If I were Rod, I'd sit the boys down and lay out a modified roadmap. Redesign the stage set somewhat but keep some of the elements for Aussies, etc. who didn't get to see it this year. Rebrand Legacy 3 into something similarly titled, but make it a hybrid tour, meaning it's about 60% Legacy setlist/stage setup, and 40% new album setlist/stage elements. Oh, and the theoretical new album will be released in the coming months, according to this theoretical plan. Once the tour goes past the original Legacy 3 duration and locations, rotate in some different classics for revisited markets that saw already Legacy 1 or 2.
The reasons for this would be twofold:
One, album tours don't sell quite as well as their nostalgia tours, and they're probably not going to sell a signficantly larger number of the new album by dedicating a tour specifically to it. Whoever was going to buy the album will buy the album regardless.
Two, time. If the quarantines roll on longer than anyone's expecting, Maiden could potentially lose the rest of the year. That would either cancel Legacy 3 entirely, or push Legacy 3 into 2021. And the way Maiden have been pacing themselves with plenty of breaks, the new album and tour could get pushed to 2022. Nicko alone will be knocking on 70.
Personally, I think fall will probably see a return to some sort of normalcy when it comes to touring, etc. which is why so many bands are booking for September and beyond, but you never know. Just a thought rolling around in my head, more than likely born from wishing this down period might be looked upon as an opportunity by the Maiden camp, meaning I'd get my hands on this supposed new album that much earlier.
It would have been really nice to have a beer with you at Donington.
