GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
Are they really? They might span over 2 or 3 calendar years, but other bands play a similar number of gigs, if not more, and release new music more often than Maiden.
18th Studio Album discussion
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Are they really? They might span over 2 or 3 calendar years, but other bands play a similar number of gigs, if not more, and release new music more often than Maiden.
____no5
Free Man
The point is to compare apples with apples.
Is there any other metal group being in the industry 40 ~50 years that is considerably more productive than Maiden? Productivity as of number of highly production value gigs & studio albums. Genuine question, I can't bring anyone in mind.
AncientMariner_Essex
Ancient Mariner
Saxon springs to mind. Ok they aren’t as big as Maiden but they’re a lot older (biff is 73 and still singing well) and they do big tours and play some decent sized venues.
They’ve released 10 studio albums during Maidens reunion years (roughly every 2 years) compared to Maiden releasing 6.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
UDO also comes to mind. If I am not mistaken, 13 new studio albums during Maiden reunion years, with extensive touring to support them and, in recent times, working as Dirkschneider playing the Accept classics live too.
andreljbernardo
Nomad
To a band that have such creative songwriters, I really think Maiden could realease new albuns more often, something like was done in the first years of the reunion era, with one album in each 3 years.
dickinson1978
Ancient Mariner
Few bands and not at iron maiden level. I mean iron maiden tours now is 1 year europe 1 year usa and south america and other places. So 2 years for the same tour.
dickinson1978
Ancient Mariner
That is what i wanted to say
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
Where you see 1 year, I see 3-4 months of touring at most followed by huge gaps without any activity (apart from coming up with new merchandising).
Their days if intensive touring are a thing of the (very) distant past.
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Ascendingthethrone
Ancient Mariner
I’m glad they have used the short tour model since 2017. It works much better for Bruce’s voice.Where you see 1 year, I see 3-4 months of touring at most followed by huge gaps without any activity (apart from coming up with new merchandising).
Their days if intensive touring are a thing of the (very) distant past.
To be honest, I wish they had done it sooner in their career. I know they tired it with Maiden England, but The Final Frontier tour could have been shorter. You and I were both there at the O2 in 2011… that tour trashed Bruce’s voice. I’m glad he sort of acknowledged it in his book. They were just trying to capitalise on the unexpected success of Flight 666, and tried to one-up the SBIT tour. It did not work. The Book of Souls 2016 was too long as well, but they were making up for lost time.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
Don't get me wrong, I agree with you. Shorter tours have definitely contributed to extending the band's lifespan, that is true, but let's not pretend they tour as hard as other bands of their generation (who also do not fly to gigs on private jets).
The state of Bruce's voice at the end of the tour in 2011 was shocking. It made me regret going to 5 gigs on that UK tour.
Fixed it for you.
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Yeah but I'm sure she wants to and hope so. Nicko too, but I'm not sure if he will. He won't be in his best form and he needs to be at his 2024 tour level (who knows when you stop touring and he looks older in the photos from a couple of days ago). Maybe for a song or two (which would be odd). I know it's studio work, but he wouldn't want to NOT give his best, right. The most important is he to feels well and healthy.
It seems like one of the projects is a ''Meet and greet with Nicko'' from a couple of days ago. Probably with some interviews, solo shows, etc.
We are yet to find out. It was just a thought.
For sure. Not that they can't record in early 2027 (although we need to know Bruce's solo plans for then first), their plans are until 2026 (for now), so if we don't spot them in Paris early next year (their usual schedule for albums), idk what to think about a possible new album. With or without Nicko.
That's the thing, they span over 2 (or 3) years, bigger shows, bigger tours in terms of traveling and venues, so even if they write new music, they still have to wait after the tour to release it - 4 months of touring is like 1 whole year and they only need 3 months to write an album). In the other months that they're not on tour, they have family and solo projects. Like others.
Some old bands tour and release new music (some more often in this regard, early Reunion era Maiden were like that) like Maiden, some take breaks between tours (Priest), change themes for legs, but they are just a few. Saxon, Accept, UDO,...?/ although with solo artists it is a little different. Intense touring for all these bands now, they are around the same dates.
True, ofc - but that's because of the Hits/History tours since 2005 (or 2003 when they did 2 tours in 1 year, probably because they didn't tour much in the previous two years). Quality over quantity is not an excuse for Maiden.
it has been 6 years (the longest gap between their recording sessions) since the last time they recorded a new album as a band. However, within the same period, band members recorded/released a total of 4 albums as side projects (1 Brİtish Lion, 2 Smith / Kotzen, 1 Bruce solo). Honestly, I would rather have had an Iron Maiden Ep with 4 new tracks than having all those 4 albums. I know that whenever Steve feels like it, they will record another IM album, but can't help thinking we could already have had album 18 by now, if they hadn't spent so much time (touring included) on side projects.
Interesting and much better İMO. All those aforementioned 4 albums put together don't come close to a single disc of Senjutsu or TBOS (considering both being double albums with 2 discs). I haven't heard the new Smith / Kotzen album in full yet, but I don't expect a Paschendale/ Writing On The Wall /Wicker Man / Great Unknown on the album.
AncientMariner_Essex
Ancient Mariner
Yeah I have to agree with the recent posts.
We all know that Maiden is on borrowed time and with Nicko stepping aside now we don’t know how long we have left with the band.
With that in mind I do wish the band would focus more on a new album rather than devoting all this time to side projects. I’m happy with the touring side of things as I want to see Maiden live as much as I can but I really would like a new album.
