How often in life do you get the chance to fly off to a gig in a plane piloted by the lead singer of the band in question.... Not often, and hence when the opportunity arose to fly with 'Bruce Air' to catch Iron Maiden at the last of their three sold out shows in Stockholm, Sweden, it was just too good to miss. So Friday 24th November saw your intrepid reviewer en-car and traveling down the A1 to Gatwick Airport to join up with 180 other Maiden fanatics to fly with vocalist Bruce Dickinson to Stockholm's Arlanda airport and then on to the gig at the Globen.

On arrival at Gatwick, and as the paperwork suggested, it wasn't hard to find the required check in desk what with the mass of people adorned in Maiden T-Shirts of all varieties and pedigrees. Chatting with the people hanging around, the trip had been a draw to fans not only from the UK, but from world wide with Croatia, Canada, Japan & Denmark being just some of the countries represented.

Check in and security duly negotiated it was soon time to board the Astraeus Airlines 757 for flight AEU666 to Stockholm. Appearing from the cockpit resplendent in his pilot uniform the Maiden frontman soon made people relaxed with an informal introduction to the trip and then it was time for take off.

With a following wind of around 120 MPH, the flight itself was rather shorter than normal, and the turbulence was only a slight hindrance as the cabin crew served up drinks and food. Midway through Dickinson again took to the mike and the iconic 'Scream For Me Flight 666'' brought the noise to the levels usually reserved for rapid & unplanned descents. After landing and going through the necessary customs clearances it was on to the bus for the short trip to the hotel, right next to the venue for the evening's entertainment. It was at this point that the only downside to the weekend kicked in, the long, wet queue as the hotel staff processed the 180 or so people turning up all at the same time, handing out room keys and the like.

By the time everyone had finally checked in it was time for the first of the exclusive features of Bruce Air: the chance to get on stage at the Globen & have a group photo taken with Dickinson. With stage manager Dickie Bell orchestrating things with a rod of, well cardboard, and shouting out admonissions and instructions with equal volume and regularity the three groups invading the stage were soon all duly photographed and happy. And then it was simply a short wait until the gig itself.

Another of the benefits, being 'first to the barrier, allowed the Bruce Air mob into the Globen just before hordes of Swedes invaded to wait for opening band Trivium to take to the stage. With three critically acclaimed albums behind them, the Americans were the ideal choice for support on the European leg of the A Matter Of Life & Death tour. Blending elements of classic metal and thrash into an almost unique sound Trivium are tailor made for the arena stages of the world.

From set opener 'Entrance Of The Conflagration' the front three of Trivium were all over the stage, using all five of the mikes set up for them in the process. Unfortunately a rather dire mix meant Matt Heafy's vocals were lost amidst the barrage of riffs and bass runs. The constant movement of the band also meant it was rather hard to concentrate on what was going on up onstage.... sometimes guys less is more, but that aside Trivium were excellent, and if the somewhat early chants of 'Maiden', 'Maiden' could be heard as the band finished off 'Anthem (We Are The Fire)' then this was surely down to the (over) enthusiasm of Maiden fans rather than any comment on the performance of Trivium. UK - you are in for a treat when this lot hit this country next month.

And so on to Maiden. Anyone who has been following the recent exploits of the UK's metal heroes will know that the band are playing the album 'A Matter Of Life And Death' in its entirity on the this tour, dropping classic songs such as 'The Number Of The Beast', 'Wrathchild' and 'Run To The Hills'.. The band's decision to play a set so heavily weighted in favour of new material has been the subject of much discussion online and has split fans into two camps. For the record, this reviewer supports their decision. Brave, yes certainly, but it shows the confidence Maiden have in the new album and means that they certainly have to go out work harder than normal each and every show to win the sort of audience reaction the more well known songs would gain simply by dint of their reputation.

Kicking off with album opener 'Different Worlds' it was immediately obvious that the Maiden boys were happy and on top form -why wouldn't they be with their most successful ever Scandinavian tour drawing to a close with this show. Bassist Steve Harris, as ever, was  a bundle of energy, covering every inch of the stage and working closely with the manic Janick Gers stage left to bring the audience to fever pitch. First to the barrier we may have been, but once there, it was definitely survival of the fittest as the mainly young Swedish audience tried every trick in the book to get closer to their heroes. This reviewer obviously was not one of fittest and duly departed the scrum at the front for the safety of the rear of the inner circle. Of the new songs 'Brighter Than A Thousand Suns' was truly epic and memorable whilstd 'Out Of The Shadows' provided a welcome change of pace and a chance for Adrian Smith to show his melodic touch on his six string. This is not to say that the remaining songs were anything other than entertaining, it was just these two that stood out in terms of their impact on the set.

If the crowd reaction during the playback of AMOLAD had been enthusiastic, then the intensity surely doubled as the band launched into the first of the 'classics' to make the set. 'Fear Of The Dark' gave the Swedes a chance to raise their voices to the max with Dickinson playing the roll of conductor. Mind you, this seemed quiet compared to the response that 'Eddie' elicited during his appearance in the Maiden signature tune that closed out the main portion of the set. Sitting atop a tank, and dressed as a World War II tank commander, the Ed would most definitely have frightened the life out of any soldiers unlucky enough to encounter him on the battlefields of Europe during the war.

For the encores, the requirement for which, to be honest, was never in any doubt, Maiden again delved into their back catalogue to serve up rousing renditions of '2 Minutes To Midnight' and 'The Evil That Men Do' before finally bringing the evening to a close with the obligatory 'Hallowed Be Thy Name'. Maiden in Sweden on this evidence are a force that will go on until they, and not some silly musical fashion or trend, decide it's time to quit. With Dickinson promising the Maiden would return in 2008 with a "little bit of Egypt", alluding to the forthcoming Powerslave era tour, that is not likely to be anytime soon.

Following on from the show the area around the Globen was simply a sea of Maiden T-Shirts, with crowd dissipating into the surrounding bars. Unlike the UK however the Swedes obviously treat the whole Maiden experience as an event, rather than simply another gig. Many of the bars had sound systems blasting out Maiden classics old and new and welcomed with open arms the rockers as they went in search of post gig libations. Even the Hard Rock Cafe got into the act putting on a Maiden tribute act on after the show. Would that happen in the UK... I doubt it. To round off an already fabulous evening, even the bar staff in the hotel were decked out in Maiden attire and blasting songs out through the Hotel PA. Unfortunately by that time tiredness kicked in and bed called.....

With bright sunlight greeting the new day, there was just enough time to have a quick look round the city of Stockholm itself before boarding the buses to the airport for the return flight to Gatwick. A smoother, if slightly longer flight back to the UK ended in the only possible fashion... one final request from Dickenson for a "Scream For Me Flight 666" before it was time for all aboard to go their separate ways and head off home. However in the words of a famous TV ad... Bruce Air To Stockholm - priceless. A never to be forgotten experience.

Al Hey & Steve Cummings