RUN FOR YOUR LIVES WORLD TOUR (2025/2026)

So... if they’re trying out the stage production inside the arena, it means... the stadium show might end up being underwhelming again..
They've done that many times in the past, even R+ used to rehearse indoors before the stadium tour.
 
Question everything!
Can I play with madness?
What a dream, when will it end?
And will I transcend?
But would I like to get too far in?
But wouldn't you like to know the truth?
Of what's out there, to have the proof?
Where would you end in Heaven or in Hell?

Or tell me, why do we exist?
 
So Phantom iron maiden running free, sanctuary and run to the hills are almost confirmed. Maybe powerslave and die with your boots on too...and fear of the dark,the trooper number of the beast are always there... lets see what happens..
Those are 10 songs....so maybe theyll go with an 18 songs setlist
 
I still doubt they will play both Sanctuary and Running Free.
After the latest additions to the merch store, they will be probably played both. It makes sense, after all.
So Phantom iron maiden running free, sanctuary and run to the hills are almost confirmed. Maybe powerslave and die with your boots on too...and fear of the dark,the trooper number of the beast are always there... lets see what happens..
Those are 10 songs....so maybe theyll go with an 18 songs setlist
17-18 songs is a possibility at this point. Most of the songs will be shorter anyway. Only Rime, Powerslave, Phantom and of course Hallowed and Fear are longer songs (maybe Infinite Dreams too if they play it). The rest will be short ones. At this point, I don't think Seventh Son or Tame have any chance to feature. The SIT longer songs like CSIT and HCW won't feature (we can hope for Loneliness, but is it likely? of course, not).
I've calculated that before, if they play the 6 longer songs I've mentioned there is room for 11 more songs in the set.
 
Has the possibility of Maiden bringing a live orchestra on the road this year been mentionned already? That would certainly blow people's mind and be something the band has never done before. I'd love that for sure.

I wouldn't picture it for this tour covering these specfic albums, but I could easily imagine some special shows in the future doing it with later material.

When they announced the RFYL tour, I wasn't totally surprised by the focus on the first 9 albums, largely because I'd been thinking down a similar line for what I'd do if i was planning out the future of the band. I definitely get the impression the band would like to focus more on post 80s matterial, so doing a tour like this has the dual benefit of focusing on the matterial that gets enough casual punters through the gates for big shows, and also gives an opertunity to semi-retire some of the older songs. Esentially what they talked about the Early Years tour doing, but then never did.

Then of course if this tour covers the first 9, well if they release a new album and did a hybrid tour again like on the Future Past Tour (which given the years left in the band is possibly more likely now than a full new album tour), they'd be conviently focusing on another 9 albums again (though obviously they'd still throw in Iron Maiden and probably a couple of others with the justification of having played them on the tours for those albums). One problem that such a tour would have of course is the length of a lot of the material from those albums. Try putting together a setlist to cover it just covering the more well known songs from those albums and it quickly ends up massively overrunning.

However, if you were to seperately do a shorter run of shows with orchestra though, you could easily pull a lot of songs out that would suit such shows better. Not all post BNW matterial, but obviosuly a lot from then fits the style better as there is more orchestration already. Empire of The Clouds for example is unlikely to ever get played in any other scenario, so I could imagine that being a selling point for Bruce, and given his increased say in the band these days and the fact he's not a stranger to performing like this, I could see him going for it. If you then also followed through on what Nicko seemed to be pushing for after the Mountbatten Festival and involve the Band of HM Royal Marines as well and you'd also have another interesting element, as well as catering to the members of the band whose trousers tighten at the mention of anything military. Would be enough to make the shows stand out with a choice of material that actually suits the use, and with a more limited ammount of shows you'd not have the issues of it being too niche to sell tickets to a large tour.

Anyway, probably won't ever be the route they'll go down, but that's what I'd be looking at if I were Rod putting together a five year plan. Something like 2025-26 - RFYL, 2027 - record new album, 2028 - some Symphonic Maiden shows and release new album at end of year, 2029-30 - tour for the last 9 albums.
 
I also don't think they'll play four songs (including Sanctuary) from one album, although I can certainly imagine Sanctuary as the opener.

I have serious doubts about the idea of the band playing with an orchestra, or rather, I've completely ruled it out. For the simple reason: the band and orchestra would have to play at the same tempo throughout, there shouldn't be any fluctuations, and this coordination would require more than a month of rehearse and preparation. That would also mean that the band would have to play on click from now on, which they've never done before, right?
 
After the latest additions to the merch store, they will be probably played both. It makes sense, after all.
Merch released before the 1st date usually doesn't mean anything. They always try to hide the stand before the 1st gig inside the arena so the first spoilers are revealed only when fans enter the arena.

Huge surprises usually aren't availible during the 1st show. Like the ATG/Hell On Earth shirt.

This merch release is simply a nod to 1st album and 50 years of Iron Maiden. I think they will play Phantom, Running Free and the title track from it.
 
What would be cool if they once again used one of their instrumental songs as show's intro played on tape like Ides of March in 2005 or Transylvania in 2008. That way we get one extra song more and it's nice way to build the crowd's anticipation, to get people pumped up.
If it would indeed happen that way, what instrumental would you want hear as show's intro? Ides of March gets my vote, lots of clapping, great build up.
 
I also don't think they'll play four songs (including Sanctuary) from one album, although I can certainly imagine Sanctuary as the opener.

I have serious doubts about the idea of the band playing with an orchestra, or rather, I've completely ruled it out. For the simple reason: the band and orchestra would have to play at the same tempo throughout, there shouldn't be any fluctuations, and this coordination would require more than a month of rehearse and preparation. That would also mean that the band would have to play on click from now on, which they've never done before, right?
I dont see the orchesta happening. This will be a classic iron maiden concert.
 
