts and everything else we could pack into it. You may have seen Dave's note that on the packaging it says small at the bottom "concert 90 min, extras 150 min". This is bollox and totally wrong -- the sticker on the front is right, 5 hours of full on Maiden -- it's actually 5 hrs 21 min. you are all gonna love it. Anyway must sign off now before I get anymore email to create more work..

...on plane now to Perth so let's finish this one off.

Took us about 50 min to get to the venue which is not bad by Mumbai standards -- the traffic here really is the worst I have ever seen -- and wandered round our backstage area to check it out and get my bearings. Backstage was very together and apparently an excellent curry was served up but sadly I didn't get time to eat. Checked out what is called "Rod's Room", which is where I put my guests from the record label, promoters, other biz types, friends etc -- I just have a few nibbles in there with beers, wine and a few soft drinks. Talked through various things with various people like Venkat from DNA our promoter, John our agent, Barry from Bravado, my partner Andy, EMI staff who we know from last time in Bangalore, the guys from Parikrama. But most interesting, being a big cricket fan was the gentleman who is head of the world 20/20 series this spring in India, and, as my "regular" readers will know, India is huge on cricket. We had some interesting discussions around this. It was so busy I didn't get to see Lauren and Parikrama properly but both sounded to do well.

At about this time we started hearing from lots of friends at home who had seen us on Sky News -- I saw the piece later on YouTube and thought it was really good, I think Fiona and Matt did us proud and I think they really appreciated the assistance and access we gave them. They were terrific to work with. It was repeated every hour at least and a new one goes hourly on Saturday too.


By the time we were due to go on they were getting very excited with chants of Maiden, Maiden filling the air -- there were about 13,000 less than in Bangalore last year, but Mumbai is a very new market for rock. We were told this was the show of the year for rock fans and that concerts are very limited. But that will hopefully change as we keep plugging away and trying to return almost annually.

I won't go into the details of the shows -- they start with Aces High, end with Hallowed and yes we have Rime in the middle. Don't wish to spoil it for anyone and you all know you will by now be able to get it on the web! For a first show it went pretty well and when I talked to them all later the band were fairly pleased. Obviously playing-wise the first show is a bit "stodgy" as cobwebs get discarded and it will take three or four shows to really gel, but, for a first show, it was good and out-front sound was more than decent. Apparently onstage the sound wasn't great -- the stage was built on bamboo scaffolding and our stage manager Bill told me it was a bit of a bass trap.

Only real cock up was the Rime backdrop stayed put for Powerslave -- apparently they couldn't quite work out where one song finished and the other started. Of course they know now!! Always good to have a minor error though as you can use it to keep everyone on their toes. All in all though a good solid start for what will be I think a stunning show and an amazing experince for the band on this tour, just looking at the places we are going to, how we are getting there and the sheer number of fans waiting for us.


I was as usual on the mixing desk and fully absorbed in the show when, about halfway through the final number Hallowed, I remembered we were doing a runner so I had to fight through the audience and run round the perimeter but made it, panting like a dog. Well it was still quite hot! But made it with seconds to spare and jumped into a van with Bruce and H. As we usually do for big outdoor shows so we can get away from the traffic, the band came straight off stage into the vans, picked up our police escort and headed back to the hotel, experiencing more traffic on the way of course.

After the show EMI threw us a small party at the hotel with their team and a few friends with again some very good curry which this time I was able to consume with relish. It was in a very nice room by the magnificent pool and was used during the day for, appropriately, a children's play area. Which would seem a good time to leave this tale before it gets too sordid!!

- Rod

Rod - Arriving in Perth
Published: February 5, 2008

Rod's Diary Sat & Sun Feb 2-3 -- a very long day!!


So having been up very late again at the EMI party last night we were up and packing by 9am to get to the airport for the long flight to Perth. Everyone was on time for a change and I guess we got to the airport about 11am and got through passport control quickly and joined a queue for the security scans -- and this is where everything went awry. They had one machine working for a lot of people so the queue was moving very slowly. As the band party got nearer to the front they decided to open another machine and so have another queue which came into the security area by the same door. Anyway we finally got through and on a bus to the plane and I realised I had left my precious Blackberry in the tray at security so went running back and fortunately it was there. Really cant afford to lose that, its a real work lifeline.

So the band was on the plane by about 1pm but.....no bloody crew!!! Well, at least 20 were missing in action and, with the slowness of everything, it was in the end 2pm that we set off. It's only our second departure and we have to get into routine yet and they have promised this won't occur again but we will see......Next time most severe reprisals!!

I settled down on my laptop to get some work done including the Feb 1 diary and a load of emails to send when I got plugged in in Perth. After about three hours my battery was running out but, despite carrying 2 spare batteries for it, I just couldn't get the used battery to disconnect so had to stop work which wasn't such a bad thing as I was pretty tired. Started watching a DVD my kids had given me called "Flight of the Concords", an HBO TV series now out as double DVD. Watched a couple of episodes -- very clever and amusing program, you may wish to check it out -- then read for a while -- The Emerald City, about what went on behind the scenes in the Green Zone with the US Military and civilian advisers in Baghdad. It's a fascinating and in parts truly mind -- boggling story of what went on during this crucial time for the people of Iraq. Most definitely worth reading, highly recommended.
By this time and after five and a half hours in the air we landed for refuelling in Bataan, Malaysia. A delayed transaction on refuelling made us even later in our schedule. The next flight time of 5 hours or so to Perth was spent reading and napping. Our crew were enjoying their day off with a bit of a party in the back and as time went on got louder and more boisterous!!


