As some people may know, Iron Maiden have been touring recently. Yesterday they performed their only showing in the UK on the tour - and for at least two years - at Twickenham Rugby Stadium. I heard the number of people attending was around 87,000. Yes, I was among them!

I've been trying to see them for about 3 years now, since they announced their tour in support of their most recent album (a different tour altogether from this one). Sadly I did not get the chance to see them, although I came close. Then last year they were playing at Download which, much to my displeasure, came right in the middle of my exams. Not a good time. Then this year I hear they're playing at Twickenham and it could be their last showing for a good while - well, I've got to go really, haven't I?

I almost didn't, though. It was also the chosen date for a large family gathering - largest for many years - which, of course, I would be expected to attend. Fortunately I was able to wriggle out of this at least in part because I was supposed to be organising the Maiden trip and was the only person who knew everyone who was going in our little group. It's a shame I had to miss the event, but boy was it worth it!

So, a three hour coach journey there and back. Six hours of travelling, arriving back here at two 2:00am. That, and the extortionate prices at the Stadium (£1.80 for a coke? £3.50 for a hot dog or a pint?), were the only bad points about the whole thing. I'm exhausted today and my neck aches, but it was all so, so worth it.

Of course, there are always support bands. The first - Within Temptation - I was very impressed by. I arrived too late to see their entire showing, but what I saw was excellent. The second support band - Avenged Sevenfold - I was less impressed by. I'm not saying they're bad, I'm just not a fan of their style of music. Of course, both bands paled in comparison to Maiden.

They arrived, as always, amidst fire, explosions and teams of pure awesomeness erupting from the stage. From that moment I left my seat and did not look back. They began with Aces High - an excellent song, although sadly not one with which I'm especially familiar with the lyrics. I must rectify that sometime. All of the songs they played with the exception of one from Fear of the Dark (yes, it was Fear of the Dark) came from their 80s albums. No complaints there! That's where most of their best stuff lies.

Two hours of solid Maiden. How Bruce manages to leap around the stage to much at 50 I do not know! He also made some incredibly fast costume changes early on which still leave me slightly baffled, and the band managed to get through six or seven songs with no break inbetween - one of them being the 13 minute epic Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Both incredible and impressive - not to mention extremely enjoyable!

I've heard it said that a lot of music tends not to sound so good when played live. This, however, cannot be applied to Maiden. They sound fantastic live - possibly even better than they do recorded. I guess the atmosphere might have something to do with that. I mean, it's a huge stadium filled with 87,000 Iron Maiden fans all chanting along to an incredibly powerful and influential metal band with 25+ years of experience under their belt who know how to please fans and, above all, to put on an outstanding show. Consdering this was their only showing in the UK, too, it really was something special.

Of course, no Maiden show would be complete without an encore. I feel so sorry for the people who leave thinking the show is over. Upon their return they played two songs from what is, in my opinion, their best album to date Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - Moonchild and The Clairvoyant - as well as the fantastic song equal in strength to the mighty Fear of the Dark, Hallowed Be Thy Name. The fact that they played both songs at the concert (like they do every concert) was truly the icing on the cake. I utterly adore both of the songs, and being able to scream them out unselfconsciously among tens of thousands of other fans along to impeccable live performances by the band itself - only metres away - Wow. Just wow.

I did indeed sing along to every song, and I'm glad no one could hear me. I'm sure my singing was atrocious. Still, that's hardly what matters is it? I expect most people there were in the same boat.

All in all, that has to be one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. I was absolutely exhausted on the coach journey back, and my failed attempts to find a comfortable position to sleep may be the cause of my neck aching this mor- no, afternoon. I enjoyed every moment of it and that's what matters, and I would gladly do it again. So, so gladly.