IRON MAIDEN Manager Checks In From Melbourne

February 13, 2008

IRON MAIDEN manager Rod Smallwood has checked in from the Melbourne, Australia stop of the band's Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 2008. An excerpt from his online posting follows:

"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 two sold-out nights, capacity 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."

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