Iron Maiden stage sets over the years
- Thread starter Kalata
- Start date
Ziggyplayedguitar
Educated Fool
I agree they were very similar.
ARLT in 1993 was essentially FOTR part two.
The only difference was they had a tv screen on ARLT projecting relevant backdrops such as the Powerslave sleeve, instead of painted back drops for FOTR and earlier tours for No Prayer.
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
A suggestion:
The stage set (the design) of the final Maiden tour/concert should be a some kind of temple - The Maiden temple !
Or they can merge parts of all previous stage sets for the final tour (they've done something similar with the EH stage set). Whatever they will choose I'm sure the stage for their final tour will be AMAZING !!!
The stage set (the design) of the final Maiden tour/concert should be a some kind of temple - The Maiden temple !
Or they can merge parts of all previous stage sets for the final tour (they've done something similar with the EH stage set). Whatever they will choose I'm sure the stage for their final tour will be AMAZING !!!
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Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
The worst stage set in Maiden's history is Early Days tour or Give Me Ed... tour!(even the Marshall stage sets form the 90's and from 80-82 were more cool). Eddies all over the stage, but they're not that good IMO. The Eddies in the ME tour stage set were way better. But I think I dislike more the 2005 stage set....
Give Me Ed had a really cool backdrops and upper half of the stage was full of Eddies (Seventh Son and ARLDO were the Eddies, If I remember right). And the stage had a giant kind of hoop around the backdrops which was a nice detail - and behind that hoop were FOTD and Killers Eddies as a backdrops. Both tours shares the same concept - and the same big Eddie, unfortunately.
I have a nice little idea for the 2005 stage set: Imagine the stage set to be a (a part of) street, the one from the 80-81 album covers with trash bins, street lamps, ditches and building/s as a background, or as a backdrop (no big screens behind the drums!). Nice concept, very different and Nicko's drums for this tour will be fit perfect in that scenery. Yeah, the stage set will be blank, but they also can add more details to it, like Charlotte posters (they had 22AA inscript on the stage) etc... And they also used the Eddie mask (from the early incarnations of him) form the DOD tour for this one (on the left side to the drum kit) which was great too.
That was just a thought of mine.
Give Me Ed had a really cool backdrops and upper half of the stage was full of Eddies (Seventh Son and ARLDO were the Eddies, If I remember right). And the stage had a giant kind of hoop around the backdrops which was a nice detail - and behind that hoop were FOTD and Killers Eddies as a backdrops. Both tours shares the same concept - and the same big Eddie, unfortunately.
I have a nice little idea for the 2005 stage set: Imagine the stage set to be a (a part of) street, the one from the 80-81 album covers with trash bins, street lamps, ditches and building/s as a background, or as a backdrop (no big screens behind the drums!). Nice concept, very different and Nicko's drums for this tour will be fit perfect in that scenery. Yeah, the stage set will be blank, but they also can add more details to it, like Charlotte posters (they had 22AA inscript on the stage) etc... And they also used the Eddie mask (from the early incarnations of him) form the DOD tour for this one (on the left side to the drum kit) which was great too.
That was just a thought of mine.
