Iron Maiden News, Links, and Interviews

[Vaenyr]

Which are classics.

Depends on how you define them. Murders imo is a deep cut.

Classics are stuff like TNOTB, RTTH, Hallowed, FOTD, Aces High, 2MTM, TETMD, The Trooper, Wrathchild and so on.
Something like Murders isn't in the same league for me, regardless of how I feel about these songs. Even Killers (the song) itself would be a deep cut in my opinion.

 

[Jer]

If there’s no new album, then after a tour like this one you’re really only left with a couple of options — either a part II that covers the rest of the discography (X Factor through Senjutsu), or a deep cuts tour. Anything else would leave them repeating themselves too soon.

If the timing were different I suppose they could do a BNW-focused tour for its 30th anniversary, but that would leave an extra 2-year gap in their schedule (unless the tour wrapped up in the anniversary year instead of starting in it, I guess).

 

[Robert.M.]

What happens if a new album comes out? Just like with the new Star Wars films, fans rush in to bash them and demand the classics. They would critize the sound, the production, the cover art, the long intros/outros, bruce's struggling vocals etc... And at the new album tour the "play classics" stubbornness will start again. Senjutsu was a very good album, they played 7 tracks from it over 2 tours, but most fans wanted the classics rather than the new songs. The band has grown a lot in recent years, and their mainstream audience has increased. That's why I understand them. If a new album were to come out, knowing that it would truly be the product of a special effort makes me happy. Otherwise, writing 10 new songs for Maiden members wouldn't be that difficult. The real issue is creating an album that would satisfy them as artists.

And if there is no new album, they will be criticised for only touring, and of course for allegedly declining performance quality, and for no longer being creative, etc. There is no way to avoid the complaints.

 

[Ascendingthethrone]

I’m sure they will come up with some awesome tour concepts post-2027, and I will go and see them. However I fear a decline in performances over time, especially with the band refusing to downtune. Bruce can’t keep up singing these songs in the original key. It is doing him or the band no favours.

Another thing I feel is that the band will slowly descend into doing more and more tours based around just the classics. My reasoning behind this is that they will only do short tours from now on. In order to maximise profits, they will have to play large offenders and the only way they’re gonna feel large avenue tours based upon classics. I highly doubt a tour from the X Factor to Senjutsu would sell out the stadium. I would love that show, but I’m not sure it would be a massive crowd puller.

On one more point, I know that in the past on this forum I have been accused of being a negative Norman and putting a downer on things. I disagree with this. I just think that I’m a realist. I love this band, but we have to accept that they will retire soon. I only hope they choose to go out on a high rather than descending into the realm of repeated classics tours and swapped members.

 

[DorotheaMe]

I don't see any problem with posting negative or positive opinions. It is a discussion forum.
However, more than one quote has just confirmed very clearly that this is not what they are planning, i.e. to retire soon to go out on a high.

 

[Fozzie]

I’m sure they will come up with some awesome tour concepts post-2027, and I will go and see them. However I fear a decline in performances over time, especially with the band refusing to downtune. Bruce can’t keep up singing these songs in the original key. It is doing him or the band no favours.

Another thing I feel is that the band will slowly descend into doing more and more tours based around just the classics. My reasoning behind this is that they will only do short tours from now on. In order to maximise profits, they will have to play large offenders and the only way they’re gonna feel large avenue tours based upon classics. I highly doubt a tour from the X Factor to Senjutsu would sell out the stadium. I would love that show, but I’m not sure it would be a massive crowd puller.

On one more point, I know that in the past on this forum I have been accused of being a negative Norman and putting a downer on things. I disagree with this. I just think that I’m a realist. I love this band, but we have to accept that they will retire soon. I only hope they choose to go out on a high rather than descending into the realm of repeated classics tours and swapped members.

I agree with lots of what you posted above and hope for something great in 2027.

However we have to be realistic as you put it about Maiden especially given the songs they perform, they are tough to sing and it is just inevitable that it will get harder to do. However as i have said on here before Bruce is no where near struggling enough to be an issue yet for me, Aces aside, so why hurry on retirement.

They might well see out their time playing less concerts for bigger crowds and yes making money with classics, but so what , enjoy them, sing along have fun. If that isn`t your thing or indeed the thing of others on here fine, but do we really have to keep endlessly knocking a bunch of guys who have been doing it for half a century .

 

[el diablo]

My number one priority would be for a new album IF they have the material that they believe in. If it’s anything remotely close to the quality of Senjutsu I can spend decades enjoying it.

I saw them live last year and have tickets for next year so my next greatest wish is new music consistent with the quality level of Senjutsu.

 

[dickinson1978]

New album, without a doubt 100% of the time. I'd like to get as many new songs and albums as possible before the eventually retire.