What would be cool if they once again used one of their instrumental songs as show's intro played on tape like Ides of March in 2005 or Transylvania in 2008. That way we get one extra song more and it's nice way to build the crowd's anticipation, to get people pumped up.
If it would indeed happen that way, what instrumental would you want hear as show's intro? Ides of March gets my vote, lots of clapping, great build up.
The tour intro depends on the opener. A song? Transylvania probably, The Ides Of March was for the 2005 tour. I would like to see video tour intro again, it was very cool in 2016. Especially if the stage set is multiple screens.
 
Other than it being different for them, I don't think Maiden playing with an orchestra would work at all. I certainly don't want what limited time we have left with them to be spent doing something that off of the wall. I can't recall an orchestra accompanying a metal band really working out terribly well unless that band already has numerous orchestrations in their music already. Something heavily orchestrated like Dimmu Borgir, Nightwish, Therion sure, that works. Otherwise, nah, don't care for it (I seem to be on an island still thinking that S&M which is what most think of when it comes to a pairing like this being beyond unlistenable and awful).

I'm excited about this tour but I think for the most part the super rare songs folks keep bringing up as potentials (OTGDY, Sea of Madness) are delusional pipe dreams. I'd bet this set list is largely focused on the first 4 + Fear of the Dark (and I guess Rime). Probably like a mix between Early Days and SBIT. I'm guessing they spent a good amount of time on the staging and that's what will be mindblowing.

I do hope Aces High isn't included though. As much as I love that song, they are never going to top the LOTB 18-19 run of the presentation of that song. Leave that one out please.
 
So... if they’re trying out the stage production inside the arena, it means... the stadium show might end up being underwhelming again..
Rehearse inside is normal. The show is designed for both arenas and stadiums. For stadiums they need a ramp and a lot of pyro. That's it. If the (potential) multiple screens are surrounding the whole upper half of the stage (the usual decors could be digital too) - it might look bigger and impressive for stadiums. They promised bigger and different show, so let's see. I'm not worried. Regarding an interesting setlist - yes.
17-18 songs is a possibility at this point. Most of the songs will be shorter anyway. Only Rime, Powerslave, Phantom and of course Hallowed and Fear are longer songs (maybe Infinite Dreams too if they play it). The rest will be short ones. At this point, I don't think Seventh Son or Tame have any chance to feature. The SIT longer songs like CSIT and HCW won't feature (we can hope for Loneliness, but is it likely? of course, not). I've calculated that before, if they play the 6 longer songs I've mentioned there is room for 11 more songs in the set.
17, or better, 18 songs is the best possible option for the set to deliver surprises. I really hope so. After all, the encore could be easy songs for Bruce.
When they announced the RFYL tour, I wasn't totally surprised by the focus on the first 9 albums, largely because I'd been thinking down a similar line for what I'd do if i was planning out the future of the band. I definitely get the impression the band would like to focus more on post 80s matterial, so doing a tour like this has the dual benefit of focusing on the matterial that gets enough casual punters through the gates for big shows, and also gives an opertunity to semi-retire some of the older songs. Esentially what they talked about the Early Years tour doing, but then never did.

Then of course if this tour covers the first 9, well if they release a new album and did a hybrid tour again like on the Future Past Tour (which given the years left in the band is possibly more likely now than a full new album tour), they'd be conviently focusing on another 9 albums again (though obviously they'd still throw in Iron Maiden and probably a couple of others with the justification of having played them on the tours for those albums). One problem that such a tour would have of course is the length of a lot of the material from those albums. Try putting together a setlist to cover it just covering the more well known songs from those albums and it quickly ends up massively overrunning.
Well said. Playing more Reunion songs, another hybrid tour (with Part 2 & new album) - possible and I suppose, despite the length of the songs. But the classic staples too. A proper Reunion tour as a whole is one option after this tour. It will have its success, I like to think. I mean, what else, more of the same?
Also, I think they wrote this is the first batch, so probably we'll see stuff from the other albums as well
Good call. And I don't think they'll play 4 songs from an album. It's too much.
I'm excited about this tour but I think for the most part the super rare songs folks keep bringing up as potentials (OTGDY, Sea of Madness) are delusional pipe dreams. I'd bet this set list is largely focused on the first 4 + Fear of the Dark (and I guess Rime). Probably like a mix between Early Days and SBIT. I'm guessing they spent a good amount of time on the staging and that's what will be mindblowing.
The rare cuts are being discussed because of the recent tours and what they played. I also fear the staging is the focus on this tour (I love it, but). If this tour are the usual classics, even with 18 songs set, then they could view it like a ''farewell tour'' (no indication of that), more or less and without some Reunion songs (mainly from BNW). I doubt they would do one song per album set. Like Early Days with some SBIT in the mix - then they have no ideas (won't do for the 90's), but what, they'll repeat the Hits tours again? They just need a theme for the tours and the stage design. With half of the albums is easier for them. But after LOTB tour for 3 years, I think they shouldn't play all of the usual classics/semi-staples. I know it's a stadium tour, it follows TFP tour, but all of the 80's songs should be popular enough, right!! They could have played more newer songs during LOTB, which was like a 50th anniv tour.
 
I thought about something,

This tour's stage show could be Maiden's ultimate (also fitting for Part 2), how can they top it? They can't (with screen/s), they'll need to bring back their classic stages (no screens, backdrops, props) for unique and something different design, especially for a new album tour.
 
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