karljant
Ancient Mariner
Supporting album tours only:
IM and Killer World Tour: Not a great deal of props... just a backdrop painting of their mascotte, a bunch of Eddie masked guys with spotlights in the end and a lot of energy. Primitive and cool. (-)
The Beast On The Road: Ah that triangle! Huge increase regarding lighting and the first "walking giant Eddie". And those metallic upper platforms. It seems a bit dated 35 years later (obviously) but cool for the time. I would ditch those devils in pijamas though (13.5/20)
World Piece Tour: Chessboard tiles, more upper platforms, a big lobotomized Eddie in a straight-jacket and their first "behind the drums Eddie"... Yeah...nice. (14/20)
World Slavery Tour: Now THIS is where the band took it to another level! The hierogliphes, sarcophagus and anubis statues are simple awesome. Lighting and fireworks is out of this world. The huge sarcophagus behind the drums is amazing. Only one low point: that toilet papper walking thing that shows up during Powerslave... is that supposed to be Eddie? This would be amazing even if they did it today and actualy most of the SBIT was a replica of this show's set. That alone speaks volumes about the quality of this show. (20/20)
Somewhere on Tour: Another set way ahead of his time (see what i did here?). The walking cyborg Eddie is awesome (SBIT's even better but hey! this one is 20 years younger...) and the inflatable one embeded on the structure to form Eddie's upper torso holding Steve and Bruce in his hands is the best one EVER in my opinion. Bruce's clothes are great too if we ignore that corny jacket he wears during the first 2 songs (but if we had to talk about clothing we would have to adress almost everything Steve was wearing till 1998 ) . (20/20)
Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour: The concept is there and the cover sleeve Eddie is amazing! But the icy block platforms fail to seem natural... way too "plastic". It's a pitty but the band would fix this 20 years later where the ice blocks really look like ice paying justice to the initial idea. But overall it's a great set inspired in a great cover. (18.5/20)
No Prayer On The Road: Walking Eddie is awfull and the tomb bursting one could be a lot better. Other than that this is a cool and simple set with great lighting and amazing backdrops. (15.5/20)
Fear Of The Dark/ A Real Live Tour: Cool branch filled scenario inspired in the album cover and a cool inflatable Eddie. A big upgrade from the previous tour regarding visuals. It also featured an abomination of a walking Eddie that the band rightfully ditched after a few appearances. (17/20)
The X Factour: Now this set was amazing! Filled with dark factory plates, The X Factour's stage was as grim as the album's cover and ambiance. Outstanding and intelegent use of lighting. Eletrocuted Eddie is also realy great... but it was begging for sparks and firework to be included once the electric chair starts working. Walking Eddie was awful, however. (18.5/20)
Virtual XI Tour: Colourful and detailed stage but lacking coherency (too many elements that hardly fit together). Behind the drums Eddie could be better and Then there's that walking green and pathetic Eddie wannabe. (16/20)
Metal 2000: Scafolds... why bloody scafolds? What is this crap? And to make things uglier that green goofy guy from the last tours makes its appearence again! Nevertheless, the backdrops and lighting are amazing and the Wicker Man Eddie is also really cool. (16/20)
Dance Of Death Tour: Everything in this set is pleasant to the eye. although the medieval castle theme is a bit cliche (and that walking Eddie doesn't convinces me a lot too). As for the rest of the visuals and lighting all is really top notch (those statues are beautiful). Giant grim reaper Eddie pointing slowly to every single person in the audience is one of the Mascot's best live incarnations ever. (18/20)
A Matter Of Life And Death Tour: Great war themed decoration, amazing lighting and THAT TANK!!! WOW! This tour was really something else. Walking Eddie really average, though. Nonetheless excellent overall (18.5/20)
Final Frontier Tour: Now this stage is really pretty! The distant minning satelite motive, the sci-fi outpost towers, the lighting, the backdrops (El Dorado's works wonders combined with the said props), everything is really a treat to the viewer. Walking Eddie with a fender ukelele is a bit goofy though and the big one is ok but nothing special. (18/20)
The Book Of Souls Tour: When Maiden goes pyramid themed you know they can do no wrong: AMAZING and huge production! From the intro movie and the entrance of IESF you know you're in for a special treat. All the inflatable figures are amazing. Mayan walking Eddie is cool too. The spotlight wheel displaying the Eddie faces is awesome and the backdrops, lighting and pyrothechics are as good as humanly possible. One of their all time best stages without a shadow of doubt! (20/20)
IM and Killer World Tour: Not a great deal of props... just a backdrop painting of their mascotte, a bunch of Eddie masked guys with spotlights in the end and a lot of energy. Primitive and cool. (-)
