Iron Maiden's future

[matic22]

Also Maiden are kind of doing this for the last 20+ years with best of tours being the bigger ones and injecting album tours on alternate.

Not to understate AMOLAD & “ATG” Tours which were brilliant, literally once in a life time and kudos to them.

Not what I meant. I meant 15-20 gigs per year.

 

[Kalata]

I think Steve knows better that it's useless to market stuff as "the final ever" especially considering the "final album we'll ever release" has been floating around since the DOD days and got even stronger when they released The Final Frontier, due to its title. They'll always be back, in one way or another. A lot of Maiden's popularity is owed to that mystique they have to them, like they are apart from the usual mainstream machine. It won't be like Kiss or Ozzy, who have been making farewell tours for 35 years, even though the last Kiss tour was apparently an actual, real, last tour ever.

Both Steve and Bruce are against the idea of a farewell tour, but Steve recently said they'll see, iirc. I think they just don't want to think about it.
They'll always be back, in one way or another? Not sure what that's suppose to mean. They're not going to be a parody.

“This band’s been going for 50 years. When you really think about it, it’s insane!”: Steve Harris says there is plenty of life left in Iron Maiden

“Mick Jagger has set the bar fitness-wise,” Harris says

www.musicradar.com

Steve all but confirming that they're not close being done yet.

At least 2 more tours are planned, methinks. New album and Part 2 or something Hits/History again.

I'll go on a limb and say that this is the biggest tour they'll ever do again unless they advertise one as the last. Many casuals feel this is indeed the last one and it covers the classic era albums. There is no way they are playing in stadiums with a tour concentrating material from 90s/reunion to Senjutsu.
New music might be possible, maybe even after retirement from touring...

It sure seems so.

I think Maiden themselves noticed it. AMOLAD's tour was probably a hit to their egos, since they were extremely proud of that record (and with good reason). When they played FTGGOG during the LOTB tour, only the hardcore guys at the front were vibing with the band. The rest of the people were all silent. Ironically, this didn't used to happen during the BNW or DOD tours with new tracks... Becoming "big" again also had its issues.

Spot on about everything. I think the formula of rotating new albums and Hits tours is working great. Not with 3 years of one of them though.

Not what I meant. I meant 15-20 gigs per year.

Possible, and some of the band members have solo project to run in the meantime. Next year's leg will be bigger (as Bruce said), but with a new (although not young) drummer they can do around 30 shows per year.

 

[its_ArchroniX]

I'll always stay optimistic when it comes to Maiden, and reading that interview with Steve gives me a big smile. I've said it before and I'll say it again, as long as Steve is alive and well, Maiden isn't going anywhere.

Nevertheless I'm personally hoping for one more album. Ideally with Nicko. After the RFYL tour they'll probably resort to more nostalgia tours. I can't see them pull off another new album (world) tour. At least not the size of tours like Book of Souls or Final Frontier. And they definitely won't tell us when it's time fof the last tour. They'll know in the back of their head by then, but they won't tell us.

Dreaming of an X-Factor to Senjutsu era tour after RFYL but I doubt that will happen.

 

[Blood On The World´s Hand]

I intended to stay silent longer than this to respect Nicko for its quite negative comment but might as well. Getting sick of these "they are finished / they'll retire in couple of years / next tour is their last" etc. Well guess what. According to Maiden fans they have been finished est 1988 and probably 18 months has not passed since that when someone hasn't speculated about that in the media etc. Bruce even assured back in No Prayer tour almost every night in one of his speeches that they'll still be around in 2000, and now they are still going strong 25 years after that.

I was 95% sure they will continue to the 2030s even AFTER I found out about Nick's stroke AND now (with all the possible respect I can muster) they have 6 years younger replacement with no apparent health issues. Like, c'mon, seriously, you STILL don't think Maiden will continue to 2027 and beyond. Why would they replace someone only to retire two years later. So irritating. I will heavily reduce visiting this site and already done so with such negative atmosphere.

