The Future Past Tour 2024

[Vaenyr]

For a second I thought this thread being bumped that there might be news about a live album.

It would be truly tragic if they originally planned a live album but cancelled the plans due to performance issues.

 

[Iron Lurker]

I had a thought maybe plans were halted due to performance limitations of Nicko, but I didn't want to be the first to say it.

 

[Mosh]

I’ve said it before but at this point I think it’s just hilarious that the somewhere in time revival tour will also not get an official release. At least, unlike in the 80s, it’s much easier to make and share high quality bootlegs.

I’ll be honest too, there’s no getting around the fact that Future Past was not their best live performances and the stage set was nothing to write home about. I’m not going to be that sad if we don’t get a live release from this tour when other better tours even from this century still don’t have official releases. I think Nicko’s condition is partially reason for no release, but also the economic landscape and the band wanting to pivot to the 50th anniversary celebration. Part of me doubts that a live album was ever in the cards (and before someone makes this claim, no the original press release did not say they wanted to make a live recording of this tour).

 

[Nomadd]

and the band wanting to pivot to the 50th anniversary celebration.

In my opinion it was the main reason, the anniversary was planned even before TFP, I believe!

 

[matic22]

I think Nicko's condition is the main reason. Putting out a full TFP live album wouldn't do justice to his heroic recovery from stroke to even be on stage in 2023/2024.

For an outsider who doesn't know the story, songs like Trooper and Heaven Can Wait would sound bad compared to for example Flight 666 verisons. And this is why I doubt we will hear/see a full TFP recording in the future.

That said, I am all for an EP of songs that have never been performed or haven't been performed in years. If they choose songs that Nicko could play well from good nights, they could do a 5-6 song EP IMO for Record Store Day for example. Personally, I'd go with:

1. Caught Somewhere In Time
2. Stranger In A Strange Land
3. The Writing On The Wall
4. Days Of Future Past
5. Alexander The Great
6. Hell On Earth

Those are all songs that have been easy for Nicko, or haven't been performed before. The only exception here is CSIT, but I think they could find a good performance.

 

[Mosh]

Lets look at the last 20 years of tours:

Legacy of the Beast - No filming, live album was clearly thrown together to have something to release during the pandemic. Not clear that there was ever intention of a full on release.

Book of Souls - Live album, digital download video that was also clearly thrown together with little effort to the point that there are severe continuity issues that make it almost unwatchable.

Maiden England - No live release

Final Frontier - En Vivo

SBIT - Flight 666

AMOLAD - Nothing.

Early Days - Nothing.

Outside of TFF and SBIT the band clearly doesn't have interest in big live releases and the few that have come out have been pretty half assed. I don't see any reason to expect things would be different for the Somewhere In Time/Senjutsu tour.

That said, I am all for an EP of songs that have never been performed or haven't been performed in years. If they choose songs that Nicko could play well from good nights, they could do a 5-6 song EP IMO for Record Store Day for exampl. Personally, I'd go with:

1. Caught Somewhere In Time
2. Stranger In A Strange Land
3. The Writing On The Wall
4. Days Of Future Past
5. Alexander The Great
6. Hell On Earth

This is the way (maybe find a way to throw on Senjutsu and Stratego as well), and sadly they'll never do it.

 

[el diablo]

I think Nicko's condition is the main reason. Putting out a full TFP live album wouldn't do justice to his heroic recovery from stroke to even be on stage in 2023/2024.

For an outsider who doesn't know the story, songs like Trooper and Heaven Can Wait would sound bad compared to for example Flight 666 verisons. And this is why I doubt we will hear/see a full TFP recording in the future.

That said, I am all for an EP of songs that have never been performed or haven't been performed in years. If they choose songs that Nicko could play well from good nights, they could do a 5-6 song EP IMO for Record Store Day for exampl. Personally, I'd go with:

1. Caught Somewhere In Time
2. Stranger In A Strange Land
3. The Writing On The Wall
4. Days Of Future Past
5. Alexander The Great
6. Hell On Earth

Those are all songs that have been easy for Nicko, or haven't been performed before. The only exception here is CSIT, but I think they could find a good performance.