Must have been about 7am when we finally got to Perth but even then many fans, who expected us in at about 3am, were waiting for us, watching the plane land then going to the arrival area to see if they could get autographs. Apparently there were about 300 kids there at 2am but due to the delay and the fact they would have had to pay $15 parking a lot had gone home -- sorry chaps! Of course the band couldn't let down the devoted ones left and, despite everyone by now being a bit knackered, they signed for everyone. Bruce couldn't as he was still with the air crew and was delayed with formalities. He was originally going to take this leg off as a passenger but one of the other pilots (we have 3 Captains on board including Bruce) went down with Mumbai tummy. Half the band also have this but seem to be coping ok -- could be tough for Nicko on the drum stool tomorrow!!

Good hotel, beautiful room again with a view out to sea. Perth is a very pretty place. Got to the room about 8am I guess and connected up the laptop to send off all the emails I had written on the plane -- 43 of the bloody things. Did some more stuff then had some breakfast and laid down for a couple of hours.

12,30 and it was down to the lobby to meet Nicko and Dave along with our merch man Barry to go off for our first round of tour golf. Joondalup is a very fine course about half an hour from the hotel and there were lots ok kangaroos wandering around trying to avoid our (many) mis-fires! Nicko and I took on Dave and Barry and the fierce competition was decided on the last hole. Mr Murray was hitting the ball very sweetly and has obviously been practicing for this in Maui and he and Barry took the money - $15!! Nicko shot 12 over par, 2 more than his handicap, but wasn't at his best though he drove off beautifully. Barry and I had rather a tougher time of it but revenge hopefully in Melbourne!

Had a quick beer after then back to hotel to shower before going out to a terrific seafood restaurant as guests of the promoter. Excellent crayfish and many bottles of fine wine were consumed then back to hotel bar til about 2am. Exhausted and off to bed -- show day tomorrow at the Burswood Arena, Perth.


- Rod

Rod in Melbourne
Published: February 10, 2008


Rod Diary Feb 6

Sleep? What's that? No chance. Just lay in bed til about 1am head buzzing with ideas (just wait and see what happens at the Forum LA soon!!) so got up and fired up the trusty laptop. Of course Melbourne is 11 hours ahead of London so it was afternoon there and all the UK based emails were flying in so had to keep up with that and prepare a press release draft about the start of the tour (final will prob go up here on tues or wed). I intended to get the Feb 5 diary done but never got to it, so much stuff that needed dealing with. It's incredibly busy right now and thank god I have a great team with Val, Dave and Mary to deal efficiently with all this otherwise I would certainly spin out of control. Not to mention of course my partner Andy who is still on the road with us (his longest road trip ever, must be the plane!!) and Maiden's accountant Peter.

Not complaining about the work load though, everything is going so incredibly well that massive international interest is being generated which is reflected in incredible ticket sales everywhere, especially in Latin America. I can always deal with positive stuff on Maiden and Eddie even if it takes all night to do it right and get the ideas flowing!!

About midday I tried to get a nap and had finally got off. Then the phone rang! Dave Pattenden calling for me to go to a studio in Kensington -- Kensington Melbourne that is. We are preparing a short intro to the set and Dave was editing the first version with footage from Mumbai and Perth. So I showered and crawled out into a cab. On reviewing it I thought it would definitely work but needed some changes and additional footage. So Dave proceeded to get on with that though it would take another day and we wouldn't be able to use it for first Melbourne show.

Back to the hotel for a while then at 6 off to show with Bruce. The Rod Laver Arena is a magnificent venue -- I said before how we are thrilled playing great sporting arenas and stadium and this is one of them, the home of the Australian Open. I could see it out of my hotel room window (which has a magnificent view over Melbourne) surrounded by tennis courts. It's a round building so from on stage you feel that all the audience is really close to you. This was the first of 2 sold out nights, cap 11,000. So that's 22,000 seeing us in Melbourne, somewhere we haven't been for 15 years although we certainly wanted to -- but more about that later.

Audience were totally up for it and as loud as any anywhere and the show went very well except I felt the sound wasn't as good as it should have been. Talked to Doug and sound guys and some of the band after but our crew had already sussed that the stage was acting as a bit of a bass box as the distances between the struts were more than usual which gave the stage a slight "springiness" so our backline, which sits on the stage, made it reverberate causing a heavy bass effect. This stopped the vocals cutting through as much as they should hence the sound not being as expected. The crew assured me that they could take care of it and no need for a dreaded soundcheck -- and the next day I found that they were right. I think I was the only one to notice though as the reception was fantastic. The band are now getting the edge on this third show and the show itself is starting to look truly spectacular with Rob's lights getting more and more artistic every show as he introduces small classy touches here and there and the pyros giving us plenty of bang right on the button.



Bruce and Nicko stayed at the venue for a while and rest did a runner to get showered and out to the pub. Talked a while with them and then headed back with Barry Drinkwater. Dropped at the hotel and it was pissing down (Aussie summer??!) and we got lost trying to find the (Irish of course) pub -- Bridie O'Reillys. We got drenched but finally made it -- I wont trust Barry with directions again though this is not a strong point with me either, ask my kids!!

The pub was rammed with fans and various band members and had a great atmosphere. The fans could not believe that the band came over one by one walking from hotel with not a security man in sight!!
I don't think any other band at this sort of level would ever do that and we are mad I suppose but the guys want to keep things as "ordinary" as possible, not that that is really the right word but you get my drift. And anyway there are always plenty of fans around to give us any protection we may need. Anyway the crew also arrived shortly after us -- they love a 2 night stand as they get away early to the pub too!