Last but not least, first you critisize Nick all the time for not being able to perform 100% (which he hasn't done according to himself since -86), and when he steps down instead of welcoming new member in the form of Simon Dawson to the family, he gets a massive load of bullcr*p from left, right and centre. You should be ashamed of yourselves.


Maiden is still out there in 2030, deal with it an' all that.

 

[Sth2112]

As long as they are healthy, I think we will see them around for up to ten more years, with 1-2 albums as well. If Steve or Bruce get very ill, I think they are ending a little earlier. Every year they are active now, are a bonus anyway

 

[Ei siis hai]

I intended to stay silent longer than this to respect Nicko for its quite negative comment but might as well. Getting sick of these "they are finished / they'll retire in couple of years / next tour is their last" etc. Well guess what. According to Maiden fans they have been finished est 1988 and probably 18 months has not passed since that when someone hasn't speculated about that in the media etc. Bruce even assured back in No Prayer tour almost every night in one of his speeches that they'll still be around in 2000, and now they are still going strong 25 years after that.

I was 95% sure they will continue to the 2030s even AFTER I found out about Nick's stroke AND now (with all the possible respect I can muster) they have 6 years younger replacement with no apparent health issues. Like, c'mon, seriously, you STILL don't think Maiden will continue to 2027 and beyond. Why would they replace someone only to retire two years later. So irritating. I will heavily reduce visiting this site and already done so with such negative atmosphere.

Last but not least, first you critisize Nick all the time for not being able to perform 100% (which he hasn't done according to himself since -86), and when he steps down instead of welcoming new member in the form of Simon Dawson to the family, he gets a massive load of bullcr*p from left, right and centre. You should be ashamed of yourselves.


Maiden is still out there in 2030, deal with it an' all that.

I get where you are coming from, but the band consists of senior citizens. They don't have too many tours left, that is just a fact, not negativity. They may very well be around in 2030, but at some point the energy levels and the singing and playing abilities degrade in a way that it really starts to hinder the shows. I hope the band stops before that happens. Maiden has always been a great live band and I hope people will remember them as such.

Regarding the lineup change, maybe they replaced one member for one tour because the deals were already done and canceling the tour would end up costing them a fortune? Maybe they would have preferred to retire with Nicko, but his decision came about too late? Just spitballing here, I don't know.

Personally I'm looking forward for the next year Dawson, since Nicko's tempos wandered a bit too much the last time I saw them and fills left a lot to be desired. There is very good reason for that and I'm not blaming the man one bit. Everything ends at some point.

Again, no negativity, just sharing my thoughts.

 

[Black Abyss Babe]

I think Steve's future was written in the stars, long ago ...

 

[Mosh]

The common comparison is the Rolling Stones, which I don't think is the best comparison since that band's music isn't as high energy/technical as Maiden's and their sound is also supported quite heavily by touring musicians. I saw them live over the summer and they were a lot of fun but I can't imagine that sort of format working for Maiden. Obviously the Maiden guys themselves see them as a sort of role model though.

With that being said, Stones currently is Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and (Steve's in-law) Ronnie Wood. Charlie Watts until he died. Richards, Jagger, and Watts are original members, Ronnie is not but has been in the band long enough that he is basically considered a core member. While the details don't line up, I think functionally Richards/Jagger = Harris/Dickinson, Watts = Murray, Woods = Smith/McBrain/Gers. As long as you have Richards/Jagger, the band can continue. Other members have seniority and are beloved by the fans, but aren't necessarily vital to the group carrying on.

 

[wizardry]

The Stones were also not only musicians but also characters. They represent something, that's also seen as something they bring up to the table when it comes to creativity and performance. Maiden is a much more cohesive unit in that regard. I don't think the average Maiden fan would be able to point out which guy is playing which solo these days. Or realize that Jan writes heavy epics while Adrian's writing can get a bit moody. For a lot of people, my guess is that Maiden is practically just Steve and Bruce.

Bear in mind that Jagger took tight control of the band to get things sorted - a lot of the band's good name is owed to his initiative. In a way, he's like Rod and Steve in one person.