I wouldn't be so sre about your choices though. TFP was a semi-new album, semi-history tour and was filled with deep cuts. It got rid of most classics, probably because RFYL was already being planned. RFYL focuses entirely on classics (plus a couple of Killers tracks that hadn't been played in a while). I believe, regardless of if we get a new album or not, the next tour will cut back on classics a bit in favor of deep cuts. It wouldn't make sense to follow up RFYL with another classics tour.

(Note, LOTB is a bit of an in-between thing, where we have obvious classics, popular Blaze and reunion-era songs as well as a few revived deep cuts)

Rfyl has a few rare songs rime seventh killers murders but we have seen it live since reunion

 

[dickinson1978]

I’m sure they will come up with some awesome tour concepts post-2027, and I will go and see them. However I fear a decline in performances over time, especially with the band refusing to downtune. Bruce can’t keep up singing these songs in the original key. It is doing him or the band no favours.

Another thing I feel is that the band will slowly descend into doing more and more tours based around just the classics. My reasoning behind this is that they will only do short tours from now on. In order to maximise profits, they will have to play large offenders and the only way they’re gonna feel large avenue tours based upon classics. I highly doubt a tour from the X Factor to Senjutsu would sell out the stadium. I would love that show, but I’m not sure it would be a massive crowd puller.

On one more point, I know that in the past on this forum I have been accused of being a negative Norman and putting a downer on things. I disagree with this. I just think that I’m a realist. I love this band, but we have to accept that they will retire soon. I only hope they choose to go out on a high rather than descending into the realm of repeated classics tours and swapped members.

Apart from aces high at the final encore for me its ok on the rest of the songs. Ive heard some bootlegs and enjoyed it. Couldnt asist to this tour.

 

[dickinson1978]

If there’s no new album, then after a tour like this one you’re really only left with a couple of options — either a part II that covers the rest of the discography (X Factor through Senjutsu), or a deep cuts tour. Anything else would leave them repeating themselves too soon.

If the timing were different I suppose they could do a BNW-focused tour for its 30th anniversary, but that would leave an extra 2-year gap in their schedule (unless the tour wrapped up in the anniversary year instead of starting in it, I guess).

Imagine a tour with be quick or be dead,infinite dreams,ony the good die young a big epic, and from reunion ghost of the navigator,longest day,brighter,and many others and one only classic iron maiden. I would love to see that

 

[Ascendingthethrone]

I agree with lots of what you posted above and hope for something great in 2027.

However we have to be realistic as you put it about Maiden especially given the songs they perform, they are tough to sing and it is just inevitable that it will get harder to do. However as i have said on here before Bruce is no where near struggling enough to be an issue yet for me, Aces aside, so why hurry on retirement.

They might well see out their time playing less concerts for bigger crowds and yes making money with classics, but so what , enjoy them, sing along have fun. If that isn`t your thing or indeed the thing of others on here fine, but do we really have to keep endlessly knocking a bunch of guys who have been doing it for half a century .

I’m sure I will enjoy whatever gig I go to. All I want is for them to go out with dignity and in a high. If members start being swapped out and they simply tour classics for the remainder of their days, I would be disappointed. But if that is what they want to do, fair enough.

 

[GhostofCain]

I’m sure I will enjoy whatever gig I go to. All I want is for them to go out with dignity and in a high. If members start being swapped out and they simply tour classics for the remainder of their days, I would be disappointed. But if that is what they want to do, fair enough.

I cannot wait to see Maiden in 2035 with you mate!

 

[Kalata]

View attachment 44762
Rod from the magazine.

So it's clear they're looking forward and to tour, good to hear it from Rod too. Steve is just amazing. But it's kind of hard to imagine a band like Maiden to continue touring just the classics (less and big shows) with no new music, even with Simon now. How many interesting tour themes/concepts can they come up with? I'm not sure. They have the discography and variety of songs, but playing more or less the same classics with the same stage set while the other older bands are moving ahead? I also don't think they'll follow RFYL tour with another heavy classics tour. The options are Part 2 (which basically combines the 90s and Reunion era), new album tour (plus the mandatory classics), or more deep cuts tour. That's it, right. 2027 will be a key year, they need to think about everything, maybe that's why it's a break.

 

[dickinson1978]

So it's clear they're looking forward and to tour, good to hear it from Rod too. Steve is just amazing. But it's kind of hard to imagine a band like Maiden to continue touring just the classics (less and big shows) with no new music, even with Simon now. How many interesting tour themes/concepts can they come up with? I'm not sure. They have the discography and variety of songs, but playing more or less the same classics with the same stage set while the other older bands are moving ahead? I also don't think they'll follow RFYL tour with another heavy classics tour. The options are Part 2 (which basically combines the 90s and Reunion era), new album tour (plus the mandatory classics), or more deep cuts tour. That's it, right. 2027 will be a key year, they need to think about everything, maybe that's why it's a break.

At least wirh rare songs and post reunion songs and the all epics tour.

 

[Kalata]

Im starting to think that they feel that senjutsu its a good way to end their discography and record with another drummer is not a good idea.

