THE Dance of Death is Iron Maiden's biggest-selling album in a long time and those who have seen the band on their latest world tour know it proves Bruce Dickinson and co still have what it takes to stay on top.

Dickinson is every inch the entertainer with that fabulous yet distinctive voice that is Iron Maiden.

MTV bosses who have decided not to show the band's video for their latest single, Rainmaker, because the fans are "too old" would be left eating their words if they had turned up at the arena.

Children as young as eight were rocking in the aisles alongside teenagers and men and women in their forties and fifties.

The place erupted when old favourites such as Fear Of The Dark, Can I Play With Madness and Run To The Hills were played and new tracks from the album were greeted with just as much enthusiasm.

Eddie the band's mascot since day one got an equally rowdy welcome when he appeared on stage twice as the Grim Reaper.

The eerie background of a darkened castle, the Grim Reaper and Dickinson's ghostly performances as a masked man and a dead soldier made good entertainment value.

All in all, in the words of support act Funeral for a Friend, whose excellent performance deserves a special mention: "Iron Maiden still rock!"

Published: 06/12/2003