So another late night, but I had had a couple of beers so did get to sleep thankfully!!

- Rod

Rod in Melbourne II
Published: February 10, 2008

Rod Diary Feb 7

Up fairly early as a few things l need to get done. After a couple of hours work and go out to get some breakfast as feeling a bit stir crazy. A muffin with bacon and egg, delicious. Take a 20 min walk then return to room and work. Mid afternoon went back down to studio to check the intro footage with Dave. We spent a couple of hours making a few tweaks and then headed to the venue to be there before the audience were let in so we could run it "live" on screen with the whole intro package (I wont go into detail -- wait til you see the show) which we did and I felt it worked well. It is something we will be adding to occasionally as we go along so it sort of represents the whole of this tour). Also ran it past Steve as I always would when music is involved as the footage of course has music to it. Steve is a real stickler on edits -- as of course you would all expect -- but fortunately this time, for a change(!), he was happy first time round so we were able to use it that night. I think it was a cool idea which works well so hope you all do too.

No point going back to the hotel now so go to catering and get a decent meal and hang out backstage and in my room til time to go on. Usually second shows in venues are "lighter" than first ones as fans tend to rush out and get the first tickets. The first show here sold out in 15 minutes and second one added immediately so you would think out most manic fans grabbed the first show leaving the slow coaches to the second. So much for theory as this certainly wasn't the case here. The audience was every bit as loud as the first night and even the merchandise sales were almost exactly the same. And as promised by my Killer Krew the sound was on the money as was the rest of the show and that, along with a loud and passionate crowd, made it a great show and even better than the first. We are really hitting our stride -- I don't think anything can stop us now!!

Thank you Melbourne for 2 magnificent reactions -- we will most certainly be returning in the not too distant future.

I was intending to go back to the hotel and get a reasonably early night but after a really top gig it's just not possible to do this. Too much adrenaline rush. So common sense and an instinct for survival get chucked out of the window. Anyway I was always was a sucker for punishment and remain, as ever, virtually indestructible!!!!!
And so l found myself back at Bridie O'Reilly's along with most of the audience from the Rod Laver Centre it would seem! The place was packed, the landlord gave band and myself free drinks all night (oh dear!!) including vodka shots and even I seemed to be signing hundreds of autographs and posing for fan pics and this fact alone makes me sure most of our fans there were truly pissed!!

Another late night, but another great show....and that is what counts!!

- Rod

Rod - Day Off
Published: February 10, 2008

Rod's diary - Feb 8

Awake, shower, breakfast, emails -- another typical tour morning. Its bags in the lobby by 9.15 am so they can go ahead onto the plane. Back in the room work til its time to leave at about 11. Everyone on time, off we go to airport, cars go straight to steps of the plane, the air crew and our road crew are all on board and prepared so its off we go with Bruce once again at the controls heading for Sydney.

There is again great banter between air traffic control and Bruce as we approach the runway. Sometimes they insist Bruce sings some of The Trooper or they wont let us land. A couple of hours out of Perth the air traffic control told us we had a clear straight run in and to go as fast as possible as his daughter wanted to see us land before she had to go off somewhere!!!

As we come into land we spot 2 news helicopters from Channels 9 and 7 who appear to be filming the plane. We taxi into the "private" section of the airport I see news cameras waiting for us to get off down the steps. I make sure the band get off first and all together -- looks much better! If you are going to make national news you might as will do it like the Beatles did though most of you are too young to remember that. Band go along with this in good humour and our doc crew film the news crews filming us and are in turn filmed by Johnny Burke, our man. My god what is going on here!!! At least we will have lots of footage!!

That evening and repeated on each news show was a fantastic piece about the band, the plane and the Sydney concerts. You will find a link in our site news section. This is really taking our media coverage to a new level with Sky and now this and we are told by our promoters right across South and Latin America that every national news channel will have a team meeting us at the airport. There is even talk of CNN being at LAX, and they are definitely coming out to part of our South American dates. The band take it all in their stride and really don't seem to notice that much as they are getting used to cameras everywhere and have stopped complaining too much! Personally though I think its fantastic that we are getting so much international news attention as I feel, for a number of reasons, this band deserves this recognition for their achievements and much of the coverage includes you the fans and the media are clearly starting to recognise this unique relationship between band and fans. And sure as hell beats being on MTV, which of course we are not!!

Off the plane, straight into the cars and off to the hotel with bags delivered to rooms later. Yes this is starting to work well at least for domestic flights, though it will be tougher on international flights and, except for Mexico and Brazil, most will be after Oz.

I guess we got to the hotel about 3 and I set up to work. Again I am blessed with a really great room and am sitting here looking out of the window at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and famous Opera House so its not so bad being chained to the laptop!!

In the evening I met up with an old mate Russell and his lovely wife and daughter, Robyn and Shannon. Russ, whilst at EMI in the early eighties was responsible for one of the few occasions we have had airplay anywhere when he got Run to the Hills on national radio leading to a big hit leading to a platinum album with NoB leading to our first tour there in 83. We always kept in touch so it was good to see them all again. Went for a great meal at China Doll on Woolloomooloo (yes l think l spelt it right) Wharf -- highly recommended -- excellent south east Asia menu with plenty of spicy stuff, just the job!!

