Uncle Paul, or rather the wheels of his wheelchair, graced the stage of the legendary Cart and Horses. The place that, along with the legendary Ruskin’s Arms, witnessed the early steps of the band before they became a metal legend, was the stage for an exciting evening of déjà vu. Closing your eyes, it’s impossible not to wonder if Paul saw himself young, full of hopes, and with a future yet to be written.

The memories of those golden days when Maiden was just a group of hungry youngsters for success must have surfaced in both our and Di’Anno’s minds like a black and white movie, rich in promises and opportunities. But in the nostalgia-filled atmosphere of the Cart and Horses, it’s inevitable to wonder if there are regrets. Could his career have taken a different path if he hadn’t “thrown it away,” as we commonly say? Perhaps this concert was a way to reflect on those past choices, on the intersections that life presented him, and on the roads not taken. As Paul Di’Anno sang the notes of Maiden’s iconic songs, the entire audience was united in a sort of time travel, a moment of shared introspection.

The past and the present merged into a single emotional experience, and perhaps in that fusion, Paul found the answers to his inner questions. In this return to the roots, the singer demonstrated that the passion for music is eternal, that regrets can be soothed by nostalgia and gratitude for what has been. The legend of Maiden can also be a reflection of a solitary yet meaningful career, and the concert at the Cart and Horses was tangible proof of it.