 

[PhantomOfTheOpera]

All I can say is I think Maiden has had great run and amazing career. I would have never guessed that they still would be here with us, if you had asked me in the mid-90's. Im happy that they can and and want to tour as long as it's possible. Then whenever they call it a day, and I can so see Steve, Adrian and Bruce each continue their own music stuff.

 

[Kalata]

I'll always stay optimistic when it comes to Maiden, and reading that interview with Steve gives me a big smile.
And they definitely won't tell us when it's time fof the last tour. They'll know in the back of their head by then, but they won't tell us.

This.

Nevertheless I'm personally hoping for one more album. Ideally with Nicko. After the RFYL tour they'll probably resort to more nostalgia tours. I can't see them pull off another new album (world) tour. At least not the size of tours like Book of Souls or Final Frontier.

More nostalgia tours after RFYL? Um, I'm not sure because that's not Maiden's approach - and they should do themes for the 90's and Reunion era because what else now? There should be at least one more album (more than that, idk, a band like Priest, most likely) and Steve's thought about semi-retirement should be off the table now since he said they have no plans to retire. Not pulling off another new album world tour? The size will be the same for each tour, the amount of shows. They have a working formula and usual approach.

Dreaming of an X-Factor to Senjutsu era tour after RFYL but I doubt that will happen.

I think it might be a bit more possible now, for at least 1 year, why not, but it should be like a 3rd leg of RFYL. If they use only screens from now on, they just change the layout design art and the screens replace the backdrops. Or why not for 2 years, because to completely change a theme for a 3rd leg is doubtful. Until 2028 plus a new album or vice versa. The options are not that many.

I intended to stay silent longer than this to respect Nicko for its quite negative comment but might as well. Getting sick of these "they are finished / they'll retire in couple of years / next tour is their last" etc. Well guess what. According to Maiden fans they have been finished est 1988 and probably 18 months has not passed since that when someone hasn't speculated about that in the media etc. Bruce even assured back in No Prayer tour almost every night in one of his speeches that they'll still be around in 2000, and now they are still going strong 25 years after that.
I was 95% sure they will continue to the 2030s even AFTER I found out about Nick's stroke AND now (with all the possible respect I can muster) they have 6 years younger replacement with no apparent health issues. Like, c'mon, seriously, you STILL don't think Maiden will continue to 2027 and beyond. Why would they replace someone only to retire two years later. So irritating. I will heavily reduce visiting this site and already done so with such negative atmosphere.
Last but not least, first you critisize Nick all the time for not being able to perform 100% (which he hasn't done according to himself since -86), and when he steps down instead of welcoming new member in the form of Simon Dawson to the family, he gets a massive load of bullcr*p from left, right and centre. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Maiden is still out there in 2030, deal with it an' all that.

The ''negative talk'' is because you can't replace a character and people don't know if Simon can do the songs justice. That's it. I think everyone accepted the news and the retirement talks were because most of us thought the band wouldn't replace any of the current members.
Maybe Nicko could have continued for more shorter tours, maybe not, but it was his decision to step down from touring. Because he doesn't want to compromise with his performances and because it's tough. The band is happy to continue for them, for the fans and it's a bonus with the new drummer. 2030s is realistic for all old bands.

 

[BludBrutha]

RFYL tour leg one : as announced, 80-92.

Leg two : songs from our entire history, and they play all the same cities again for a third time.

Leg three : announce it as a farewell tour, give them an excuse to play everywhere again for a third time.

 

[chaosapiant]

Those aren’t three legs, they’re three separate tours.

 

[Mosh]

Even if they changed the setlist on a future leg to add in stuff beyond 92 it’s going to be a couple songs swapped out and not a reimagining of the entire Setlist. And for that matter with the exception of the Senjutsu songs, usually when they make adjustments on the same tour it’s deep cuts swapped out for big hits/reliables.

 

[naranja]

Take your future in your hands.. and make it... FUTUREAL

 

[dickinson1978]

Tour in 2025/2026 will be their biggest tour ever, they will play sold out stadiums all over Europe. They can't be bigger than that. I could be wrong, but this might be their last big tour.

Two years its a lot. They will be around 68 they can tour a few years more. Maybe a last album