Most of the time bootleg DVD’s are way beyond any acceptable level, the sound is terrible and the picture is even worse. But not this time. “Eddie Rips Up Sweden is probably the best Iron Maiden show I’ve seen on video or DVD since Live after Death. 60.000 people in the stadium, and more than 2 million (according to Bruce) on television saw Iron Maiden perform a “best of” show, consisting only of songs from their first four albums. This to promote their ‘Early Days DVD. The sound is very good (for a bootleg), except for the first two or three songs, and the picture is really good to look at, not the 3 shots per second we see on Rock In Rio, but 2-3 seconds per shot. This way you get a very good look at al six band members, and you can fully enjoy the show. What makes this DVD so interesting is the fact they play some songs they haven’t played for very long time. For example; the last time they played ‘Prowler’ was during the ‘Fear Of The Dark tour’, and I can’t remember seeing them play songs as ‘Drifter’ or ‘Murders In The Rue Morgue’ at all.

Of course there can’t be an Iron Maiden show without songs as ‘Number Of The Beast’ or ‘Run To The Hills’. The absolute climax of the show is the tremendous performance of ‘Phantom Of The Opera’, this song can only be played to its maximum with three guitarists, it really sends the shivers down my spine. The only shame on this DVD is that the director mist the moment when an immense Eddie comes up from behind Nicko’s drum kid, one of the highlights of every Iron Maiden show. Besides that not a single negative word about this unofficial DVD-release, I can only advise all Iron Maiden fans to search for this release, it is your right to have it!!! (note: This is NOT an official Iron Maiden release)