I think if the next tour isn't for a new album, there's going to have to be some sort of actual angle to it besides "Here's a bunch of stuff we didn't do last tour."
Definitely. Most likely with more Reunion songs.
If 2027 does indeed turn out to be an off year, I don’t believe Steve will be against writing new music. In the end, it’s in his blood.
I like to think so too.
I laughed at Bruce's "Shall we dance?" during 2MTM after almost crashing with Janick 20 seconds before.
Bruce is joking with Janick a few times already during the tour.
Just my feelings as well in the transition from 2024 to 2025. The usual reasons (No Nicko, screens, set list from 40 years ago...). Plus the band reaching their 70s.
More importantly, (and I posted this on the official forum recently), the main messages used by the band since 1999 are running out of road:
- this band exists as a vital entity because of new music
- only playing older songs is 'cabaret'
...these messages have vanishing relevance. Not because Maiden's done anything wrong, but because of the sheer duration of the reunion era, 27 years long and counting. I'm sure maiden thought they might get 10 or 15 years at most back with Bruce but here we happily are. I feel the messages need updating to reflect the band's vibe now. If it is hits tours into the sunset then so be it. But RFYL is the first time since 1999 that things have felt very different for me. It's the first tour that feels slightly 'corporate', but I'm not sure why I think that, and I'm being unfair given that it always was a business anyway.
The main ''different feel' things are no Nicko (we can't deny this, it feels, although Simon brought more power) and playing the songs slower on purpose. Otherwise they still sound great, if they play faster like with Nicko pre-2022 it will be like Maiden from 2008. It's not the setlist (the big hits plus some surprises after an album tour with more rare songs, expected), playing faster live is always better. Our standards for Maiden live are extremely high, but their energy is great for their age.
Also (I guess the rumors about Dave have their indirect influence), this time we're not 100% sure if they'll follow up the current tour with a new album (as they usually do) or with more rare songs. Add a few Reunion songs to the current tour and it would be a great final setlist.
Have they played Aces High as fast as in Hannover any previous time on the tour? Seems quite fast based on some videos, was this the case for other songs as well?
I feel like some other songs were also played faster like Fear and maybe 2 Minutes?
It doesn't have that underground, all in it together, Maiden feel.
I don't feel so, stage and setlist, although Nicko is the best.
They may not have much left to say or prove.
I don't think they have many ideas (the current tour shows that) to bring something different (they always want to do this), which is why a new album is the easiest solution.
There's no fire in the belly anymore. Nicko leaving has just amplified it all. Dawson's doing fine but if we're honest it's a major step down from a legitimate drumming legend in Nicko.
For new music it's odd for Maiden, but they still have the fire to play live. Let's see, Nicko's retirement has its impact on them.
But it feels like we're firmly in the nostalgia zone now so it'll be interesting how they navigate that after decades of promising it'll never happen.
Nostalgia zone after 50 years is probably to be expected, but I'm sure they will think of something interesting for the next tour. RFYL Part 2 would be such thing.
There's very little scope to do much outside of that space, nothing that they can currently point to that says they're still a vibrant creative force. That lack of potential makes it all feel a bit weird and melancholy to me.
Lack of potential? Being a vibrant and creative force, we just need a new album for that. New music makes you relevant.