I like that idea, although by the same logic I'd squeeze in Death of the Celts and/or Time Machine (not played on LOTB tour).

 

[The Garlon]

I'm old enough to remember a time when people complained they were releasing too many live albums and DVD's

 

[CA Bryers]

I like that idea, although by the same logic I'd squeeze in Death of the Celts and/or Time Machine (not played on LOTB tour).

Same(ish). Just give me all the SiT songs that never made it onto a live album and the Senjutsu songs (including Senjutsu & Stratego from Lot.

I tried collecting the best soundboards from each tour to get the best representation of each tour to listen to, but...never listened to them due to so much repetition of the hits. So, I redid them ADHD style, i.e. A Real Live One style, and just compiled a cohesive tracklist of live songs that were new for a certain era (say, 1986-1990), blended the crowd noise in between, and really enjoyed listening to those. Even stacked Sign of the Cross, Lord of the Flies, and Man on the Edge together on that era's set so you'd have Bruce singing the opening three numbers of TXF in succession. Kinda cool.

So, if an A Real Live One-type release came out of Future Past, I'd be thrilled.

 

[onurb]

I'm old enough to remember a time when people complained they were releasing too many live albums and DVD's

I remember this debate was hot in mid 2000s iirc (or in the period they released death on the road).

 

[matic22]

I like that idea, although by the same logic I'd squeeze in Death of the Celts and/or Time Machine (not played on LOTB tour).

I think getting a performance of Time Machine that was on par with the album would be a tall order. They had a lot of difficulties with that song, especially the sudden tempo changes. I left DOTC off it, since I wanted it to be an EP. But could be easily included.

 

[Mosh]

The Time Machine was one of the few songs that sounded great every time I saw them. Maybe I got lucky, but I thought that was one of the tighter songs off the new album.

 

[dickinson1978]

Same(ish). Just give me all the SiT songs that never made it onto a live album and the Senjutsu songs (including Senjutsu & Stratego from Lot.

I tried collecting the best soundboards from each tour to get the best representation of each tour to listen to, but...never listened to them due to so much repetition of the hits. So, I redid them ADHD style, i.e. A Real Live One style, and just compiled a cohesive tracklist of live songs that were new for a certain era (say, 1986-1990), blended the crowd noise in between, and really enjoyed listening to those. Even stacked Sign of the Cross, Lord of the Flies, and Man on the Edge together on that era's set so you'd have Bruce singing the opening three numbers of TXF in succession. Kinda cool.

So, if an A Real Live One-type release came out of Future Past, I'd be thrilled.

aces high 99 and killers 99 sound great too

 

[Kalata]

Not releasing a live album/video show from TFP - like in 1986 - would be so unfortunate. It's probably because of Nicko's playing, but he has an excuse, right. And they had enough time since the start of the year to release it before the new tour (the 50 years tour is not an excuse) and since the documentary will be released in the fall. I'm not sure even if they'll release it after they retire, which is sad. I understand Nicko, but still. If we don't have news by the end of this month, then it's not going happen. Disappointing. The beloved SIT songs (Alexander!) and SJ was a popular album when released. Dunno if they do it for RFYL tour...

The thing is, some tours since the Reunion were expected to have a live release. I mean:

TFP - duh, and the last tour with the Reunion lineup.
LOTB - expected because of the stage(!!!) and some newer songs (which we didn't get in 2010), only a live album was the worse and odd option. Not to mention the 2022 SJ songs.
TBOS - maybe not expected after the release for TFF, but the album was celebrated and got attention.
ME - not expected since the big production for SBIT.
TFF - after not releasing for 2006, expected right.
SBIT - expected with the documentary.
AMOLAD - 50/50 for the 2006 leg, while they wanted to release a show from 2007, iirc.
Early Days - again they had in mind to release a 2005 show with the unique set.
DOD - expected, to build momentum.
GME - not expected.
BNW - expected.
TEH - probably expected.

