crazyfingerssotm wrote:I don't understand how you could have a room full of iron maiden memorabilia and be really into the grateful dead at the same time, in the same incarnation on the same planet, but I suppose I just suffer from a very narrow mind.
But god bless a girlfriend who lives with an entire room full of any sort of stuff.
OK maybe that was on the mean side, so here is a gift idea: I would suggest the SYF pint glasses...
http://store.dead.net/kitchenware/syf-pint-glasses
Hello - I registered on this site to rap off this poster's comment - so forgive me in advance for the hijack. Allow me to say that I feel it is impossible for a Grateful Dead fan to be considered 'narrow minded' lol
But I had this very same conversation with my wife this evening - how Iron Maiden and Grateful Dead could happily co-exist in the heart and mind of any music fan.
First we should get the obvious differences out of the way:
One is a heavy metal band.
One is a psychedellic jam band.
One is from England. One is from San Francisco.
And there is where the differences largely end. These two musical entities actually have far more in common than not!
1.) Both bands enjoyed surprisingly long tenures. 30 years for Grateful Dead, and 35 years (and counting) for Iron Maiden.
2.) Both bands represented a collective F U! to the establishments of their time. Both bands comprised of long haired, counter culture 'rebels' who knew how to have a good time!
Both bands had some controversy earlier in their careers; one for drugs, the other for being 'satanic' (lock up your daughters - the freaks are out!)
3.) Both bands have a wealth of studio recordings that span decades.
4.) Both bands conducted massive, grueling tours virtually every year of their existence.
5.) If one would have said in the late sixties that nearly 30 years later the Grateful Dead would be performing in stadiums, composed largely of younger fans who were not around during the band's orgininal hayday - people would have said you were crazy. Similarly in 1980 if one would have said that in 30 years Iron Maiden would be performing in stadiums, composed largely of younger fans who were not around during the band's orginal hayday - people would have said you were crazy!
6.) Both bands are phenominal live acts, a direct result of decades of live performance experience. In fact, of the hundreds of concerts I have seen in my day, these two bands easily stood out as the best sounding flawlessly executed displays of musical mastery. And these are long shows, featuring long complex pieces. Excellent stage shows, and a loving adoring crowd where the sweet scent of 420 permiates the air.
7.) Both bands are well known by instantly recognizable, iconic art. Lots of skelletons! Many posters for both bands can be stared at for hours disecting the minute detail one may find.
8.) Both bands were profoundly influential in their respective music scenes, influencing scores of musicians to further propell their respective genres.
And from the horses mouth, Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson himself had once said in response to the question "Does it bother you that people are so driven by the hits, that they don’t give new material a fair shot?"
"We’re very philosophical about it, because we’re very aware… Going back to the earliest days of Iron Maiden, our first label said we’d never happen in the States, because we were too aggressive, and too out of left field. This was even before I was in the band. Then, when we had “Number Of The Beast,” and people thought we’d convert to Twisted Sister and be a flavor of the month. In reality, though, we have more in common with the Grateful Dead. That’s more of who we are."
So there ya have it!
respectfully submitted by a hair farmer who has a long time love affair with both The Grateful Dead and Iron Maiden