Got back to hotel in good time about 10.30, watched some sport on TV and bed at midnight. Can we sleep???? Soon find out!!!

- Rod

Rod in Sydney
Published: February 10, 2008

ROD DIARY - FEB 9

Can we sleep???? Forget it!! Lay awake til 1am and got up. As I said before we are 11 hours ahead here so 1am is 2pm GMT so by then I have plenty of emails to keep me happy!! Especially when we are starting to schedule media for LA and after in South America -- it does actually take a fair bit of planning if you want to get it right and with Mary and Val we do try to. Also some press releases to work on -- I have always done this myself from the beginning as I know what I want to get across so its easier and better than using PRs etc to do it. Sometimes I will have Dave do a draft along a brief if I am busy but generally I write them especially on the road when Dave is busy playing with his cameras and of course his new Maiden News for you guys. Due to having to do that intro in Melbourne he is a bit behind but promises to have a double bumper 10 min issue on India and Oz ready for you very soon. We shall see!!!!!

Anyway got out of bed, dealt with incoming, went back to bed, tried to sleep.

Same procedure again at 2am, 3am, 4am, 5am, 6am, 7am, 8am -- bloody jetlag -- should have had a few beers but don't like taking pills. Finally got off after 9am til about 1pm. At least l got some sleep though l am starting to feel quite speedy and light headed from lack of sleep. And I am not the only one getting this problem. But we should be acclimatised soon, at least by Tokyo when we take another big time jump (and gain a day) to LA!!!

Got some breakfast in the room then and continued til about 5pm as I wanted to be at the show early. Acer Arena is part of the Olympic Park they built here which includes the Testra Stadium (?) where I attended the World Cup Rugby in 2003 and I do love reminding my Aussie mates of the result. I wore my very special and one off prototype of our Twickenham event shirt just to wind them up (top secret). Sorry to you Aussie FC members but the Brits don't get much chance to do this!!!

Had a good long meeting with our excellent promoter Paul Dainty about general future plans -- yes we will be back and we will be in Kiwiland which we all regret just not being able to fit in the schedule this time round, with England playing cricket there right now (and badly losing the first 50 over match -- the 20/20s don't count!) you can be sure I would have got us there if it could be made to make sense this time round.

The Acer Arena is another fantastic arena - first night sold out 14,000. Huge place, other bands could get more in but we don't sell the sides by the stage as the kids cant see anything!! Immense reception, immense reaction. All good except we had to miss pyro in Rime as a lighting truss went a bit out of control and was too low for the overhead bursts so would singe the band's heads!! Shame, its my favourite effect. But a great gig. Went back after and found all the band had done a runner so got a car back to the hotel and headed for the bar there. It was on the top floor with a gallery running round and wonderful views over Sydney and the Bridge and Opera House at night.

Relatively quiet night and called it a day at about 2 am -- and to bed......and to sleep.....yeeeeeessssssss!!!!!!

- Rod

Rod in Sydney II
Published: February 11, 2008

Rods Diary Feb 10 -- Sydney 2

Woke about 11am, shower and breakfast and on to laptop. Tomorrow I am going off tour for a few days diving on the Great Barrier Reef up in Cairns. I will miss Brisbane and Yokohama but will be back for the Tokyo show. I deserve a bit of R and R!! But more about this later. However as I am going to be off I want to catch up with as much as I can so l don't have to do too much the next few days. So I settled down to a long session of catching up with this diary (as you have probably noticed), drafting out some significant press releases about touring, the success of Live After Death DVD (which you will all be pleased to know looks to be no 1 or at least top 3 in most places round the world.. Although I say it myself it really is a great package!) And organising media schedules for up and coming dates. Plus clearing any backlog. Pretty well managed it too and have got largely up to date even to the point of writing this the morning after -- its only 10am and I am on the plane to Cairns.

I went down the show at 7.30 with Nicko, a bit later than usual, as I needed the time to finish the work. Had some food at catering then met with Scot and Sam about our documentary to make sure they were getting the access they needed and all was well in terms of getting all the footage they required. They had been out doing some interviews with Steve at the Opera House and Jan at the Harbour Bridge that afternoon and said that largely the band were being quite cooperative. It is important that they are if we are to get the close and intimate documentary of this tour that we all wish to get but Sam and Scot, by both being intelligent and passionate metal fans, are being accepted by the band as part of the team as the feeling is they are genuine about all this, something a lot of doc crews would not be. Scot and Sam have demonstrated their passion and commitment to metal with two great docs already -- the award winning Metal; A Headbangers Story and the soon to be released Global Metal -- and I always felt that the band would soon come to like and trust them and fortunately this seems to be the case to date. They both seem happy with the content they are picking up and by the time we get to the madness of the Latin America section with its huge crowds and even huger excitement everything should be on a very even keel.

The second show at the Acer went well -- we had about 9,000 for this second show so played to around 23,000 people in Sydney, not a bad result and 16,000 more than we played to last time in 1993!!
These modern halls are designed so they can be curtained for different audience sizes and by doing this effectively the 9000 looked full anyway so here was no lessening of the vibe of the show. I actually sloped off after the band went on stage to get a massage from Bruce's masseur and very good it was too. I saw the encores though and audience looked and sounded like they had had a great time!! And I am told all the pyro worked effectively and that the sound was good. So a great couple of nights in Sydney so thank you to all you fans there. Hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed being in this fantastic city (and venue).