The Beast On The Road: Ah that triangle! Huge increase regarding lighting and the first "walking giant Eddie". And those metallic upper platforms. It seems a bit dated 35 years later (obviously) but cool for the time. I would ditch those devils in pijamas though
(13.5/20)World Piece Tour: Chessboard tiles, more upper platforms, a big lobotomized Eddie in a straight-jacket and their first "behind the drums Eddie"... Yeah...nice. (14/20)
World Slavery Tour: Now THIS is where the band took it to another level! The hierogliphes, sarcophagus and anubis statues are simple awesome. Lighting and fireworks is out of this world. The huge sarcophagus behind the drums is amazing. Only one low point: that toilet papper walking thing that shows up during Powerslave... is that supposed to be Eddie? This would be amazing even if they did it today and actualy most of the SBIT was a replica of this show's set. That alone speaks volumes about the quality of this show. (20/20)
Somewhere on Tour: Another set way ahead of his time (see what i did here?). The walking cyborg Eddie is awesome (SBIT's even better but hey! this one is 20 years younger...) and the inflatable one embeded on the structure to form Eddie's upper torso holding Steve and Bruce in his hands is the best one EVER in my opinion. Bruce's clothes are great too if we ignore that corny jacket he wears during the first 2 songs (but if we had to talk about clothing we would have to adress almost everything Steve was wearing till 1998
) . (20/20)Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour: The concept is there and the cover sleeve Eddie is amazing! But the icy block platforms fail to seem natural... way too "plastic". It's a pitty but the band would fix this 20 years later where the ice blocks really look like ice paying justice to the initial idea. But overall it's a great set inspired in a great cover. (18.5/20)
No Prayer On The Road: Walking Eddie is awfull and the tomb bursting one could be a lot better. Other than that this is a cool and simple set with great lighting and amazing backdrops. (15.5/20)
Fear Of The Dark/ A Real Live Tour: Cool branch filled scenario inspired in the album cover and a cool inflatable Eddie. A big upgrade from the previous tour regarding visuals. It also featured an abomination of a walking Eddie that the band rightfully ditched after a few appearances. (17/20)
The X Factour: Now this set was amazing! Filled with dark factory plates, The X Factour's stage was as grim as the album's cover and ambiance. Outstanding and intelegent use of lighting. Eletrocuted Eddie is also realy great... but it was begging for sparks and firework to be included once the electric chair starts working. Walking Eddie was awful, however. (18.5/20)
Virtual XI Tour: Colourful and detailed stage but lacking coherency (too many elements that hardly fit together). Behind the drums Eddie could be better and Then there's that walking green and pathetic Eddie wannabe. (16/20)
Metal 2000: Scafolds... why bloody scafolds? What is this crap? And to make things uglier that green goofy guy from the last tours makes its appearence again! Nevertheless, the backdrops and lighting are amazing and the Wicker Man Eddie is also really cool. (16/20)
Dance Of Death Tour: Everything in this set is pleasant to the eye. although the medieval castle theme is a bit cliche (and that walking Eddie doesn't convinces me a lot too). As for the rest of the visuals and lighting all is really top notch (those statues are beautiful). Giant grim reaper Eddie pointing slowly to every single person in the audience is one of the Mascot's best live incarnations ever. (18/20)
A Matter Of Life And Death Tour: Great war themed decoration, amazing lighting and THAT TANK!!! WOW! This tour was really something else. Walking Eddie really average, though. Nonetheless excellent overall (18.5/20)
Final Frontier Tour: Now this stage is really pretty! The distant minning satelite motive, the sci-fi outpost towers, the lighting, the backdrops (El Dorado's works wonders combined with the said props), everything is really a treat to the viewer. Walking Eddie with a fender ukelele is a bit goofy though and the big one is ok but nothing special. (18/20)
The Book Of Souls Tour: When Maiden goes pyramid themed you know they can do no wrong: AMAZING and huge production! From the intro movie and the entrance of IESF you know you're in for a special treat. All the inflatable figures are amazing. Mayan walking Eddie is cool too. The spotlight wheel displaying the Eddie faces is awesome and the backdrops, lighting and pyrothechics are as good as humanly possible. One of their all time best stages without a shadow of doubt! (20/20)
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Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Supporting album tours only:
IM and Killer World Tour: Not a great deal of props... just a backdrop painting of their mascotte, a bunch of Eddie masked guys with spotlights in the end and a lot of energy. Primitive and cool. (-)
