Iron Maiden: Live After Death

Iron Maiden's World Slavery Tour had seen the band performing in 193 counties in just under a year (August, 1984 - July, 1985), from being the first band to take a full production into Europe's Eastern Bloc to performing in front of some 300,000 in the first Rock in Rio (January 1985) then to 1,000,000 North American heavy metal fans alone.

As the tour hit its eighth month it was now time to film this epic production, coming off the back of the mighty 1984 "Powerslave" album with its Egyptian themes and backdrops and powerful lengthy tracks as "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" to the shorter rock n' roll numbers of "Aces High" and "2 Minutes to Midnight". It's all good stuff, with live tracks taken from their, then, current studio works' "Iron Maiden" (1980), The Number of the Beast" (1982), "Piece of Mind" (1983) we hear their traditional key changes and power cords, twin lead guitars to historical and intriguing lyrics and the heavy, rhythmic bass line from its founding member Steve Harris.

Originally released as a 1985 double live vinyl album, side four being the London's Hammersmith shows, the first three being the US' Long Beach Arena concerts. This vinyl album alone is worth searching for, in its vinyl capacity, to appreciate its artwork, done by Derek Riggs, its booklet with photo after photo of the bands world tour and general all-out detailed output put into this vinyl package, an excellent production indeed.

Accompanying this double live album was the 1985 VHS release and it has now been updated and re-released in 2008, with two audio options; the original PCM Stereo soundtrack and an updated 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound version. To be fair, while the 5.1 is best suited to, now, modern technologies' the format to play here is most definitely its original format, the updated soundtrack sounds too sterile, too superimposed and clean.

This 2008 package is a treasure trove of Maiden memorabilia. Added is the now rare full-length footage of "Iron Maiden: Behind the Iron Curtain", a documentary of their visit to the Eastern Bloc and a exceptional glimpse into the now defunct Communist Europe when the Cold War was still very much in place and when a heavy metal band blew down the walls of segregation. With this, we also see an interesting short (15 minutes) of Maiden performing and being interviewed, at the Alamo no less, in San Antonio, Texas from their World Piece Tour of 1983 and a full one hours documentary "History of Iron Maiden part 2" (2008) as well as highlights from their visit to "Rock in Rio - 1985" and more.

"Iron Maiden: Life After Death" (2008) with all is glory of the 1985 Long Beach show plus its added extras is a must for lovers of the heavy metal genre and its spearheading band Iron Maiden, a great show and a very well thought-out package that fails to disappoint, this too, is also the Iron Maiden trademark.

A must concert film for all metal fans. Simple. Maiden may or may not be your cup of tea but this really was a legendary tour and era for the NWOBHM titans. A monster year long tour playing 4 or 5 gigs per week... a massive stage set, impressive set list and a killer live sound - reproduced brilliantly for the release. To be honest, there's not one duff track. All songs are from the first album, Number Of The Beast, Piece Of Mind & Powerslave. The Smith/Murray twin guitar attack looks and sounds awesome along side Steve, Bruce & Nicko's performance. From minute one the (now infamous) Churhill Speech intro tape takes us into Aces High, 2 Minutes To Midnight, The Trooper... Other high lights include The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, Powerslave, Iron Maiden (check out the huge Eddie!) & Running Free. This film really should get the re-mastering treatment and released as DVD at some point. This concert MUST be in your collection.

Usually the band puts on amazing high energy shows. Dickinson can be an amazing front man with a legendary voice.

But for some reason they put out this album and DVD where he had an off night. He misses cues, sounds ragged, hesitant, confused, and tired.

I was disappointed with the album when it came out in 85. This DVD has some great visuals, but the singing no only isn't up to their recorded albums. It's not nearly as good virtually anything of theirs posted on Youtube, and not nearly as good as Flight 666.

I first saw this concert in 1987, fresh out of the box, in a friend's house who was/is a die-hard-core I'm fan. I WAS HOOKED.

I have had the opportunity to watch live shows on arenas, theaters, stadiums, videos and bars; and the emotion, the vive, and the adrenaline that I remember from watching this video concert again and again -until I gave it back to my friend, has only been surpassed by one arena concert I have attended.

I've watched other Maiden concert videos (Live in Japan, Maiden England, Rock in Rio) and in those the songs were too fast, too slow, too "play-it-couse-we-know-how-to"... in Live After Death, the minute you understand that only such Churchill speech is the perfect oppener for a British band that gets an adrenaline rush by looking at their flag, you know you're in for a bang. A such bang you get from the first chord blasting out of what appears to be one of the loudest concerts ever heard in the Long Beach Arena.

Oh man... the way Dickinson plays the crowd... yes..! Plays the crowd! As if the 52k+ attendees were his musical instrument! Watching this, listening the way the crowd helped Maiden's charismatic front man tell his doctor in England "Doctor, Los Angeles... destroyed... my hearing!!" is reminiscent of Freddie Mercury's heyday singing "Now I'm Here" in front of a packed stadium, but on steroids!

The songs are played at the only-way-they-should-be-played speed, enough to make your head bang with force but not so as the singer crept through the lyrics to keep up; something that happens a couple of times on the other Maiden video concerts.

Murray's & Smith's playing is clean-flawless (eat your heart out rock guitar player-wannabes!). McBrian's drumming is relentless, and every time he turns to the camera looks at it as of asking "Is this all you've got Los Angeles?" And of course, Dickinson, that guy never got old did he? If you think that he is intense on stage... you're right! That man has not slowed his pace in the 20 years since then!

The image quality is great for a VHS, and the sound it top of the line for its day. It is only too bad that if you want to see it, you'll need to find it under a box full of stuff in your oldest uncle's attic or pay 60+ bucks for it at a collector's trade show, in godd condition enough for you to enjoy it a couple if times, if you're lucky.

I would pay the 60+.

I know no Maiden fan who is not hard-core. Maiden has that, all its fans are hard-core followers. If you're not in the Maiden Army, it's because you have not seen this video... too bad.

Like withfullforce666 said, "This film really should get the re-mastering treatment and released as DVD at some point".

If you're a rock fan, having this concert in your video collection is a must, because it teaches everyone the true meaning of the title:

L I V E . R O C K . C O N C E R T.

This is video shot during Iron Maidens' 1984-85 "World Slavery" Tour. The video was shot at the Long Beach Arena during 4 nights they played there. It differs slighty from the CD of the same name, but basically the same set. This tour is considered to be Maiden at their peak. At the time, this was the worlds longest concert tour on record, it ran for approx. 11 months!

This is a must see/have DVD for the true Iron Maiden fan. If you missed them on this tour, this DVD will more than make up for the missed opportunity. I have watched this video over and over again and am amazed and delighted to watch the lads perform one of the most memorable concerts in rock history.