Eddie, satan bless his soul, was still hungry.
Even as Dickinson performed like a jumping bean, gallivanting across the set, a behemoth awoke as a giant Eddie thundered around the main stage, the zombie walking red-eyed and clumsy -- a moment we wouldn't even have dreamed of.
And we got to hear the singer do Hallowed Be Thy Name, possibly the band's most-heralded track. The story of a prisoner on death row, awaiting the gallows, features Bruce's vocals at their most pyrotechnic, stretching the word 'low' to unimaginably intense lengths. When you see him do it in front of you, the feeling is indescribable.
Brucie informed the crowd that this was just concert one for India, and that they plan to be back much sooner than anyone thinks. "Some of you've waited 17 years for this, but you won't even have to wait 17 months for the next time," he yelled. For real? Wow.
We all wished the show lasted at least 20 minutes longer -- and that they played Alexander The Great, Can I Play With Madness and Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter -- but there's honestly no room to whine. We're still reeling. Let's save those for next time.
Before we knew what was happening, the lights came on. And, in keeping with their absurd humour, Monty Python's entirely anachronistic Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life came on. 'Forget about the sin, give the audience a grin' indeed. The crowd took their time walking out -- shaking their heads in utter disbelief, thumping chests wrapped in Maiden t-shirts, declaring they could now die happy.
Maybe that's just 'cause they wanna see that undead zombie up close again. Hell would be worth it.
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