Iron Maiden fans Robert Romero, Alfredo Moscoso, unknown, Sal Lopez, Sal Lopez Jr., Daniel Villalpando and Mark Zeitler
Iron Maiden fans are nothing if not loyal.
The person I met who traveled the furthest for today’s show (so far) is Mark Zeitler, of Baltimore. He has seen Iron Maiden 83 times. That’s right, 83 times.
His first time seeing them was in 1983 at the Baltimore Civic Center on the “Piece of Mind” tour.
“It’s a hobby,” Zeitler said. “I don’t hunt; I don’t fish.”
He sees Iron Maiden.
He already caught the Raleigh, N.C. show on this tour and has seen them overseas at Donnington and Sonisphere.
RELATED: Photos of Iron Maiden at the Battle of San Bernardino at San Manuel Amphitheater
However, San Bernardino is the furthest west he has traveled to see the band.
I also just met a group who are all members of the Iron Maiden fan club, after I saw Alfredo Moscoso, a Los Angeles transplant originally from Peru, bringing the energy during Testament’s set.
(Note: If you were at the show and you couldn’t stop watching the shirtless man wearing khaki shorts who was the most kinetic person in the place, that’s him.)
As Testament ripped through their set, Moscoso would not stop. He air drummed, he jumped, he beat on his chest with his fists. He was the most metal person in the place and attracted an audience of his own as he shimmied and banged his head.
RELATED: Photos of Testament and Sabaton at the Battle of San Bernardino
He said his energy is all natural, no drugs. He has stuck with water and beer.
Sitting with him was friend Robert Romero, of Los Angeles, who has seen Iron Maiden 30 times and has traveled to Peru, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany to see them.
He was excited to see Megadeth because he’s never seen them.
RELATED: Photos of Megadeth at the Battle of San Bernardino
Other members of their group joined them after the set, including Sal Lopez and Sal Lopez Jr., of Riverside and Daniel Villalpando, of Colton.
The senior Sal surprised his son, who just turned 13, with tickets on Friday morning. It was Sal Jr.’s first concert.
Villalpando had also taken his son to his first Maiden concert, but he didn’t want to come this time. He wants to see Slayer and Slipknot more now.
If you haven’t seen them yet check out our Photos of Anthrax and photos of Overkill and Warbringer at the Battle of San Bernardino.