Iron Maiden @ Madison Square Garden on Sunday, 6/15 (Father's Day)

Oh good lord, forgot to mention: opening act was Laura Harris, who is -- presumably -- Steve Harris' daughter. Imagine a less-tuneful Ashlee Simpson (yes, this is hard to imagine, I know) singing the Lita Ford catalog, flanked by tribute metal band players. Entirely difficult to watch, much less listen to.

Although, to be fair -- she is "quite fit," as some of the Brits around me observed.

I got her CD in this morning's mail (I'm sure it arrived sometime last week, but I just dug it out of the mailbag this morning). It can't be as bad as the Scars On Broadway album, which makes me wish I'd been born without ears. But I'm not gonna run the risk of playing it.

"Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" was actually the highlight of the set for me. I've always loved that song, and they really tore into it - Bruce was wearing this tattered black robe, and given that he's in his 50s now, he did actually look somewhat ancient 'n' crazed on the big screens. A great performance, probably the most flat-out theatrical part of the whole show. I half expected him to stalk the stage with the mic in one hand and a candelabra in the other.

You had me at "Lita Ford catalog"

semi-libelous addendum to Alex's review of a performance by one of the best live bands in the history of the world…

two years ago, I showed up to the Garden State Arts Center (don't know what its called in the last couple of years: PNC something, where I last saw Maiden) to interview an artist for a since shuttered guitar mag.

A very very prominent photographer was there to do the shoot before the interview. Apropos of nothing, this photog went batshit with the anecdotes…my fave concerned how Steve harris is a huge racist and homophobe…behind his back, his associates and contemporaries like to say that he would lose his mind if one of his sons started dating a black guy…

Ok a friend of mine JUST told me he saw Maiden in Chicago about two years ago and, um, MY BLOODY VALENTINE opened up for them! I half-assedly googled it but turned up nothing. Who is this other MBV? Because it can be THE MBV (can it?).

You had me at "Lita Ford catalog"

J0hn, we've talked with your loved ones and this is going on your tombstone. Hope it serves you well in the afterlife.

Because it can be THE MBV (can it?).

Oops. It CAN'T be....

Your friend probably means Bullet For My Valentine.

Yeah, that's it! I'll definitely let him know. Thanx, PF.

There is video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBnxDclM-ic&hl=en

See what I mean about the feather mask?

I dug the mask .. like old school Peter Gabriel with Genesis stylee