I only dream in black and white

So, the first gig of the New Year was Tuesday. Slightly belatedly, because I didn't get my skinny cracked ass in gear in time to get tickets for the Be Good Tanyas at the Borderline last week, much to my annoyance. Anyway, Iron Maiden at the Academy in Brixton. First of three benefit gig for Clive Burr, former drummer who left in 1982, now diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. So three sold-out nights with 4000 people each at £25 a head, plus all the profits from the merchandise (and believe me, we Maiden fans buy a shitload of t-shirts) and the band and record company's profits from the single of "Run To The Hills", currently sitting pretty at number 9 (and I bet I'm far from alone in being the only one to buy both CDs and the 7" vinyl) should mean that Clive suffers his illness in a good deal of comfort. The show was great of course. Maiden are one of the world's most reliable live bands. Two days on and my neck and shoulders are still killing me from leaping around. Always a sign of a good night.

I'm hoping this is going to be another vintage year for gigs. Last year I saw all kinds of people: Iron Maiden, Marilyn Manson, Dido, Mark Knopfler, Peter Maffay, Blackmore's Night, Al Stewart, Cowboy Junkies, Tom Paxton. So far the schedule this year includes:

Garbage, Brixton Academy, London
Catie Curtis, Borderline, London
Rammstein, London Arena
Blue Rodeo, Borderline, London
Jewel, Royal Albert Hall, London
Peter Maffay, Saarterrassen, Saarbrücken
Mark Knopfler, Shepherd's Bush Empire, London