All band did a runner and I jumped in with Bruce, who said it was a good show with a very good audience. He had been at an air show all day with a friend and got to fly in a Dragonfly and see a couple of Spitfires so he was in a pretty good mood all round!! Some of the band were going back to the Irish Pub that Jan and Davey went to the night before. They said it was rockin' and had loads of TVs with sport on so would return tonight to watch the Man U game and more beers with the fans. The rest went back to the spectacular hotel bar. I went up for an hour to have a drink and say farewell to Paul Dainty and some of his team and also Pat Cash who was there with us. He is an old friend of Steve and Adrian in particular. When we first went to Oz in 82 on NoB Pat was Wimbledon Junior Champion and a big Maiden fan. So a game was arranged with Steve playing with Pat and I played with his coach who l think was called Ian Barker. I think we lost. When Pat moved to the UK, H in particular saw a lot of him and played with him occasionally. H is a bloody good tennis player and actually went to play with Pat again while we were in Melbourne.


I didn't spend long in the bar though as it's a 7am wake up tomorrow so headed back to room about midnight to pack -- I like to pack the night before -- and get an early night. But I couldn't resist it could I?. you may recall from my Bangalore Diaries that I have Sky Slingbox so I can get the sport and last year in Bangalore watched all 3 Six Nations rugby matches. Well its working fine here and Italy v England was on live on BBC, which I can get on Slingbox of course, at 1.30am my time. Couldn't not watch it, could I!! Good first half and bloody awful in second. Lucky to hold out for a narrowish win. I missed the Welsh game as we were in the air Mumbai-Perth at the time but I had it recorded on Slingbox. However when I saw the result and report on my Blackberry on landing in Perth I didn't bother watching it -- would have been too painful!! And the cricket in NZ is not going much well with a big loss in first 50 over match! So in the end bed about 3.30am feeling pissed off with a very poor performance!! Did sleep though.
- Rod

Rod - Day off in Cairns
Published: February 15, 2008


ROD'S DIARY FEB 11 -- DAY OFF

So it was up early again -- 7.30am -- and car to airport to get 9.25 Quantas to Cairns up there in Northern Queensland. Plenty of time so got some breakfast at the airport. What is it that makes airport food so poor and sometimes as bad as a bad imitation of a motorway café??

I have been up to Northern Queensland before on what was then my third trip to OZ. I went with the band in 82 and 85 but we only got as far north as Brisbane and Newcastle, not many big tours get as far as Cairns. But in 89, just after Kathy and I got engaged, we went down for the British Lions Rugby Tour. Kathy read law at college with England and Lions hooker Brian Moore and he arranged tickets for us -- and a memorable night out with the pack in a Sydney Harbour pub after the first test was lost - just me, Kathy and the Lions pack.

As a total rugby groupie that must be my career highlight!! At one point second row Donal Lenihan was chatting Kathy up -- a British Lion, six foot four, a doctor and all that with the Oirish twinkle in the eye and a wonderful charming and romantic accent!! I thought what chance had I but survived to get married a few weeks later. But back to the story. So we saw our loss in the first test and after that we went up to Port Douglas about an hours drive north of Cairms where we planned to stay for a the midweek, returning to Brisbane for the second test. The hotel there -- The Mirage -- was amazing, at the time one of the most beautiful I had seen anywhere. So as we lost the first test we decided to stay in nirvana at the Mirage hoping desperately that the Lions would win in Brisbane to set up the decider back in Sydney. We went white water rafting on the Daintree River, travelled into the Rain Forest, snorkelled and, for the first time, dived on the Great Barrier Reef. This was my first time diving and I think it planted the bug. Sadly we tore ourselves away to go the the final deciding test -- yes we won in Brisbane thanks to some Jeremy Guscott genius. In Sydney we had poor tickets right at the front but in the corner by the tryline. However these ended out being great seats when Campese threw back a terrible pass to his full back, Martin, I think, and Ieuan Evans pounced to score the match and series winning try. All right in front of us, just yards away. Yes, sometimes even the Welsh are useful, boyo!!!!

But enough of that. We returned on the Maiden tour in 92, by which time we were not only married but had 2 toddlers, Tom and Ben. Tom had just gone 2 and Ben had his first birthday party in Bobby McGees in Darling Harbour, licking Fosters from my lips!! He hasn't got any better since!!. We stayed a couple of months in Sydney and then went up to the Mirage again for a whole month over Christmas and the new year. Kathy's dad, Roy, was with us and we played loads of golf.

Of course I did visit Oz again after that, but only for 2 nights. Oh yes Nov 2003, World Cup final. But we will move on from there as it may offend our Aussie fan club members....!!!

So as you can probably tell I adore Oz and its people -- any nation which has cricket , rugby and beer high on the agenda has to be a great country in my book. And Aussies are great companions and a lot of fun, and, as I like to think we northerners are, pretty straight to the point, even if a bit painful.

All the band love it here too and we would have been back well before this visit if we had been given a half decent offer. I wasn't having the band being away from home -- and their growing families (and mine too!) -- for 10 days or so just to lose a lot of money. I always thought the promoters were underestimating the business we would do. So thank you Mr Paul Dainty for showing the faith and getting us back here and I think the turnout of our ever brilliant fans have justified it tenfold. Its been a great tour down here -- even though I am missing Brisbane tomorrow (fyi the guys later told me that Brisbane was a steaming gig and the crowd were great so thanks to you all again if you were there).