So Maiden like to document their tours. Live releases aren't a big thing anymore (especially DVDs), but other bands releases live albums, why Maiden can't now? I understand we live in such times, but Maiden released a concert video for free in 2017, so why not again. They really stopped being as active with releases in the last 15 years, which is sad. They're not doing it for the money. You can't have too many live concerts! Not EPs, wow. And I'd like to believe that a live release from this tour was always planned (of only because of the 1986 tour and not releasing video from the previous tour).

 

[AncientMariner_Essex]

Thing is if Maiden don’t release a live album from TFP tour then that just says they are done releasing anything musical anymore. No live albums and no studio albums.

All we’ll get is loads more t-shirts and other assorted tat released and maybe a new trooper beer variant.

To me it feels like they just want to play live for a little while longer and retire. Good for them in some ways I guess but sad for fans they don’t see the value in live albums and blu rays and studio albums anymore like so many other bands still do.

 

[Vaenyr]

I think that's a wild leap to make. Don't take anything for granted obviously, but the desire as a musician to record a new album is very different to not releasing a live album. Especially one with rather unique problems as this one.

 

[AncientMariner_Essex]

I think that's a wild leap to make. Don't take anything for granted obviously, but the desire as a musician to record a new album is very different to not releasing a live album. Especially one with rather unique problems as this one.

But I don’t see the desire to write a new album either.

Senjutsu is technically 6 years old this year and with the upcoming tour I can’t see them having any time to record a new album over the next year. Every time Maiden get some down time Steve runs off and books British lion tours, Adrian seems more interested in Smith/Kotzen and even Bruce is talking about his next solo album.

Whenever any of them has been asked about a new Maiden album in an interview they’ve just fobbed it off with the usual “yeah we’ve got loads of ideas and never say never” kind of answers.

 

[Vaenyr]

But I don’t see the desire to write a new album either.

Senjutsu is technically 6 years old this year and with the upcoming tour I can’t see them having any time to record a new album over the next year. Every time Maiden get some down time Steve runs off and books British lion tours, Adrian seems more interested in Smith/Kotzen and even Bruce is talking about his next solo album.

Whenever any of them has been asked about a new Maiden album in an interview they’ve just fobbed it off with the usual “yeah we’ve got loads of ideas and never say never” kind of answers.

Well, that ignores that, according to Bruce, they had thought about recording another album during the pandemic but ultimately decided against it, as well as the recent interview with Steve where he said that he has a bunch of ideas.

Ideas is all they need. Maiden don't go into the studio with songs ready to record; they write and arrange them on the fly right before recording them.

In other words: There's a million reasons not to release a live album. Maybe they believe it's not worth the effort. Maybe they don't want to spend the money for that. Maybe they are unhappy with the quality of performances and decided against releasing anything.
Hell, the Early Days, AMOLAD and Maiden England 2013/14 didn't get live albums, yet we still got studio albums afterwards. I'd say there is nothing that we can extrapolate from TFP not getting a live album, one way or another.

 

[Poto]

While The Future Past had the history aspect with Somewhere in Time songs, they still treated it very much like a new album tour. Going by Maiden's way of touring and recording the last years, alternating history tours and album tours, a new album will only happen after Run For Your Lives. But if that was their plan, Nicko's health issue may have changed those plans.

 

[Flaming Blimp Crash]

While The Future Past had the history aspect with Somewhere in Time songs, they still treated it very much like a new album tour. Going by Maiden's way of touring and recording the last years, alternating history tours and album tours, a new album will only happen after Run For Your Lives. But if that was their plan, Nicko's health issue may have changed those plans.

The Future Past was very well the Senjutsu Tour, just with a specific retro angle to it. Interested to see what Priest does on their opening night tomorrow considering they're plugging Invincible Shield as well as celebrating Painkiller's 35th.