THESE are exciting times for Iron Maiden. Having played to adoring crowds in some of the biggest stadiums in Europe, last month the heavy metal veterans found themselves pelted with eggs and other missiles at the Ozzfest in California, the victims of an ambush allegedly orchestrated by the organiser of the event, Sharon Osbourne.

To say that a warmer reception awaited them as they arrived home in London for their final show of 2005 would be an understatement. The Apollo was jammed, and they could have sold out the venue a dozen times over. Ten years ago, Iron Maiden were struggling to fill Brixton Academy. It has been a return from the dead to rival that of the zombie-like creatures that adorn the group’s artwork and populate the lyrics of their songs. Iron Maiden have now connected with a new generation of Kerrang! kids in a way that more “serious” middle-aged artistes have failed to do. With many old fans returning to see the band with their children, the show has redefined the notion of family entertainment.

The performing area looked more like a circus ring than a theatre stage. Searchlights strafed the crowd and a huge picture of the band’s grisly “mascot” Eddie rose from behind in a triangle of light as the band struck up The Ides of March which swiftly morphed into Murders in the Rue Morgue. While the singer Bruce Dickinson raced hither and thither, a loose phalanx of long-haired guitarists lunged and pirouetted like construction workers at a ballet class.

With only a CD of their last tour, Death on the Highway, to promote, the group made the curious decision to play songs exclusively from their first four albums — released from 1980 to 1983 — giving a kind of history lesson in Maiden mythology. Dickinson waved a tattered Union Jack over the crowd for The Trooper.

There were more than a few sore heads, not to mention ringing ears, by the time they arrived at their signature song Iron Maiden, and the group’s former drummer, Clive Burr, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, was wheeled on to the stage. Profits from the show were being donated to help with his medical expenses.

After being assailed by cartoon images of death and destruction for nearly two hours, it was strangely touching to see such a gentle display of camaraderie as the group gathered round their old friend.