After a painless flight arrived in Perth about midday -- and it was pissing down. They are having severe rainstorms on the north east coasts of OZ and there is a real danger of irreversible erosion leading, along with the gradual rise in sea level, to flooding. In Australia the environment is well to the forefront of most peoples thinking. Yesterday there was apparently six inches of rain in Cairns.

So get to the hotel -- no chance of the poolside sun and RnR I was looking forward to. So what do you do....get out the laptop and catch up to save doing it later. Around 4 I went down to the spa. Still raining outside. Sod it, let's get the full treatment at the hotel Spa. Had the lot for about four hours, but I am not telling you what as you might think l have gone soft!!!. A bit self indulgent, yes, but bloody nice!! A bit more work after as UK has opened up (10 hours behind now) then bed pretty early -- have to be up and out at 6am in the morning for a one hour drive to Port Douglas to pick up the boat, Poseidon, for my first day full on diving on the Reef!!! Very excited!!!

- Rod

Friday afternoon snippets
Published: February 15, 2008

Things are pretty crazy at Maiden HQ at the moment, with lots of emails flying around saying 'ooh this is cool' or 'post this'. So here are a few bits and bobs that have landed in the IM.com inbox today...
Nice gig review from the Mumbai Mirror...

Eddie in Times Square! That is one big-ass screen.

(if you can't read it, the top screen says 'Iron Maiden Announce Full Details of Live After Death DVD')

And from LA's 'Pick Of The Week', a pretty cool preview for Tuesday...

Iron Maiden at the Forum
Iron Maiden emerged from East London in the mid-1970s, and their defiantly metal middle finger to that city's punk explosion was, intentionally or otherwise, punk as fuck. Main-man/bassist Steve Harris had a vision of something timeless; 20-plus arena-filling years later, it seems he had a point. Sidestepping the obvious head-bangin' influences of their era -- Led Zeppelin's blues-based swagger and Black Sabbath's lurching doom -- Maiden instead took cues from Thin Lizzy and UFO, developing an almost militaristic, galloping twin-guitar (now triple-guitar) trademark capped with Bruce Dickinson's alternately street-level/quasi-operatic vocals and lyrics that were more War and Peace than sex and sleaze. Iron Maiden are debatably the biggest cult band in America -- they've never enjoyed substantial airplay or an "MTV heyday" here -- this kinda-sorta-comeback tour promises to focus on the band's '80s classics ("Run to the Hills," "2 Minutes to Midnight," etc.) amid a stage set based on their epic 1984-'85 Powerslave trek: Think middle-aged hesher guitarists scampering about the Luxor Hotel -- with a giant robotic zombie. (Paul Rogers)


FC members can view pictures of Rod dressed entirely in rubber in his latest diaries. I'm not sure if that tempts you to join or not... But we are planning pre-sales again and those are a very good reason to become a fanclub member. Laz has been working like a demon getting packs out to everyone who's joined and we've had a few meetings in the office (ok, pub) about shop and fanclub development type things. All very exciting!

Rod - Diving on the Great Barrier Reef
Published: February 18, 2008

ROD'S DIARY FEB 13-14

Got up for an hour at 2am (4pm UK time) to deal with any mail as cant be sure bberry will work out on the Reef about two and a half hours out of Cairns and will be on the boat overnight so no laptop access. By doing this I wouldn't hold up everything Val and Mary are doing, particularly around the media plot, by my going AWOL for a couple of days. Finally got up at 6.30 to walk across from the hotel to the boat terminal and boarded The Compass which would take us out to Hastings Reef on the Outer Reef to meet up with our main diving boat the well named Reef Encounter (Hastings Reef today, Agincort yesterday -- are they all named after famous battles -- won one, lost one!!)



The Compass was an old and very uncomfortable boat and, despite the journey to the Reef being over 2 hours, no food was provided and I couldn't even buy a packet of crisps or a bottle of water as they had no change for a $50 note!! Those going on to join Reef Encounter were given a briefing -- this was just myself and Jorgen, a very nice chap from Copenhagen who is in Educational Software IT and was on a 6 week tour of Oz, lucky man!! After the briefing we chatted for a while and then l basically tried to keep myself occupied on bberry which did still work and cat napping.



Finally got to Reef Encounter and wow what a difference -- terrific diving deck with lift to bring you out of the water, backing straight onto a very comfortable lounge from which a passageway connected to the cabin, which were reasonable size and comfort for a boat and had terrific high powered showers with limitless water as they desalinated from the sea. Thankfully they soon served lunch as I was famished and this, and the food generally, was very good despite the chef doubling as a Divemaster! There were 6 guests that day -- it does vary day by day as you can stay on there as long as you wish so very variable. Sam, Ben and the other dive instructors, guides and staff were all terrific so basically I hit very lucky with a really good boat with a great crew .....and some excellent diving.



I won't bore you with the detail but that afternoon we had 2 dives on Hastings Reef, both on the wild side due to weather conditions. Both were about 45 min with a max depth of about 13m and on the first I got very lucky again with a White Tip Reef Shark. Due to the recent harsh weather conditions -- high wind and a lot or rain, although my two days were fine though slightly overcast -- the visibility wasn't fantastic and the shark was a bit in the gloom. Having said that though there was no question it was a shark!! But too gloomy to get a pic for you this time. On the second dive we saw a large turtle but not overexcited as we see a lot of these diving in Barbados. Of course again the reef itself was magnificent with an abundance of sealife so take that as a given so I don't keep repeating myself.



Then after dinner we did a night dive -- I have done a couple before and very much enjoy them. We didn't go as deep -- 8m -- or as long -- just 30 min as its obviously pitch black except in the beam of your torch. So quite creepy really and everyone tends to bunch together a lot at first!!



