18th Studio Album discussion

[Helmuth Von Moltke]

I don't think it's about aging. You mention “Some Kind of Monster” yourself. You can lose someone at any point in your life. Age isn't the essence of such an experience.

No, I said not like Some Kind of Monster.

The issue with Maiden is squarely about ageing and retirement due to not being able to tour through ageing.

 

[DorotheaMe]

I disagree. Health problems or health incidents leading to the end of a touring career don't only occur in old age.
Ask Steve Harris if he thinks so. Then he must have forgotten the fate of his own son.

 

[AncientMariner_Essex]

Surefire way to sell less tickets is to make a point of the combination of NPFTD and FoTD. I'd love to see some of those songs in a set, but from a casual fan standpoint, which do make up the bread and butter of concert-goers, it's a bad move. That being said, the 80s stuff have been done several times over now.

I don’t think this is the case.

I see a lot of disdain online for NPFTD and FOTD but this seems to be mainly from fans in the USA.

The rest of the world loves these albums. I’m from the uk and these albums were hugely successful here and in most of Europe too. NPFTD peaked at number 2 in the uk album charts and had their only uk number 1 single. FOTD was a number 1 album and BQOBD as a number 2 single.

I believe these albums went down well in South America too it’s just North America who was just coming off hair metal and going into grunge that didn’t seem to like these albums. The fans who wanted heavier music than hair metal or grunge had moved past Maiden and priest at this time and were listening to homegrown bands like Metallica, Megadeth, slayer and Anthrax. Hell, Maiden probably sounded too commercial at the the turn of the 1990’s for your average metal fan in America.

Plus the Americans were about to have an explosion of quality death metal with Death already about to unleash their third album and classics from Obituary, morbid angel and cannibal corpse we’re about to drop.

I think a tour promoting rare tracks from NPFTD and FOTD would go down well in most places, except the USA.

 

[Iron Lurker]

Metal really went undergroud in America in the 90's for the most part with Metallica and Pantera being big exceptions. Can't say anything about Dealth Metal in America because I never paid any attention to it, not my cup of tea at all.

 

[Nomadd]

Metal really went undergroud in America in the 90's for the most part with Metallica and Pantera being big exceptions. Can't say anything about Dealth Metal in America because I never paid any attention to it, not my cup of tea at all.

Pantera was groove metal, which was relatively something new back in the day, but Metallica in the 90s - they transformed themselves into a radio-friendly hard rock/alternative rock act with make-ups and fancy clothes. I perfectly remember that period, especially when Urlich said, "Don't call us Metal," when the popularity and commercial potential of the genre went down.

 

[2M2M]

IMO Maiden will keep touring as long as Steve (mainly) and Bruce are willing and able to perform. At this point, they are the only irreplaceable members of the band. I don't like to see any of the 3 amigos replaced, but I think if Dave or Adrian retires before the band call it quits, Steve will get a replacement and continue touring. I believe Janick will be there till the last minute, as he seems to be the most energetic of the 3 (or maybe the most energetic of the whole band).

As for the new album, I strongly believe we will get it in 2028, if not late 2027.

I recall Richie Faulkner (now Judas Priest) was the heir to the Maiden throne if anything happened to one of the three amgios. Mind this was 15+ years ago

 

[Kalata]

My fear is that British Lion / Mandrake lineup Bruce solo are viable distractions from having THE TALK for the principal players.
I also fear that the emotional impact of Nickos retirement on the wider unit has been skipped over.

Yeah.
For the studio it's possible (not for Bruce though, he's ready for something new; Steve?), and in general. Still, 2030 should be their goal.

I don't believe the break means there will be no work on Maiden projects at all. It makes no sense to waste so much time.

This.

Bruce managed to talk about it in a way that even led to speculation in many Iron Maiden groups that he had pushed Nicko out of the band.

This is so wrong.

If they were to decide to do that, they could announce the next global tour as nothing short of "RFYL Part 2" with the songs from their whole career.

Next tour will brñe another greatest hits but witb more rare songs. For sure.

They could easily combine RFYL Part 2 with a new album and some rare songs. Be a tour for the fans like TFP. The question is why not do this for the 50th anniv tour right away.

The big question is what they consider a "rare song"... Sanctuary (played in 2014 last time yet) e.g., Running Free (2011) or Children Of The Damned (2015) all have become "rare" nowadays, I hope none of them will be part of the set again tho.

Good call.

And I've realized Simon Dawson will be 72 in 2030. They could tour since 2028 to 2030, and finish their career with a special gig.

Saxon's drummer is 73, Rob and Biff are older. Stamina is everything.

Surefire way to sell less tickets is to make a point of the combination of NPFTD and FoTD. I'd love to see some of those songs in a set, but from a casual fan standpoint, which do make up the bread and butter of concert-goers, it's a bad move. That being said, the 80s stuff have been done several times over now.

The 90's songs will be (act) like new album songs in a set for the casuals, no worries. It was really surprising that they are doing a pure 80s set again, instead of just playing songs from all eras.

But the way the emotions around Nicko's end of career are dealt with in the documentary will be an interesting marker.

It's curious. His retirement has its mental impact on them, more or less (views on things, future plans, tours/hybrid idea again, touring in general, celebrations, breaks (the big one next year), new music, wanting to be on top with the current lineup..., though Bruce and Adrian are more active than ever now). That's just life. It's different doing a change now than earlier in their career. Also, maybe wanting Nicko to be part of the new album.

• More time to prepare and record what could be their last album/(usual)tour/s... - with maybe more songs than usual? Triple album!

- Imagine announcing a new album at the end of the documentary (even if it is this year - released in 2027 fall or the next one early as a promo for the 2028 (now hinted) return), that would be perfect and even more hype. One of the best ways to do it, they wanted to reveal SJ in theaters.