9/10

The second night in London and the final show on The Final Frontier World Tour. My 28th Iron Maiden show.
What a show!! We followed the same procedure as the the night before. At the O2 it was an Exclusive Pictorial Preview Of The Forthcoming Book Iron Maiden ‘On Board Flight 666′. We didn`t visit the expedition but had a few photos of the creature at the entrance - Eddie himself from Somewhere Back On Tour.

This time we had standing tickets so we entered the arena a bit earlier. Spectrum and Telenor Arena, you should go to O2 to learn a few things…We bought beer and went for some spots in front of the sound desk. There were quite good view even on the floor. The show kicked off and we knew straight away we were in for one of those special night. I have never heard Steves`s bass this loud, or Dave so focused, or Nicko`s drumming so thunderous. Bruce was spitting out the words as like it was the last time. Blood Brothers magic and very emotional..When Running Free ( with crowd wave and everything) started, I knew it was the last time I would witness Maiden in a loooong time. After the show Mortis and Ida managed to get a drum skin even we were quite far back in the crowd.

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The end celebrated with the “Ring Of Brian”

Thanks Maiden for some fantastic shows. I will be looking forword to next time. Thank also to you fellow Maiden fans out there!!

9/10

After two great shows in Oslo and Helsinki, I was really looking forward to the two shows in London. Saturday being the last show on the tour and the last planned show so far. When will be the next time no one knows..

First off – by coincidence – we landed next to Ed Force One at Gatwick – which I was sure had been repainted! It wasn`t. Fisrst time I had seen this tour plane.

We arrived thursday having no special plans that day. For non-Maiden related photos go here.
We had a great warm up night in Fino restaurante in Soho ( finalist in Gordon Ramsey show!?) , then lagers and white wine in Covent Garden and finally Camden Town.

After another trip to Camden early on friday we prepared for Maiden. We used the tube to Greenwich where the amazing London O2 Arena was located. I have never seen anything like it really. Great place, the arena itself, cinemas, childrens stuff, bars and restaurantes everywhere. We looked around and bought something to eat and drink in Tesco and headed for a grass pitch. I met Torgrim Øyre and had a chat with him. One of the famous “Brødrarne Hardrock” was also present. We took a few photos with the arena and Docklands area in the backgound.

The first night we were seated. Great seats though. And as the show started everone was on their feets anyway. Standing with great view is what it was!!! And room enough to play the airguitars.. The show was one of the best I`ve seen. I have problems with rating the shows these days. All are great. Again The Talisman and Coming Home were my faves. The apparition of the Eddie from behind the stage was also spectacular. I haven`t seen it so clear so far. He was massive with those fingers coming out first. Bruce repeated his tale about the norwegian mass murder and the rest about how Maiden`s house was open for all religions. Great show in Maiden home town.

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After the show we were exhausted, but a burger got us going and I and Mortis had a few pints and a metal bar.

Concert rating: 9/10

After a amazing night in Oslo, Mortis and I travelled to Helsinki on thursday. Helsinki greeted us with sun and 32 degrees. We met up with Thomas and Ronny at the “hotel”. The first night we spent in city center looking around and drinking beer. We were most of the time at Rocks. The next day we also did some sightseing.

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The hot weather continued. We visited a metal shop and then had good lunch and beer at a place next to Rocks. Then it was time to get ready for the preparty organised by the qrazy finns. We arrived in fantastic settings 2 pm. There were 100 fans present from 18 different countries. There were beer, food, raffle and a accustic set by the Coverslaves. They also performed at the aftershow at Rocks and that set was really setting the place on fire. Great to hear those “rare” tracks seldom or never to be played by Maiden themselves. I talked to a lot of people at the preparty. Pitkät Viikset…
I`ll let the photos from the preparty speek for themselves. Thanks to Ilvis and the Crazy Finns for this experince. It was very well organized, cheap and a lot of fun. I will remember this as one of my best Maiden experiences!!!

Photos in this gallery wihout Kjagen.com watermark are from pro photographer Aku-Axel Muukka. Thanks

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All of the party walked to the stadium. The atmosphare was great. The Olympic Stadium looked impressive. After a grillimakkara outside we went inside. Listened to the Alice Cooper set while standing in line to buy beer. The poor beer organization was a bit of a surprise since everything else in Helsinki was great organized.  Anyway, after the Cooper set we lined up in front Doug Hall. And when Maiden hit the stage we had perfect sound straight from the start. The concert was one of the best I`ve seen. Every guitar solo and vocals were so clear and defined. The concert did not suffer from the daylight througout the gig. I thought Bruce was not at his best in Oslo, but in Helsinki it was a joy to watch the big screens when he belted out the classic lines. Highlights of the show this time was The Talisman, Blood Brothers and Wickerman.
And after the show we went straight to Rocks and to the afterparty without standing in line ( arranged by the Crazy Finns) And that was a great way to finish the trip.

Thanks to Finland for a great trip and experince. We`ll be back for more.
See some of you in London!

Kjagen, july 2011

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My rating 8/10
The real leg of The Final Frontier World Tour. After a preparty at a pub in Fornebu area, we headed for the arena. Our seats had been cancelled because of one of the sections had poor view, and it wasn`t even the section we had tickets for!!?? Very strange. We had to make our way to the middle of the arena with 20 minutes to go..Standing was great, but I want the money in return as we didn`t get what we`d bought.

The show kicked off and it was great. Great audience too. It was the hottest indoor show I`ve been at and it was clear that Bruce suffered a bit from it. In their diaries Rod wrote that they could barely breath during the show. The intro was great indoors with no nordic outdoor sun. Highlights of the show was The Talisman ( a powerhouse live) and Coming Home ( great solos). And The Trooper even though I must have heard it 20 times now.

But the highlight of the day was after the show at Andy`s Pub.
Adrian and Janick were all of a sudden in the pub. After a while outside where Adrian was having a cigarette I kindly asked for a photo. And it was a photo with Adrian with a beard!!!!! How many got that? It was for fun.
Later we had a photo with both Janick and Adrian. What a night. 

Night rating 10/10..

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Tour 2011 so far..

Telenor Arena, Oslo
Olympic Stadion, Helsinki
O2 Arena, London
O2 Arena, London

Look out for for reports and photos

Sao Paulo, BRAZIL - Morumbi Stadium

Tickets are secured for both nights at the O2 Arena

Just a 9 months wait
Oslo, Helsinki and London so far