Second day we were up for a first dive at 6.30 am, then breakfast, then dive 8.30am then final dive 10.30 -- just as well this was not later as I fly to Tokyo at noon the following day and you have to allow at least 24 hours after a dive if you wish to fly. All the dives were about 40 min and 13m and main viewings were a bright yellow flute fish, a smallish (2ft) epaulette shark (hope I got this right -- a speckled beastie with a longish tail), a beautifully marked crayfish, dragonfish and the biggest Parrot fish I have ever seen.



We had lunch then about 1.30 it was time to sadly swap this wonderful boat and crew and a very enjoyable diving experience for the rather more dated, slow and uncomfortable Compass. There were 4 of us returning to Cairns and we had of course all met on the boat -- myself, Jorgen again plus Axl, a Lufthansa Airbus pilot, and Tanya , a business IT specialist. Axl and Tanya were coincidentally both from Cologne but did not know each other til they met on the boat and both, like Jorgen, were enjoying a few weeks of travel around Oz.



We tried a bit of sunbathing on the top deck but the sun was by now quite fierce so in the end we opted to sit and there and have a beer....and another.....and another. I have said previously that Aussies like a beer but so do Germans and Danes. We got on pretty well and talked about diving and lots of other things to pass away the trip back to port, arriving finally at about 5.30. I invited them back to my nearby hotel bar to continue our session and we carried on til about 9.30 when I said farewell and good luck on their travels (somewhat jealously it must be admitted!) and called it a day as I really had some work to do. My bberry did work fine the whole period but there is a lot you really can't handle on it if it comes as attachments or involves a lot of typing. Didn't get much done though, a combination of 6am start, dives, sea air, sun and quite a few beers with good company meant I had got a about a sentence done then hit the sack!!



RnR over -- back to the tour and Japan tomorrow!!

- Rod

Rod in Japan
Published: February 18, 2008

Flight left Cairns at 9.25 am for Narita Tokyo. Not too painful at the airport as Cairns is fairly quiet and the flight was uneventful -- caught up on some previous diaries and slotted a load of offline mail into the outbox to get off on arrival at the Tokyo Hotel. Then watched some TV and came across a very interesting film documentary -- it was already on so don't know the title -- but it was about the discovery in a place about halfway between Bethlehem and Jerusalem of a tomb potentially containing the "bone boxes" (don't know how to spell Jewish name of these) which the movie makers/investigators/archaeologists claimed could be those of Mary, Joseph, Jesus, his brothers and ......the enigmatic Mary Magdallen....plus that of a child, possibly of Jesus and Mary Magdallen. The makers also claimed that as this was a family tomb and MM was unrelated by blood to this family then it could mean she was related by wedlock to Jesus! There was also a lot made of the statistical possibilities of names as above being in the same tomb, this being if not necessarily solid proof then at least an indication. I could go on for ages but it was fascinating and quite extraordinary. I read Holy Blood, Holy Grail many years before the Da Vinci Code was first published and find these theories fascinating. When I finally got round to reading the Da Vinci Code (I am always slow to pick up on the cool or trend books and movies) I found the first half quite exciting and interesting, even if not new in its theories, and got through it in a couple of days. It then seemed to drag to a halt and it took me weeks to make myself finish it -- I hate not finishing a book. It really is not well written although the plot was interesting and good, at least at the beginning til it spiralled off to nowhere really. The film wasn't really that hot either sadly. But back to this documentary. I haven't seen or heard anything about this tomb, the discovery or the theories of the Jesus family tomb so don't know where it came from but if anyone has read a book about this please let me know the title ....or send me a signed copy!!! It's a shame there are not more of these thought provoking docs on airline channels. I do enjoy Bruce Willis et al but it can be good to wake up some dormant brain cells occasionally with something a bit more stimulating!!

Arrived in Nippon about 6.30 and was at the hotel by about 8.30, which is pretty good. Immigration was slow but when through the bags were already off and my car waiting and the 19km (I was told by the driver) took less than an hour. In the eighties it could take 4 hours to get from Narita to a hotel in central Tokyo but the Japanese deal with problems very effectively and in a very focussed manner so those traffic problems are long gone relative to those days.

This is I think my 25th visit here -- not just Maiden but also a number of times with WASP and Helloween who are also very successful in Japan -- in fact Helloween with Kai Hansen were apparently playing the night I would have arrived with the band so missed them again. First class people both bands.

Hooked up laptop and emptied the busy outbox, took care of some other stuff and ate a lot of the very nice fruit basket our promoter had left in each of our rooms. This is standard for Japan where hospitality and welcome (and departure) gifts are still generally a tradition. Unusually nothing from the record company though. I am meeting them tomorrow as not at all happy with their performance here. Not the lack of fruit, the sales!!

I was really just waiting for the band to come back from Yokohama where they were playing the first of two Japan shows so we could get in the bar for a while. Eventually they got back -- in Japan on stage times are very early, 5.50pm on these shows, which is actually a pleasant change as we have more time to go out after. Nicko, Bruce and Davey came down to the bar, apparently Yokohama went well, all good. Also Giancarlo, our relatively new International guy at EMI, Dave P, the Canadians (of course!) and some Japanese friends joined us, including George whose parents own a Sake factory and who always spoils us with gifts of their extremely pleasant brand. Thanks George if you are reading this.

