I Once Hid Under A Bands Tour Bus!

Back in the 80's, I was a huge heavy metal fan. My waist length hair flowed over a studded belt, and my denim jacket was covered in band patches lovingly sewn on by my mother. She was a flower power hippy in the 60's, so she was cool with it.

I was also addicted to playing the electric guitar. I would spend day after day attempting to emulate my favourite players. The only time I would stop, was when I had practiced so hard my fingers would bleed all over the fretboard. I was totally obsessed. (I wasn’t half bad either!)

My guitar idol was a guy called Dave Murray. He was (and incredibly, still is) a member of the legendary heavy metal band, Iron Maiden (I'm sure you've heard of them?)

I would listen to Dave’s guitar solos over and over again on my record player and try to copy them to perfection. I played them so often, they are still lodged my brain 30 years later (which is quite surprising after all the headbanging!)

Then in 1990, when I was 18 years old, Iron Maiden came to Belfast as part of their ‘Bring your Daughter to the Slaughter’ tour. (I know, what a name!)

So, after managing to grab myself a ticket (so much easier and cheaper than it is now!) I waited impatiently for the big day to arrive.

I can still remember the rush I felt, standing in front of the band and moshing to their songs with all the other fans. I somehow managed to get myself close to the stage and became totally mesmerized, as my idol Dave Murray played his amazing guitar solo’s right in front me. It was the best moment of my life!

But unknown to me then, the night would get decidedly better ...

When the concert was over, it was dark outside and raining heavily. For no particular reason, other than the fact I’d had one to many ciders and wasn’t enjoying getting soaked, I took some shelter under the bands tour bus parked near the concert hall. After a few minutes I heard an angry shout, then someone grabbed my arm and dragged me out. It was security!

But then something completely unexpected happened. A couple of other fans had also been caught hanging around and had been gathered up by security too. I thought we were all going to get roughed up! Then one of the guards said something that I will never forget ...

‘So lads. Are you coming to meet the band or what?’

We were stunned! Everyone just looked at each other, speechless. The security staff escorted us back inside the concert hall and then inside a smaller room at the back. The entire band was there to greet us!

It was just such an incredible experience to talk to my heroes in the flesh. I spoke to Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer first. He handed me a beer and we chatted about the Iron Maiden songs I liked the most. Then I spoke to their new guitarist Janick Gers and asked him if he was nervous playing with such a well-known band (Ridiculous!)

Finally, I stood face to face with my guitar idol Dave! I told him all about my hours of practice and how I tried to emulate his solos. He gave me some playing tips and also handed me a couple of plectrums as keepsakes (amazing!). Then just before I left, all the band members kindly signed the back of my denim jacket.

This was an experience I will never forget. Just recently, the drummer Nicko McBrain decided to retire. He had kept playing with the band even after having a stroke in 2023, which highlights the true spirit of the group. They have been going strong for 50 years now. Incredible!

So the moral of the story is: If you go to watch your idols in concert, always hide under their tour bus. You just never know!

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Original version published at https://medium.com/never-stop-writing/i-once-hid-under-a-rock-bands-tour-bus-01f6f5216b39