The Beast On The Road: Ah that triangle! Huge increase regarding lighting and the first "walking giant Eddie". And those metallic upper platforms. It seems a bit dated 35 years later (obviously) but cool for the time. I would ditch those devils in pijamas though
World Piece Tour: Chessboard tiles, more upper platforms, a big lobotomized Eddie in a straight-jacket and their first "behind the drums Eddie": great! (15/20)
World Slavery Tour: Now THIS is where the band took it to another level! The hierogliphes, sarcophagus and anubis statues are simple awesome. Lighting and fireworks is out of this world. The huge sarcophagus behind the drums is amazing. Only one low point: that toilet papper walking thing that shows up during Powerslave... is that supposed to be Eddie? Nevertheless this would be amazing even if they did it today (actualy most of the SBIT is a replica of this show's set). That alone speaks volumes about it. (20/20)
Somewhere on Tour: Another set way ahead of his time (see what i did here?). The walking cyborg Eddie is awesome (SBIT's even better but hey! It is 20 years younger...) and the inflatable one embeded on the structure to form Eddie's upper torso holding Steve and Bruce in his hands is the best one EVER in my opinion. Bruce's clothes are great too if we ignore that corny jacket he wears during the first 2 songs (but if we had to talk about clothing we would have to turn a blid eye to everything Steve was wearing till 1998
Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour: The concept is there and the cover sleeve Eddie is amazing! But the icy block platforms fail to seem natural... way too "plastic". It's a pitty but hey... Once again all would be fixed 20 years later where the ice blocks really look like ice paying justice to the initial idea. Nevertheless great set inspired in a great cover. (18/20)
No Prayer On The Road: Walking Eddie is awfull and the tomb bursting one could be a lot better. Other than that thi is a cool and simple set with great lighting and amazing backdrops. (14/20)
Fear Of The Dark Tour: Cool brach filled scenario inspired in the cover and a cool inflatable Eddie. An upgrade from the previous tour regarding visuals. It also featured an abomination of a walking Eddie that the band rightfully ditched after a few appearances. (16/20)
The X Factour: Now this set was amazing! Filled with dark factory plates, grim as the album's cover and ambiance and with an excelent use of light. Eletrocuted Eddie is also realy great... but it was begging for a lot of sparks and firework to be included once the electric chair started to work. Walking Eddie was awful, however. (18/20)
Virtual XI Tour: Colourful and detailed but lacks coherency (too many elements that hardly fit together). Behind the drums Eddie could be better. And Then there's that walking green and pathetic Eddie wannabe. (15/20)
Metal 2000: Scafolds... why bloody scafolds? What is this crap? And to make things uglier that green goofy guy from the last tours makes its appearence too! Nevertheless, the backdrops and lighting are amazing and the Wicker Man Eddie is also cool. (15/20)
Dance Of Death Tour: Everything in this set is pleasant to theey. Nevertheless that castle theme is a bit cliche (and that walking Eddie doesn't convinced me a lot too). As for the rest of the visuals and lighting is really top notch (those statues are beautiful). And grim reaper Eddie pointing slowwly to every single person in the audience is one of the its best live incarnations ever. (18/20)
A Matter Of Life And Death Tour: Great war themed decoration, amazing lighting and... the tank!!! WOW! This tour was really something else. Walking Eddie really average, though. (18/20)
Final Frontier Tour: Now this stage is really pretty! The distant planet/ satelite motive, those sci-fi towers, the lighting, the backdrops (El Dorado's works wonders combined with the said props). Walking Eddie with a fender ukelele is too goofy of a sight though. The big one is ok but nothing special. (18/20)
The Book Of Souls Tour: AMAZING and huge production! From the intro movie and the entrance of IESF you know you're in for a special treat. All the inflatable figures are amazing. Mayan walking Eddie is cool too. The spotlight wheel displaying the Eddie faces is awesome and the backdrops, lighting and pyrothechics are as good as humanly possible. One of their all time best stages without a shadow of doubt! (20/20)
A review of the stage sets - cool. Maybe you should also do all the stage sets (history/hits tours, Real Live tour, Ed Hunter tour...)
TBOS stage set is really amazing, one of their all time best, but they topped it with the current LOTB stage set. Although I do not know how they will top that stage for the next tour - it seems impossible. But Maiden always find a way to surprise us.
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SirRobbins
Ancient Mariner
Killers and No prayer not only look very similar in stage set but the song writing seems like a mirror as well. It's a more raw, unfiltered sound vocally and musically. It worked for Killers but not NPFTD.....