All in good spirits, and Nicko was telling me about the interview he did for the documentary and some stories he started to tell involving the two of us but which I have to tell them the end of, he says -- not much chance of that then!!! Nicko's tales can be very dangerous, just like the man himself!!

It was a good lively evening which eventually came to a close in the early hours.

- Rod

Rod - Tokyo show
Published: February 19, 2008

ROD'S DIARY FEB 16 -- TOKYO SHOW

Got up 9-ish to deal with some emails then back to bed til about 1pm -- feeling the flight and the night a bit. As I think I said before in Japan we go on stage very early, 5.50 pm in fact, so I left for the venue at about 2 as there were things I had to do.

First was a meet with our tour managers and key production people to go through the LA show and security in Latin America. The Forum LA is madness. Its been sold out for ages and it seems we have become flavour of the month in LA and everyone and their mother wants tickets, people who have never bothered before (yes we know who you are!!) Needless to say we want tickets to go to the fans so try to keep our guest list as small as possible, as guests need tickets too and these would otherwise, on a show like this with huge ticket demand and sold out so long ago, go to real fans. That is not to say our guests aren't "real fans", some are, but you get my drift. Anyway we went through what we wanted as our guest policy. Went through the requests and had to bin many of them as just no room in the venue. My room will be rammed that night too so must make a mental note to avoid it! I love the big what I call "focal point" shows but hate all the backstage razzamatazz. Ideally we would have no guests at all backstage but it's always a matter of where you draw the line. The band tends to keep themselves to themselves anyway and prepare for and concentrate on the show, which is, after all, why we are here. Unless they have some close friends or family at the show in which case they go see them. We gave up meet and greets years ago as it always somehow seemed that the people who were there shouldn't have been!! Having said all this it's a great problem to have and you can never complain about people wanting to see you. It's actually quite satisfying to be this hot again in LA!! But we know that's thanks to the fans here and no one else. We are certainly not flavour of the month with the media, especially of course radio!

Then we reviewed security in Latin America. We generally don't carry security with the band; we have just one guy with the crew to supervise hall security and passes as, unlike some, we really don't feel threatened by our fans! This guy is now Jeff as our wonderful Wally has now sadly retired. Wally, who had a very colourful history and many a tale to tell, is very much missed.

In South America, especially with these huge stadium shows, we really need people with the band as fans here will be everywhere, and I do mean everywhere. Its great to see and feel the enthusiasm and excitement but the band do get mobbed everywhere so this security is not so much protection as organising the fans a bit so as not to squash the band!!

Then I met with Toshiba our record co here and some EMI International execs. Although the Tokyo show 10,000 was sold out we do not seem to be making any progress here, certainly compared to everywhere else on the planet and, as manager, I can't really allow this. I think we are still perceived here as a little English metal band whereas perception everywhere else is far different I think now. I knew from checking that they had used little of our info and pics of the plane and scale of this tour to excite the media and create a new story. I therefore explained at length, and I hope clearly, what we expected of them in future. There were many nods of agreement but after so many visits here I know to take these not as signs of agreeing but rather saying yes, we understand. So we shall see what the future holds here for us. It is strange that a traditionally strong market for us like Japan is levelling off yet everywhere else in leaping ahead and in particular Australia, since 1992 a poor market for us as far as we were told, has come back into Maiden so very strongly.

Also saw my good friends Masa Itoh and Koh Sakai for a chat -- regular readers will know the very major part that these gentlemen have played in the story of Maiden in Japan but those who don't should refer back in this diary archive to previous Japan news, probably around Oct 2006 which I think was the last time here.

The Messe Hall is totally different to anywhere we have played in Japan before. It is more like the cool "barns" we used to get in Europe, particularly Germany. Basically it's a big room holding 10,000 standing, or GA (General Admittance) as we would call it. Usually Japanese venues have been theatres like the Budokhan with seats and incredible acoustics, both of which take a bit of the edge off a Maiden show. But here the audience were standing, relaxed and loud and the sound had more rock n roll edge to it. Perfect sound is not what you want, for the right vibe you need that bit of distortive edge. So it really was a fantastic show and ironically, considering my meeting earlier, I though it was the best reaction we have ever had here. It is a stunning show and the band are playing great now but I think a lot of it was the GA venue. I am surprised we never played here before as it has been going a few years but I was not aware so I shall have to have words with our agent!!
This show also marked a momentous but sad occasion, the retirement from touring of the Rt Hon Mr Dickie Bell who has been with us since 1981. Dick has been a fantastic Production manager who always could be relied on to take care of anything and everything and over the years, with our adventurous approach to touring, he has been given many an unusual problem to deal with but has always done so effectively -- our 757 and the logistics around that is probably what finally finished him off!! Dick also always did everything with great humour too and there is many a support band of Maiden who will recall being serially abused by him.

Dick has already retired from the road three times but I had always managed to lure him back with the promise of new adventures, but this time he insists (and more to the point so does his wife Liz) that this is the end of Life on the Road. He will however remain very much part to the family helping in many areas but particularly setting up tours. We just won't have the pleasure, it that is what it is, of having him on tour anymore.

It was appropriate that this should take place in Tokyo, the scene of many great Dick Bell stories. After the show we had a surprise party for him at our adopted pub the Hobgoblin, where the band laid on good grub like fish n chips and a free bar for a very appreciative and thirsty crew. Hopefully Dick enjoyed it too! He was also presented with various signed pics which I am sure is just what he wanted!! The watch will have to wait. I will not go into further detail to save a few dozen people from great embarrassment!!

- Rod