18th Studio Album discussion

[Helmuth Von Moltke]

Hoping for deflection, but also remember that the 2026 run is the first Steve will conduct as a 70 year old.

In fact, next year's dates are the first Maiden have ever played with a member other than Nicko who is in his 70s.

Steve may be feeling very different about new material at his age (he wrote Senjutsu as a mere 63 year old).

 

[Melony]

From a band marketing perspective, it wouldn't be stupid to hint - without confirming it or lying - that nothing else might happen after 2026.
Then fans will be even more eager to see the 2026 tour.

 

[FearOfTheLark]

Come on, Steve. Let's go. We are ready.

He very well might not be or doesn't actually want to

 

[Trevoire]

I think that Steve is just in a "I've not got time right now" mindset. They've not long finished RFYL '25, he's got British Lion tour coming up, then RFYL 26 which is going to be a busy year for them. So realistically he doesn't have anywhere he can squeeze a few months of writing and recording into that.

 

[MindRuler]

Actually I wouldn´t be surprised if Senjutsu will be the last one. Especially if you look at the lyrics of the final song, it´s a perfect way to end not only the album but their entire career...

All you have been, all you have seen
Lost in somewhere in your dreams
How the angels they have fallen
All is nothing what it seems
And the voices that you hear now
And the voices in your head
Now are thinking of a lifetime
You can never feel again

I hope to see you all again
On the other side of hell on Earth

 

[rockerman]

Don’t forget about British Lion. Steve could be planning to release a new album with them next year as well as a tour.

 

[jazz from hell]

Don’t forget about British Lion. Steve could be planning to release a new album with them

No, he doesn't have the time for a new album and it's too stressful for him.

 

[Cat Milk Supreme]

I bet that a few gigs into the tour Bruce starts goin "we WILL see you all again and with some brand NEW Iron Maiden music."

 

[Kalata]

I don't know about anyone else but I'd welcome a new Maiden album with fewer contributions from Steve

I would never want a Maiden album with fewer Steve contributions. Bruce can help him with his solo ideas, if fitting for Maiden.

 

[Kalata]

Weird or......deflection? I vote deflection.

A deflection is possible, they like to work in secret, but for some reason it doesn't feel that way this time. I fear of some band members wanting to retire/not sure if they'll continue after this special tour. And I'm not talking about Steve, Bruce, Adrian or Simon. The were ''rumors''(?).

 

[Cat Milk Supreme]

A deflection is possible, they like to work in secret, but for some reason it doesn't feel that way this time. I fear of some band members wanting to retire/not sure if they'll continue after this special tour. And I'm not talking about Steve, Bruce, Adrian or Simon. The were ''rumors''(?).

Indeed but I doubt Bruce would be so candid about Steve's grumbling in a major interview if it wasn't some sort of playful hint.

Anything is possible at this stage of their career but I reckon they will do one more.

 

[Kalata]

I think Steve just can't predict what would fans like more. Sad to say this, but for drumming itself (maybe writing even) I think album would be better with Simon, although everyone would like it more with Nicko. I think album would have certain limitation cause of Nicko and I think that's what bothers Steve - play with Nicko until the end or preserve quality and continue with Simon.

Good call. With Maiden is different, but he wrote and is writing now songs for Simon with BL. To write a Maiden album with a different drummer in 40+ years is a challenge. He has used to Nicko's playing and doesn't wan't a different vibe/style in the studio?

I believe that Steve/artists also find it stressful to create, but an artist who has tons of ideas but no time/finds it too stressful to bring them out?
I don't know how believable I find that. Who knows? The whole tour announcement was something I think nobody predicted like this also.

True that. It's like a joke. There's been some surprises lately, so anything is possible.

Steve doesn't want to do a new album, because he doesn't have the time, and writing for a few weeks is too stressful for him? Weird. Doesn't sound like Steve, who says he always likes a challenge.

