RUN FOR YOUR LIVES 2026

[CA Bryers]

So... "KISSification" of future Maiden?

It's weird, since apart from the ongoing Kiss Avatar show they're developing, I haven't seen any more than the normal amount of exploitation of the Kiss brand than Gene and co. have been doing since Day 1. They've got a new (old) live album coming out soon from '76, but have also seemingly ended the "Live from the Soundboard" releases Kiss had been putting out pre-Pophouse.

Maybe since Maiden hasn't quite gotten to the level of Kiss merchandising, Pophouse will push it up further? Hard to say. I do like the idea of an entity who has a vested interest in keeping the Maiden brand alive in the post-retirement years. I always hated to imagine a future where, once the band itself is done, they became one of those bands whose legacy fades away as the decades pass. I liked that Pophouse said something to the effect of keeping that legacy alive for decades to come.

I hope they do dust off some of the unreleased live concerts we know of, and release others as well in some shape or form. I've also enjoyed collecting the various statues and figures and Funko Pops, so I hope they keep those licensing deals going (even though it's murder on the wallet!).

 

[CA Bryers]

I think the joke echoing the pessimism, or maybe Defaitism, in the Pophouse thread was lame. It's like some here forget how Iron Maiden have worked for 50 years. No corporate schmucks are going to throw Steve and Rod around - if that was the case, then they would not have pursued this venture.

I agree. I would imagine there's a clause in the agreement that the band gets final say in a lot of matters while the band itself is active. After that, I would expect Pophouse's authority and control over the brand to broaden.

 

[Azas]

I think the joke echoing the pessimism, or maybe Defaitism, in the Pophouse thread was lame. It's like some here forget how Iron Maiden have worked for 50 years. No corporate schmucks are going to throw Steve and Rod around - if that was the case, then they would not have pursued this venture.

Regarding the jokes - you win some, you lose some. Mine was just a joke made on the spot. I don't think Steve is going to be pushed. They'll do whatever they want with their band and their brand, because it's theirs. As a result, some fans will moan, while others will try to make a few jokes, even if they're lame. It is what it is.

 

[Cat Milk Supreme]

I do like the idea of an entity who has a vested interest in keeping the Maiden brand alive in the post-retirement years.

The vaults chat recently had me thinking about this and I wondered how much interest the band would have in releasing stuff, what interest would Steve or Rod have in finding and fine tuning the best things from the archives.

So I'm with you on this. That vested interest could be key in giving us quality releases post retirement.

 

[Eduardo Cabeza]

Dawson cannot cut it. He’s had a year.

Compare any original track with Dawson’s rendition. He simply has NONE of the power, the agency, the urgency or the TEMPO. He’s too slow. They could’ve picked anyone in the world, and Maiden fans deserve better.

I’m not alone in this mindset.

I'm with you, man. He has zero swing, simplifies everything and deflates the band live.

 

[Black Abyss Babe]

I’m not alone in this mindset.

You may well not be: but that wasn't what you said.

What you said was "It’s time we all admitted" ... that you're right about this.

Well, sorry to piss on your bonfire but some of us don't agree with you.

 

[Vaenyr]

Well, sorry to piss on your bonfire but some of us don't agree with you.

And we're not alone with our mindset either.

Saying "others agree!" is not an argument, because we can just say the same. It's a completely meaningless phrase.

(In case it's not clear, I'm pro-Simon and find many of the criticisms against him to be quite silly, just as this line of argument )

 

[Cat Milk Supreme]

I've seen Simon 4 times with Maiden and while I'm generally accepting of the new Maiden cos they're still great, there are moments. Each gig, two or 3 times, usually in transition, things fall flat in a way I've never noticed before (except 2006). And it sounds and feels like Simon to me.

Obviously Nickos fills aren't there but for the most part I'm over it, all is well, vibes are good but then there's those 2 or 3 moments when a great piece of music doesn't feel so great. Fleeting moments but they're there.

I will say though that he felt more lively and in flow this year than last year.