European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 26, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Battle of the monsters by Anita Gosch staff writer his weekend s monsters of Rock festival in West Germany looks to be a super Battle of the bands As drummer Eric Carr of kiss puts it. But some bands will come armed with a lot More ammunition than others. Seven contenders Iron Maiden David Lee Roth kiss great White anthrax testament and treat will slug it out in 101/2 hours of Bone crunching heavy Metal in Schweinfurt on saturday and in bochum sunday. Some 80,000 fans Are expected to pay head banging fist waving tribute to their favorite Metal mongers. America s megadeath cancelled its appearance due to a broken Arm suffered by bassist Dave Ellefson according to festival promoters kiss plans on keeping its assault simple. The new York rockers sound will be big and loud according to Carr but the band s stage show will be unpretentious. Instead of relying on special effects and technical wizardry kiss will attack the crowd with non Stop straight ahead Rock n Roll. No talking Between the songs no drum solos no guitar solos nothing. Just song after song Carr said in an interview earlier this week in bochum s Ruhr station. The original glitter rockers Are saving their theatrics for indoor concerts throughout the rest of Europe he said. Headliners Iron Maiden known for elaborate stage shows will try to outdo itself this time around. It s the biggest and Best live show that we be Ever put on said Lead Singer Bruce Dickinson also in bochum. According to the vocalist the British heavy Metal band s performance will feature spectacular lighting massive pyrotechnic effects an enormous sound system and tons of appearances by our pet monster Eddie a giant creature that first reared its ugly head As the band s Mascot in 1980. Iron Maiden s show will follow the theme of the band s latest release seventh son of a seventh son a concept album that tackles the forces of Good and evil Clairvoyance spiritualism and second sight. The whole album is an investigation of what happens when somebody is born with Powers which they Don t really comprehend or talents which other people Don t understand and their reaction to them said Dickinson. The seventh son of a seventh son is born arrives on Earth and no one understands what he s doing. He does t understand Why he has these Powers. Besides that Mankind is very screwed up and he thinks that the world of his dreams is generally much More fun so he goes Back  seventh son recorded at music land studio in Munich Marks the first time Iron Maiden has used keyboards on its albums. The band s last up somewhere in time featured keyboard sounds generated by guitar synthesizers but said Dickinson fans of Iron Maiden s throbbing Bass and drum lines and Over amplified guitar need not fear that the group is mellowing out. You won t hear keyboard orientated Iron Maiden. Iron Maiden will remain two guitars Bass Drums and a vocalist he said. What we use the keyboards for is to fill things out to create textures of sound that we just can t get with guitars. Atmosphere  the band s next album will be a Long while coming said Dickinson. Following performances in Europe Iron Maiden will take a year Long break from touring and recording. In the meantime Dickinson Hopes to publish a Book he has written. The Singer describes it As a Black comedy mystery novel a Cross Between Sherlock Holmes and the Hitchhiker s guide to the  Magazine Britain s Iron Maiden headlines this year s monsters of Rock festival in West Germany. Lead Singer Bruce Dickinson Center right promises the biggest and Best live show the band has Ever put on. Kiss too will take a break from performing live following its european tour. Carr said the band will release a greatest hits album later this year that will have two new songs on it. A new studio album won t be out until late next year. Kiss band members will continue working on their outside projects including producing fledgling bands. Carr said he himself is managing an All female thrash band in new York City and working on an animated feature length Rock n Roll film based on caricatures he has been drawing Over the years. For the moment the drummer is looking Forward to this weekend s festivals. We re All part of a great Bill he said. It s a great show and regardless of who goes on at what Point if you kick ass you kick  drummer Eric Carr top left of new York rockers kiss says his band will keep it simple. The expected running order of the monsters of Rock festival is As follows treat 11 30 a.m.-12 05p.m. Great White 12 30 .-1 10p.m. Testament 1 40 p.rn.-2 30 . Anthrax 3 00 .-3 50 . Kiss 4 20 .-5 20 . David Lee Roth 6 00 .-7 10 . Iron Maiden 8 15  -10 00 . Tickets will be available at the door for 49 German Marks. On monday aug. 29, members of Iron Maiden and other bands performing at the monsters of Rock festival will play a Benefit soccer game at the Georg Melches Stanton in Essen. West Germany. Tickets Are 5 Marks. Proceeds will Aid nicaraguan War orphans and handicapped children. Friday August 26, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 13