Maybe it's because of age, idk. But it's odd, he always says he has a lot of ideas. Nicko said that everyone gotten so old when asked about a new album. Isn't it the same with Priest, Saxon? Kudos to them!

I think that Steve is just in a "I've not got time right now" mindset. They've not long finished RFYL '25, he's got British Lion tour coming up, then RFYL 26 which is going to be a busy year for them. So realistically he doesn't have anywhere he can squeeze a few months of writing and recording into that.

Let's hope so, but he probably will release a new BL album soon... he will prioritize it than Maiden? Tour 2027?

if they want to release a new album/and tour, then they already have some have plans for 2027, right. You know, working in advance for tours. 2028-2029 would be the legs. Beyond 2030 is our wildest dreams.

From a band marketing perspective, it wouldn't be stupid to hint - without confirming it or lying - that nothing else might happen after 2026.
Then fans will be even more eager to see the 2026 tour.

Why would the band want to do this? And the press release statement is very unusual for them.

I bet that a few gigs into the tour Bruce starts goin "we WILL see you all again and with some brand NEW Iron Maiden music."

Idk, it all sounded like the band is rejuvenated with Simon and now they are going to take a break from touring.

 

[Kalata]

Indeed but I doubt Bruce would be so candid about Steve's grumbling in a major interview if it wasn't some sort of playful hint.
Anything is possible at this stage of their career but I reckon they will do one more.

It's curious, we were expecting some info about the future soon (major interview indeed), but remember that Bruce wanted to get Maiden excited about new music now in the liner notes of his recent solo album, so this could be the same intention.

 

[jazz from hell]

Perhaps there's band politics involved, for example the others setting conditions. Or perhaps they want to see that there's a demand for a new album. Pure speculation.

 

[Batman]

The 2027 break is 99% a break after a grueling tour. Rod clearly stated in the press release that the band's history is '50 years... and counting...' and they're working with Yondr, which might suggest that future tours will be phone-free zones. It seems 2027 is a year of reorganization, and it's very likely they'll record something. Suspicious people might ask why they're openly talking about no tour plans for 2027 when they could simply be saying nothing.

 

[Melony]

Indeed but I doubt Bruce would be so candid about Steve's grumbling in a major interview if it wasn't some sort of playful hint.

Anything is possible at this stage of their career but I reckon they will do one more.

I agree. That would be such a serious decision that it would not be hinted at so playfully if it had been decided. But, as I said, this hint is not stupid from a marketing perspective.

 

[OilyOarsome]

This is the sort of thing that Steve would say if he wanted to keep the recording plans quiet for now. He has been misleading before about future plans.

But it’s also what he would say if he wasn’t enthusiastic about recording again.

So we’re none the wiser, really.

 

[Cat Milk Supreme]

It's curious, we were expecting some info about the future soon (major interview indeed), but remember that Bruce wanted to get Maiden excited about new music now in the liner notes of his recent solo album, so this could be the same intention.

Maybe you're right about Bruce's liner notes and the interview, maybe he is the main guy pushing for new music.

Although personally I wasn't expecting any news on the far future. They have a tour, a book and a documentary to do first, takin them up to roughly 12mths from now so I wouldn't expect any info on the future beyond that just now.

Any more hints will probably come from Bruce on stage next year.

 

[Ruflux]

2027 seems like the most likely candidate for when the Paris live album/video will be released, and I wouldn't be surprised if they're planning on going bigger with it after such a long break with a limited cinema release and whatnot. It wouldn't be entirely inappropriate for Maiden's last release to be a live album of what they likely consider their "ultimate" tour featuring some of their all-time strongest material, rather than studio album number 18. Plus it still wouldn't preclude future touring, but they wouldn't have to commit to a full-length album tour.

 

[Melony]

What has convinced me to see another show next year is no plans for 2027 and who knows what happens after that. Time is short they won't be around much longer.

That is what I meant with marketing strategy. The way the tour was announced makes people who didn't want to see them or were still on the fence want to see them again in 2026.