The_7th_one
Ancient Mariner
I prefer the rocks
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Stage sets trivia:
The only tours where there were Eddies above the stage are: Give Me Ed... 'Til I'm Dead and The Book Of Souls tours!
- for ''Give Me Ed'' the Eddies above the stage were LAD, Seventh Son and ARLDO / For TBOS was the Eddie from the album cover.
Note: the three Eddies above the stage (''Give Me Ed'' tour) were there during the whole concert, while the one for TBOS tour showed up only for the last two songs in the setlist (in that case were Blood Brothers and Wasted Years) - that thing (I think it was a Mayan calendar) was above the stage during the whole concert, but only for the two aforementioned songs was with a TBOS album cover art on it.
The only tours where there were Eddies above the stage are: Give Me Ed... 'Til I'm Dead and The Book Of Souls tours!
- for ''Give Me Ed'' the Eddies above the stage were LAD, Seventh Son and ARLDO / For TBOS was the Eddie from the album cover.
Note: the three Eddies above the stage (''Give Me Ed'' tour) were there during the whole concert, while the one for TBOS tour showed up only for the last two songs in the setlist (in that case were Blood Brothers and Wasted Years) - that thing (I think it was a Mayan calendar) was above the stage during the whole concert, but only for the two aforementioned songs was with a TBOS album cover art on it.
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The_7th_one
Ancient Mariner
I never liked Give me Ed stage
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Yeah, me too. It's better than the one for the Early Days tour (which is ugly) though. It has a nice ring where the backdrops are and the three Eddies above the stage are also a cool detail. Honestly, I think these two stage sets are the worst in Maiden's history - even the stage sets only with Marshall amps from the early 80's and early 90's were somehow better.
The_7th_one
Ancient Mariner
I want the Marshalls back
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Stage sets trivia:
Give Me Ed... 'Til I'm Dead tour is the only tour where there was a Eddie backdrop (two Eddies) that were around on the both corners on the main backdrop during the whole concert! - in that case the Eddies were FOTD and Killers.
The Eddies that are part of the stage artworks are: 2MTM, VXI, SIT, TNOTB (single), Aces High, Trooper, NPFTD, IM, Powerslave and POM.
Give Me Ed... 'Til I'm Dead tour is the only tour where there was a Eddie backdrop (two Eddies) that were around on the both corners on the main backdrop during the whole concert! - in that case the Eddies were FOTD and Killers.
The Eddies that are part of the stage artworks are: 2MTM, VXI, SIT, TNOTB (single), Aces High, Trooper, NPFTD, IM, Powerslave and POM.
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GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
No thanks. The least their stage sets look like those from the 90s, the better.
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
I agree only for the stage sets between 1990-1993. TXF stage set was kinda small, but great and the one for VXI is not so bad.
Randalf
Ancient Mariner
I appreciate the attempt at creating that twisted, apocalyptic landscape and using different shapes (even if not too wild) to break out the "boxiness" - they could've done that a bit more often during some of the more recent tours too.
However, it's very hard to tell what the VXI stage is actually trying to look like and while it has some nice structural ideas and features, none of them manage to look particularly good..
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
Both were dreadful, especially the VXI one with the cheap and dodgy inflatable Eddie.
The_7th_one
Ancient Mariner
The X Factor, Virtual XI and Ed Hunter were crap.
2000's stages better but not good enough the 80's (World Slavery Tour, Somewhere on Tour and Seventh Tour)
Somewhere back in time and Maiden England were dissapointed. Both couldn't beat the 80's stages
2000's stages better but not good enough the 80's (World Slavery Tour, Somewhere on Tour and Seventh Tour)
Somewhere back in time and Maiden England were dissapointed. Both couldn't beat the 80's stages
The_7th_one
Ancient Mariner
There's a video where inflattable Eddie doesn't works and Eddie's head starts to bouncing. Shame!I appreciate the attempt at creating that twisted, apocalyptic landscape and using different shapes (even if not too wild) to break out the "boxiness" - they could've done that a bit more often during some of the more recent tours too.
However, it's very hard to tell what the VXI stage is actually trying to look like and while it has some nice structural ideas and features, none of them manage to look particularly good..
I've never understood Eddie's jaw and that set of false teeths and these hears. Oh for god sake