Iron Maiden At Centre Bell

Way back on the first of October, I had mentioned that this was lining up to be a rather epic 'Rock-tober' as I had several shows lined up that I was hoping to shoot.  Well, the month ended up being so epic, that here we are in the middle of November and The Old Blog is suffering from a little bit of backlog.  Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing, because it means that I was able to photograph so many amazing shows.  If you can't wait to see all of the bands that I've been shooting, head over to my V13 Media page.  It is much more up to date and you will get a look at everything that I have been up to and why things have gotten bogged down a little bit here.  Back to the present past, our final Rock-tober show featured one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time.  Up on the Centre Bell stage were the one, the only, Iron Maiden!  “Scream for me, Montreal!”  With those words from lead singer Bruce Dickinson, the sold out crowd were only to pleased follow orders and let loose a massive roar.  Though the name of the city may have changed, I have heard “Scream for me!” so many times over the years that the words automatically are heard with Bruce Dickinson’s voice permanently attached in my mind.  I’ve heard them, on cassette tape, VHS, CD, DVD and live in the arena.  I can now add that I have heard those words live from the photographer’s pit, and I am still pinching myself to make sure that it really took place.  IronMaiden, arguably the best of the bands to emerge from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal back in the early 1980s, were back in Montreal for their latest world tour.  The Future Past Tour consists mostly of songs from their latest album, ‘Shenjutsu’, which was released in 2021, and also songs from one of their classic 1980s albums, ‘Somewhere In Time’.  I often get asked after shooting a show if it was good.  For Iron Maiden, the answer to that question is that they don’t know how to have a bad show.  Unlike several other bands of their vintage, Iron Maiden are constantly changing up their set lists and featuring other hidden gems from their catalogue.  This tour leans heavily on the awesome ‘Somewhere In Time’ album.  Mascot Eddie gets in on the act by making an early appearance, dressed in period garb, before returning later in the night for an ill fated gun fight.  The crowd was already jumping in anticipation before the band hit the stage, some even dressed up in band gear and Ed-heads of their own.  Once Bruce and the rest of the band hit the stage, all bets were off as the crowd was treated to the purest form of metal that there is, direct from the cream of the NWOBHM crop.  Bruce Dickinson is one of the finest singers in all of metal, if not the entire rock world as well.  His voice commands your attention as he calls out not only to those of us in the front, but to the people in the furthest reaches of the Centre Bell.  No man is left behind with him piloting this massive ship.  The guitar mastery of the trio consisting of Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers is unmatched.  Gers alone is like a twister on the stage, full of unharnessed energy and always one step away from running someone over.  Steve Harris, the backbone of the group, watches over all with a eye as steely as his bass lines, just waiting to mow us down.  Drummer Nicko McBrain may be hidden behind his large drum kit and in the shadow, but you feel his presence in your gut and hear the drums pounding in your ears long after the show has ended.  I feel like I have written a lot here.  Maybe this is why I'm a little behind schedule.  In my defense, photographing Iron Maiden is kind of a Holy Grail moment.  The photographs were all taken at f/3.2 while using various different shutter speeds, ISO setting an focal lengths.  Here are the rest of the photographs that I took of Iron Maiden while they performed on the Centre Bell stage.  There are almost as many photographs as there are words so grab some popcorn and get comfortable.

If you would like to find out more about Iron Maiden and their music, you can do so by following the link to their website.  To see the photographs of The Hu, who performed earlier in the evening, you can do so by following the link.  Much thanks goes out to Todd Nakamine of Fun House Entertainment and Christopher Gonda of V13 Media for getting me a pass to photograph the show.  As always, it is very much apprecitated.  Iron Maiden are still one of the top acts that are touring out there today.  Their ‘The Future Past’ tour continues in to December.  Be sure to be there live when Bruce screams out your town’s name. The feeling and music are unforgettable.

The Hu At Centre Bell

Our most recent trip to the Centre Bell in Montreal led to a very unique performance from a very unique group.  Hailing from Mongolia, The Hu were one of my favourite pandemic discoveries.  While we were all confined to our homes, I spent lots of time reading magazines and found The Hu due to the fine folks at Classic Rock magazine.  I was immediately taken in by the group’s unique sound and look.  I wasn’t really sure that the band would ever find their way here, so I was incredibly excited to find them opening for Iron Maiden.  Playing traditional Mongolian instruments and featuring lyrics that contain old Mongolian war cries and poetry, The Hu are both aggressive and calming.  The songs are strong and get your blood pumping, but then the solos almost lull you into a relaxed state.  Add in the ceremony and costume and it makes The Hu a group you don’t want to miss live.  Their debut album, 2019's 'The Gereg' took the musical world by storm and their follow up, 2022's 'Rumble Of Thunder' simply continued their introduction to the rest of the world.  Not bad for a band performing a style of music that not so long ago was actually banned in their country.  Deluxe versions of both albums were also released featuring various different heavy metal singers.  This may have helped them get noticed a little more, and it was interesting to here the takes of the other singers, but I actually prefer the original versions.  They retain their uniqueness on their own, and it also shows in their live show.  The photographs were all taken at f/3.2 while using various different shutter speeds, ISO settings and shutter speeds.  Here are the rest of the photographs that I took of The Hu while they performed on the Centre Bell stage.

If you would like to find out more about The Hu and their music, you can do so by following the link to their website.  If you would like to see the photographs that I took of Iron Maiden, who performed later that night, you can do so by following the link.  The Hu are unlike anything that I have even seen perform live here before.  Do yourselves a favour and check out this very cool band, while not forgetting to see the show if they end up performing in a city near you.  You won't regret the trip.