Who knows, maybe it's true. Not Bruce though.

I hope a tour of rare songs and a few classics or only rare songs from all their discography

^If not new album, then me too.

Unless Steve has lied in interviews about the status of the new album.

As a sign that Maiden LIVES, I need new music, something that would symbolize or constitute their full vitality preserved in a given moment of time.

This.

"last-minute cash grab" sounds really unfriendly most artists slow down after their 60s, actors choose simpler roles, their lines are given through earpieces, writers either retire or write new formulaic books relying on the success of their old novels... musicians' new recordings also decrease. If we look at Maiden's generation, we can see that many other groups have already stopped producing. Of course, there are exceptions like Priest.
What happens if a new album comes out? Just like with the new Star Wars films, fans rush in to bash them and demand the classics. They would critize the sound, the production, the cover art, the long intros/outros, bruce's struggling vocals etc... And at the new album tour the "play classics" stubbornness will start again. Senjutsu was a very good album, they played 7 tracks from it over 2 tours, but most fans wanted the classics rather than the new songs. The band has grown a lot in recent years, and their mainstream audience has increased. That's why I understand them. If a new album were to come out, knowing that it would truly be the product of a special effort makes me happy. Otherwise, writing 10 new songs for Maiden members wouldn't be that difficult. The real issue is creating an album that would satisfy them as artists.

Not that I disagree with all, but like with any old band, right. Every single word you said. So I think it's fair of us to expect new music from a band like Maiden.

I think that after Bruce and Rod's recent comments, and also Adrian's comments a while back, we have to consider the theory that they are a family where everyone will retire when the next one leaves the band to be disproved, whether we like it or not. They will retire when Steve no longer wants to tour.

Yes. I just hope they realize how much each individual member means to us and they'll think twice.

Priest are buying in a lot of younger external talent late in their careers to make those last 2 albums sound that good. And I fully include Andy Sneap into that equation. Great albums YES. Organic albums NO WAY. It’s not about KK or Glenn by the way, it’s just the polar opposite approach to Maiden.

I think Richie is the spark for them to release new music more often than before.

what do you prefer? i really wonder this. an album may cost a year without touring...
A ) New tour, including an era with your favorite songs and some deep cuts.
B ) New album, which you'd love to hear max 5 songs in the tour. And the others songs would be mostly classics, not deep cuts.

I'll always say new album no matter what! As much new music as possible. I love deep cuts, but the excitement of new music is unmatched.

And btw, they could combine new album + Part 2/some deep cuts and the 5 classics. LOTB and TFP tours showed that.

Depends on how you define them. Murders imo is a deep cut.

Agreed. Killers is more.

Anything else would leave them repeating themselves too soon.

Exactly.

If the timing were different I suppose they could do a BNW-focused tour for its 30th anniversary, but that would leave an extra 2-year gap in their schedule (unless the tour wrapped up in the anniversary year instead of starting in it, I guess).

Why not celebrate the whole Reunion era instead. Doing a new album tour (2028-2029) would allow them to do a Hits tour again after it with songs from all eras.

However I fear a decline in performances over time, especially with the band refusing to downtune. Bruce can’t keep up singing these songs in the original key. It is doing him or the band no favours.

Another thing I feel is that the band will slowly descend into doing more and more tours based around just the classics. My reasoning behind this is that they will only do short tours from now on. In order to maximise profits, they will have to play large offenders and the only way they’re gonna feel large avenue tours based upon classics. I highly doubt a tour from the X Factor to Senjutsu would sell out the stadium. I would love that show, but I’m not sure it would be a massive crowd puller.

I love this band, but we have to accept that they will retire soon. I only hope they choose to go out on a high rather than descending into the realm of repeated classics tours and swapped members.

1- the band still sounds great, Bruce is amazing, so I believe in them. They won't be a parody live. Never.
2- when the tours are short and the shows are big, I don't think they will need to play only their classics over and over again, the desire to see them from the fans will be even greater. No? And let's not forget that they have very popular live songs not only from the 80s.
3- I'm afraid of that too.

 

[Diesel 11]

Something like Murders isn't in the same league for me, regardless of how I feel about these songs. Even Killers (the song) itself would be a deep cut in my opinion.

My logic: Killers is a classic Maiden record (despite my own feelings on it). Murders and the title track are two of the three most popular songs on it, therefore they’re classics despite less live play.

 

[Poto]

They are classics, but deep cuts in a live setting.

 

[dickinson1978]

They are classics, but deep cuts in a live setting.

100%

 

[GhostofCain]

They are classics, but deep cuts in a live setting.

True. You could feel the excitement go up several levels when they started playing Phantom of the Opera at the gig in London (people went even crazier with The Number of the Beast) after those first songs off Killers.

 

[Poto]

True. You could feel the excitement go up several levels when they started playing Phantom of the Opera at the gig in London (people went even crazier with The Number of the Beast) after those first songs off Killers.

Phantom was one the highlights for me.