Whenever it comes to metal music, certain names are bound to always be mentioned: Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Slipknot, for example. While those names are certainly influential and highly respected in the metal scene, two of the biggest names – Megadeth and Iron Maiden – have joined forces for a late summer tour that touched down at the Hersheypark Stadium on September 15.
Up first were Megadeth who are allegedly throwing around the words “final tour” while also stating that they are done recording new music. Megadeth has always been essentially the baby of singer/c0-lead guitarist Dave Mustaine and he continues to be the only original member in the lineup. That’s not to say the band isn’t amazingly tight on stage. Taking the stage just after 7pm, Mustaine and Co – guitarist Teemu Mantysaari, bassist James LoMenzo and drummer Dirk Verbeuren – ripped into the fiery “Tipping Point” from their recently released self-titled final album.
Besides the tour debut of “I Don’t Care” from their most recent album, the rest of the set list was basically a greatest hits offering full of gems like “Hangar 18,” “Take No Prisoners,” and the snarling, self-questioning “Sweating Bullets.” The band’s sound is beyond impressive with Mustaine and Mantysaari both shredding through solos on each number, LoMenzo’s thumping low-end bass guiding the music along and Verbeuren’s pounding percussion keeping it all together. With how fast their music is, it almost seems easy to classify Megadeth as a thrash band, but seeing them live really shows how well-rehearsed and cohesive they can be even with frantic speed metal being the back drop.
Their short (less than an hour) but wildly enjoyable set ended with the non-stop assault of “Tornado of Souls,” “Symphony of Destruction,” “Peace Sells,” and “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due,” before they gave a final acknowledgement to the sold-out crowd and left the stage knowing that, besides some muffled vocals from Mustaine, the set was the perfect way to set the mood for Iron Maiden.
SETLIST:
Tipping Point
Hangar 18
Take No Prisoners
I Don’t Care (Tour debut)
Sweating Bullets
Dread and the Fugitive Mind
Tornado of Souls
Symphony of Destruction
Peace Sells (False start due to James Lomenzo’s bass being turned down)
Holy Wars… The Punishment Due
Shortly before 9pm, an animated video played on the large stage screen showcasing some old, legendary clubs in England and Europe where Iron Maiden started out in 1975. Following the video, touring drummer Simon Dawson appeared behind his kit and launched the band into the driving “Murders in the Rue Morgue” from 1981’s “Iron Maiden” album. Easily one of the highlights of any Iron Maiden show is singer Bruce Dickinson. Not only does he possess one of the most respected and recognizable voices in all of metal, but at 68 years old, Dickinson commands the stage with high energy antics and non-stop engaging with fans. It really is something to behold: the man gives a simple order of “Hershey, let me hear you scream” and it sounded like 100,000 people responding instead of the 20-some-thousand the stadium held.
“Wrathchild,” “Killers,” and “Phantom of the Opera” were all well-received and all featured the three guitar onslaught Iron Maiden has become known for courtesy of Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers. During “Killers,” something else Maiden is known for made its first appearance of the evening: Eddie. Since their inception, Eddie has been the “mascot” of Iron Maiden and has transformed from a paper-mache mask into a towering, menace of a mascot who attempted to behead the members of the band at Hershey. Eddie is as much of a part of Iron Maiden as Dickinson or founding member/principle songwriter Steve Harris, and the crowd let him know how much he is loved by their near deafening cheers.
Some of the loudest applause of the evening arrived with “The Number of the Beast,” the title track from an album that has been regarded as one of the finest metal albums ever recorded. The album has become legendary in the world of metal, and Maiden knows how much the album means to their American fans, even though they may like covering other parts of their career. Harris’ bass was prominent during “Powerslave” which also featured some wardrobe changing by Dickinson. Dickinson’s outfits are a major part of Maiden performances, with the front man seemingly going from his standard gear to including a bird mask, army general coat and other accessories. But it’s all part of a Maiden show. The videos on the screen, the pyro, the wardrobe changes, and even the meticulous camera work focusing on Dickinson’s movements during key sections of songs. Every aspect is well rehearsed and planned out. It’s something that needs to be done as an Iron Maiden show is more than just music; it’s a fully-encompassing multi-media theatrical roller-coaster ride that everyone needs to experience at least once.
Maiden wrapped up its main set with a barrage of fan favorites including “Run to The Hills,” “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son,” “The Trooper,” “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” and “Iron Maiden” before leaving the stage for a short break. The encore started with “Aces High,” with Dickinson dedicating the number to United States soldiers who helped British troops defeat the Nazis in World War 2. “Fear of the Dark,” and “Wasted Years” wrapped up the night with the audience members leaving with big smiles and slightly less hearing after seeing a band that will forever be known as one of the biggest names in metal. Even Eddie agrees.
SETLIST:
Murders in the Rue Morgue
Wrathchild
Killers
Phantom of the Opera
The Number of the Beast
Infinite Dreams
Powerslave
2 Minutes to Midnight
Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Run to the Hills
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
The Trooper
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Iron Maiden
Encore:
Churchill’s Speech
Aces High (Dedicated to US Airmen from WWII who helped the British Royal Air Force)
Fear of the Dark
Wasted Years
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (Monty Python song)
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rice an American Band released an album in 2024.
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