. . . Iron Maiden. This is a band that I think is better listened to than seen. Their over-the-top stage show, featuring a fifteen-foot-tall animatronic puppet named Eddie that emerges from the backstage curtain to menace concert-goers, combined with all the leather trappings, S&M gear, and ultra-macho posturing is a bit off-putting to this nearly-42 year old. Just sitting and listening to them, however, I am reminded how powerful they were. Heavily influenced by British prog, particularly Jethro Tull, and with one of the great screamers in Bruce Dickinson on vocals, the band could be boring at times ("Revelations" comes to mind), but at their best had a kind of frantic, thrashing energy that was cathartic. Here they are with one of those songs that some Christians find troubling, "Number of the Beast":
PS: I am leading a discussion with the Senior High Sunday School class tomorrow on contemporary music, using last week's featured song, "Pray" by Disturbed, and perhaps either "Vicarious" or "The Grudge" or even "Lateralus" by Tool. Wish me luck.
