RUN FOR YOUR LIVES 2025 Tour Thread *SPOILERS INSIDE*

I think no one on this forum is really bashing Simon. After the first show—no questions asked—it’s all good.

The big screen definitely adds a sense of scope and scale to the show. Though honestly, I think a few more pyros would’ve been welcome.

As for big Eddie—yeah, I think he’s sorely missed. But maybe it’s tricky to have him and the big screen together. In that case, Eddie could’ve appeared or inflated from one side of the stage, like some monster tree or something.

I’m a little unsure why one of the epics—Rime, for instance—wasn’t placed right before Iron Maiden. Or they could’ve done Rime, Hallowed, and then Iron Maiden. But those are just minor quibbles. Overall, this set feels super energetic.

And yes, Bruce does tend to overhype things—sometimes to the point where even some fans might feel a bit tricked.
 
Azas said:
I think no one on this forum is really bashing Simon. After the first show—no questions asked—it’s all good.
Click to expand...

He's a non-presence, which is what was expected since the announcement. It's not exactly the same as if Portnoy was replaced by Phil Rudd, but it's not exactly different to me either.

It's okay when the drums aren't important, but when they are, it's kinda meh. The only good section (the closing one) of SSOASS is really weak as a result and they could spend the whole ten minutes better, methinks.

(whether that's bashing, you decide)
 
Despite my earlier observations, comments, and criticism, I still feel overall positive about the tour. I definitely don’t want to dwell on the negatives, and I think my comments were more about nitpicking and minor details. The setlist was solid – even though it left out that one song I was hoping for (you all know which one I mean) – and I’m confident there are good times ahead at my own Iron Maiden show in June.
At the end of the day, I love Iron Maiden – I always have, and I always will. That’s why I care enough to notice the little things. It’s all part of being a fan.
 
As one of the people saying for years that Maiden needed to modernise their stage set, particularly after the embarrassing LOTB V.2 debacle (the silly looking inflatable pagodas or the 10 minute changeover between themes as an example) I am mostly happy with the new stage.

That being said, I always assumed they'd retain some of the physical props and effects, such as the Big Eddie. I didn't expect them to go full CGI and a part of me is going to miss the kitsch element of yesteryear.
 
It's kinda funny to me. I largely prefer the 90s and post reunion stuff (though SSOASS is in my top 3), so when the rumours about another hits tour started I was pretty nervous. There were talks about another round of Live After Death/SBIT which was the second worst outcome for me (first being another Early Days, given that I don't care about that era of the band).
Then, once the theme for this tour was announced, I was still kinda disappointed, but relieved that we'd get a possibly better selection of songs. I was sure that we'd see most of the classics and hoped for a couple of curve balls, like BYDTTS.

The setlist we got features a few songs I really didn't wanna see again (Aces High being chief among them) but we also get songs that I've either wanted to hear for a long time (Killers) or that I adore and can't get enough of (Powerslave, SSOASS). So, in that sense I'm pretty happy with the setlist. Would've swapped a couple of songs and would've liked NPFTD (the track) since we got almost all other title tracks as well, but it is what it is.
 
Yax said:
I suspect he's thinking of "Killers".
Click to expand...

Right I forgot they didn't do it during the Early Days tour and the last time was the Ed Hunter tour, so... 26 years ago? Lol.

I still hoped for To Tame a Land, with Dune being culturally relevant again, recently. That one they haven't played since '83, 42 years ago, it would be great to unearth it.
 
JudasMyGuide said:
Right I forgot they didn't do it during the Early Days tour and the last time was the Ed Hunter tour, so... 26 years ago? Lol.

I still hoped for To Tame a Land, with Dune being culturally relevant again, recently. That one they haven't played since '83, 42 years ago, it would be great to unearth it.
Click to expand...
I do not think Bruce would be able to sing the song nowadays.
The lyrics are extremely fast and tonguetwisting and the middle part has got some incredibly high notes.

But yeah, I´d love to see that one again.
 
As for under/overrepresentation of certain albums:

TNOTB sorta kinda got its spotlight in 2007, but even beyond that close to half the album has been more or less constantly in the setlists for ages.
Powerslave hat SBIT, SIT got its chance with TFP and SSOASS with Maiden England.
The 90s albums obviously aren't ever gonna get something like that.
LOTB in a sense was the tour for POM, being pretty heavy on songs from that album.
And we also had the Early Days tour of course.

This makes the current tour kinda interesting in that it chose to focus on Killers quite a bit, as well as Powerslave. Fits with the theme of the tour though, I suppose.
 
From what I've seen online, Simon Dawson was very good in Budapest. It's a greatest hits of the '80s set, as expected, and they can still do it, which is impressive. However, apart from the screen, I feel like I've seen it before, and I'll most probably skip this tour. I'd be much more interested in a new Maiden or Bruce album + tour that reflects on where they are today, in terms of music and life
 
Ok, short review... Murders was a great opener and it fits the tour. Wrathchild was good, since it wasn't played recently and it didn't take up a setlist spot. Killers was amazing. Phantom was expected and great fun. NOTB was a must and fun since it was rested on TFP. I didn't know that I missed Clairvoyant so much in the set. Powerslave was great and Rime was great. 2MTM was ok, but it felt kinda excessive, since they were playing 3 more Powerslave songs. RTTH was good fun. Seventh Son was amazing with amazing production. Trooper has to be there. Hallowed is an amazing production, probably one the best they ever put on. Iron Maiden was OK and has to be there.

Now Aces High. Why the fuck do you have to play it. You can't top LOTB production. You aren't getting younger. Why? You are doing 3 other Powerslave songs? Why? You admitted you couldn't sing it 30 years ago and you are attempting it at 6fucking7... Why the fuck? Play Running Free or Daughter fuckssake. Play Infinite Dreams... Play Afraid To Shoot Strangers. Play Be Quick... Whatever. Just not Aces Mid-Height FFS.

Fear Of The Dark works great as a 2nd encore and it's refreshing to have it there. Despite the bitching, I think Wasted Years was the right choice to close the show and it has great production and the right message.

So, all in all, Aces is the downer of the set. Replacing it with a rarity would make this one a set for the ages.

The setlist overall would be a 9/10, but Aces brings it down 2 points. 7/10.
 
Helmuth Von Moltke said:
I have a theory about the uninventive encore (I agree with PhantonOfTheOpera, Aces High is not as impactful anymore).

Maiden want to go on autopilot themselves for the final 20 minutes?

I'm sure the Chruchill Speech gives them an extra dose of adrenaline. On FOTD the crowd does a lot of the work. And Wasted Years closed off x117 Book of Souls shows + x81 Future Past shows. So it feels like a choreographed ending, not saying they are coasting the end, but they must be able to play the last two tracks for sure in their sleep.

By the end of this tour Maiden will have closed nearly 230 of their last 370 shows with the same song...
Click to expand...
There is something to what you're saying here. I've known performing musicians who've told me similar; they choose some tracks that they can kind of coast on during a long set. Gotta have balance, especially when they're not as young or adventurous as they used to be.
 
Meliegree said:
Agree BUT there always be the song that someone didin't saw live. I get that some people did not seen Aces live, but what - they should play whole world slavery tour setlist because some of us didn't heard "Los'fer Words"? :-) Naah. With current set of songs in main set they could easily put something else in place of Aces in encore.
Click to expand...
Yes, I agree.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top