Bruce Dickinson

[Azas]

Is it just me, or does the final song of the set feel a bit anticlimactic? The Starchildren doesn’t strike me as the strongest closer. Something like The Tower or Road to Hell would’ve been a much better fit.

Reading this back, my posts might come off as overly negative—but honestly, I’m just glad Bruce is out there touring with his solo material. If it were up to me, he could stick almost entirely to songs from AOB onward, with the exception of Tears of the Dragon and maybe a couple of Skunkworks tracks. Personally, I’ve always preferred his poetic–mystical–occult–cosmic brand of modern metal (for lack of a better term).

 

[Ironalice]

What were the 2 Taiko drums for? Were they used? For later? Or for the new album?

Bruce was using those during Gods Of War

 

[Ironalice]

I thought there was a rule that no iron maiden member can play an historic unplayed song with his solo band.

Bruce has been saying "I wrote it I can do what the fuck I like" lately tho aha

 

[Poto]

I thought there was a rule that no iron maiden member can play an historic unplayed song with his solo band.

That was never a rule, it's just that Alexander was bit of a special case.

 

[Kalata]

Footage of some songs, including Shadow and Gods Of War (Bruce is having so much fun with the Taiko drums, camera from the above... I wish they were for Eternity):

Spoiler

Shadow is such a special song. I really miss a proper solo. The heavy riff is immense live (and sounds better than on the album!). Tanya with backing vocals for the outro (Navigate style), Philip for the aggressive parts. The chorus is huge live, shame it is not repeated. Bruce didn't go for that high notes and do a less aggressive voice during the song. His voice shines on it.

Interesting visuals, the first one. The second one is great and reminds me of the Keeper.

He does a good job with the Taiko drums, Gods Of War with them is great for an encore. Not easy to sing at all, like Aquarius there.

 

[Randalf]

Great set.

I fucking love the fact that this new era of Bruce doing solo material live est. 2024 came with The Alchemist. I certainly expected Bruce to return with his solo material at some point anyway, but I didn't dare to dream that they'd live debut The Alchemist in 2024, haha! One of the set highlights for me. The ending is such a standout moment. One of the most powerful things Bruce has ever recorded his voice on and it goes down very well live too.

As for the opening night of this 2025 tour, I get that there are handful of songs that a lot of people expected/wanted to see in there, but I can't really complain that they play around with the set a bit. It's something that people frequently wish Maiden would do, but I suppose the result would be the same... People going "this is odd/strange/doesn't flow well..." and "why did they drop those two songs and not these?"

Not to be a jerk, for real: I totally get where it comes from, understand different tastes when it comes to setlist picks and I have obviously pondered such things myself too, haha.

But yeah, Flash of the Blade debuted just fine. The arrangement is nice. The chorus is, naturally, tough but Bruce got the hang of it after the instrumental break. It'll probably sound a bit better as the tour goes on. Interesting to see if they'll play both, it and Revelations in Brazil, or just the latter.

Shadow of the Gods is massive - as expected. Nice to Gods of War back too. Not my favourite, but since Aquarius is (understandably) dropped, although it might very well appear in the set in the following gigs, it gives some "epic weight" to the end of the show as well.

I really like Starchildren too! They didn't play it too many times last year, so interesting to see if it'll be a bit more frequent one for this tour.

 

[Kalata]

Bruce has updated the vest, the trousers and the hat with a ponytail.

I also think Philip is using a new black Flying V. Haven't seen footage from all songs, but so far no changes to the screens or the stage set like he mentioned in some interview.

 

[Diesel 11]

I really like Starchildren too!

Yeah there’s too many “Starchildren” haters on this forum. This is a song that should’ve been a set staple last year.

 

[Randalf]

Yeah there’s too many “Starchildren” haters on this forum. This is a song that should’ve been a set staple last year.

Yeah, I get why Accident of Birth is the established Bruce Dickinson set opener, but I think that Toltec 7 Arrival intro & Starchildren would work almost just as fine at that.

 

[Azas]

I don’t hate Starchildren. To me, it’s a mid-tier song—maybe slightly above. Accident of Birth, on the other hand, is both a fantastic opener and a great song overall. It’s got that kick, that cruising momentum, that unmistakable metal attitude. And the line “Welcome home…”—absolutely perfect for setting the tone.

The Alchemist is an outright masterpiece of a song—one of those rare tracks where everything clicks: the riffs, the atmosphere, the lyrical depth, and that sense of mystery Bruce does so well. It feels like pure distilled Bruce-ian magic.

 

[dickinson1978]

That was never a rule, it's just that Alexander was bit of a special case.

Nicko played the parchement a month ago. But this never happened before?

 

[dickinson1978]

Bruce has been saying "I wrote it I can do what the fuck I like" lately tho aha

So thats is the reason

 

[GhostofCain]

I guess, for me, this is one of those moments where rotating the setlist just doesn’t sit right—No, you shouldn’t have dropped The Tower; it’s one of your best songs!

That’s the price to pay for having a rotating setlist when you play a short set.

Dropping some of your best songs and keeping a cover and a drum solo is a bit odd though.

 

[dickinson1978]

So many ideas, a cooperative band, 100% bossman. Why do I feel these factors point towards Bruce leaving Maiden in the next few years?

Not going to happen. The only thing that could happen is maiden retiring and steve and bruce and adrian doing his solo carriers. But i think we have maiden for almost 5 years more.

 

[BludBrutha]

So many ideas, a cooperative band, 100% bossman. Why do I feel these factors point towards Bruce leaving Maiden in the next few years?

No way is he giving up that sweet stadium money. He learnt last time how hard it is to play tiny venues. He and Adrian have been eating humble pie for the last 26 years and letting Steve call the shots because it’s financial suicide not to.

 

[GhostofCain]

Nice instrumental rendition of the song (unnecessary keys apart), but the singing on the chorus was atrocious. I can’t wait to read what @Ascendingthethrone thinks about it!