I’d be totally fine if Steve, Bruce or any of the others said they didn’t want to make a new album as they didn’t have any ideas they felt strongly enough about to use as I love Senjutsu and would be fine with that as a final album. But, when I read Steve and Bruce saying in interviews they have loads of ideas then I wish they’d use them and make more maiden music instead of spending time on the solo/side stuff.
We all know that Maiden is on borrowed time and with Nicko stepping aside now we don’t know how long we have left with the band.
With that in mind I do wish the band would focus more on a new album rather than devoting all this time to side projects. I’m happy with the touring side of things as I want to see Maiden live as much as I can but I really would like a new album.
I’d be totally fine if Steve, Bruce or any of the others said they didn’t want to make a new album as they didn’t have any ideas they felt strongly enough about to use as I love Senjutsu and would be fine with that as a final album. But, when I read Steve and Bruce saying in interviews they have loads of ideas then I wish they’d use them and make more maiden music instead of spending time on the solo/side stuff.
Dick Brucinson
The TRUE Dick Brucinson
Just in case their side projects are understood by themselves somewhat of a holiday retreat from Maiden, leading to a better next Maiden album than Senjutsu was, then I'm fine with those solo albums (even though I couldn't care less about both African Elephant British Lion and Smith/Kotzen).
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redandtheblack92
Came to witness the death of the Celts
Beginning to think the chances of a new album are slim. They wait out another 2 years, health issues are gonna come up & good chance someone else could step aside
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
I will always welcome solo works, although I only love Bruce's and metal (I wouldn't want to lose it). Different style from great musicians - but they really should release a new Maiden album in the usual time. Which means 2026 or 2027 at the latest (recorded during either of them). 6 years since they were in the studio to record, but 4 years since the release. New Maiden music is above all, interesting and better. And they say they have a lot of ideas. Plus no cabaret act, right! I guess it will depend on their solo plans for next year... although I think writing solo and for Maiden is not a problem for them.
I thought they would be faster with the next album now (like some other old bands), but I guess Nicko and the anniv changed some things. I'm not so worried yet, they sound rather positive about it, but clearly don't want to make plans in advance anymore.
The new social profile pic is called the ''Iron Maiden 50th anniv logo'' (created by Akirant) - and it's the balck & white Eddie head from the new tour poster with the ''50'' written on it. Because of the new book? It's for the tours usually (or the yellow Eddie), but right from the first time I saw it, it reminded me of a possible hint. Ofc it could be just the RFYL Eddie (probably), but why not using the new tour poster like until now and during the tour...
Anyway, time is everything, I still believe in a new album (with Nicko? idk), they are focused on the new celebration tour and they have ideas written for sure. The fact that they wanted to record another album back in 2019 shows that the ideas are indeed there. If they recorded the album secretly, they would be the best, have to say it right. They always answer that they have to see how they feel about a new album. Or they want to know if they will record with Nicko. And Maiden is about making new music, right. I'm sure they will want to keep it in secret again, so let's see. Remember the one interview with Nicko after the tour in which the questions about Maiden weren't shown(!?).
Btw, let's say Adrian and Steve do solo shows early next year, then if the Maiden tour is in the fall, Bruce could do another solo run (3rd leg?) early next year or in the summer. So early 2027 is possible, but they need to release it before the summer when they reveal their next tour - no 3rd leg, please. Recording in the winter of 2026? Solo schedules will matter. But the 2027 tour (we think they will continue) should be revealed towards the end of 2026, right? So if it's a new album tour (even a hybrid), it should be recorded in early 2026 and released in the fall or early 2027. With a 3rd leg, they can release it in the fall of 2027 for a 2028/2029 tour, but why ''lose'' a whole year.
I thought they would be faster with the next album now (like some other old bands), but I guess Nicko and the anniv changed some things. I'm not so worried yet, they sound rather positive about it, but clearly don't want to make plans in advance anymore.
The new social profile pic is called the ''Iron Maiden 50th anniv logo'' (created by Akirant) - and it's the balck & white Eddie head from the new tour poster with the ''50'' written on it. Because of the new book? It's for the tours usually (or the yellow Eddie), but right from the first time I saw it, it reminded me of a possible hint. Ofc it could be just the RFYL Eddie (probably), but why not using the new tour poster like until now and during the tour...
Anyway, time is everything, I still believe in a new album (with Nicko? idk), they are focused on the new celebration tour and they have ideas written for sure. The fact that they wanted to record another album back in 2019 shows that the ideas are indeed there. If they recorded the album secretly, they would be the best, have to say it right. They always answer that they have to see how they feel about a new album. Or they want to know if they will record with Nicko. And Maiden is about making new music, right. I'm sure they will want to keep it in secret again, so let's see. Remember the one interview with Nicko after the tour in which the questions about Maiden weren't shown(!?).
Btw, let's say Adrian and Steve do solo shows early next year, then if the Maiden tour is in the fall, Bruce could do another solo run (3rd leg?) early next year or in the summer. So early 2027 is possible, but they need to release it before the summer when they reveal their next tour - no 3rd leg, please. Recording in the winter of 2026? Solo schedules will matter. But the 2027 tour (we think they will continue) should be revealed towards the end of 2026, right? So if it's a new album tour (even a hybrid), it should be recorded in early 2026 and released in the fall or early 2027. With a 3rd leg, they can release it in the fall of 2027 for a 2028/2029 tour, but why ''lose'' a whole year.
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