Yeah, Nicko said that he loves experiencing some new drum patterns live as long as it doesn't denature the songs. After all, all the musicians in the band don't play exactly the same way as they're playing on studio recordings. They are some evident changes between studio and live versions of the songs.
I must have missed when he said that. Your second sentence is true, but I think the changes are not that many and for many songs.
CSIT is simply on another level. From the ones you mentioned Aces High is what comes closer but not as demanding (and we all have seen how he's struggled to nail it for decades now).
Come one, man... let's not elude ourselves. Bruce can still pull out ther majority of maiden tunes if he's not tired but even compared when to what I consider to be his worst performance tour wise during the 80's (Somewhere On Tour) is not even close anymore when it comes to higher notes. Hey, once again... time does not forgive. But if you want to believe he's singing better now, fine.
I agree that CSIT is a difficult song for Bruce to sing live. Aces High sounded great in 2018.
The 1986 tour is indeed Bruce's worst performance tour wise during the 80's, but he can still hit the higher notes. Even listen to his book tour acapella performances of the difficult songs from his solo albums with the high parts in them.
Agreed. What Bruce lacks in power in the upper register nowadays - voice gets deeper as you age - he more than compensates with a MUCH better singing technique.
but he is still a much better singer nowadays than at any point during the 80s.
Your first sentence is the truth. About your second sentence, I wouldn't say that (especially for 1982/1983), but I can agree.
Why is everyone so sure that Futureal will be in the set?
I joined the hype, to be honest, but now I'm thinking...why? I mean, their usual go-to in the VXI album is The Clansman. Futureal is a quick, go-to song to give Bruce a breather and pump up the crowd, but they'll already need to rehearse a bunch of "new" songs, some of which will require some brainstorm on how to perform (CSiT, Stranger in a Strange Land, Sea of Madness as a candidate, either Parchment or Hell on Earth), I wouldn't be surprised at all if they just went with their comfy banger in Wrathchild and called it a day.
Because it's a very possible short/easy/performed with Bruce before deep cut that will fit in the theme of the tour. And because it's most likely hinted in the tour poster! We know Maiden like to do that.
Wrathchild is possible. Running Free and Sanctuary maybe not. It seems they don't want to play some of the old staples anymore.
high notes and raw power... something CSIT relies strongly upon.
Aces High too.
In other words, he had worse worse performances in the 80s but better best performances.
I think Bruce's live performances after 1999 are better than his performances in the 80's.
Bruce had a wider range in the 80s, but much less control, finesse, power and technique. Today, I'd wager he has about 90% of his range still, while having more power, more technique, a thicker voice, and more control. The big issue nowadays (and I've said this before) isn't Bruce's ability to hit high-notes. He hits high-notes just fine. It's his wind. You'll never again hear Bruce belt out a 30+ second long note like he does on Hallowed By Thy Name from Rock in Rio. This has been the case, i've noticed, since at least 2012 on the Maiden England tour, when Bruce "cut up" the "oh oh oh" part of Seventh Son instead of keeping it all one long note. But that's also a choice he's making so he can reserve his power for where it counts and still sound good.
The big question mark for the Future Past tour is not and has never been Bruce. He's good to go. It's Nicko. Two years off of touring from the first half of the LotB tour, and there's a marked decrease in energy and speed in many of the songs. I really want to believe it's because they went on tour and weren't 100% physically prepared/in shape and they'll be fine on Future Past...but I suppose we'll see.
I agree on a 100% with what you said about Bruce, but I think he doesn't do some of the long notes live to save his voice, not that he can't.
About your second sentence - it's true.
Great ''thank you'' video. It looks like Eddie won the fight with Bruce.
That's how I interpreted it as well. He's not saying that he's afraid he can't do it anymore because give the man some credit; He's 70 years old and is still drumming like a madman!
He's just wishing himself to be healthy next year and ready to get on stage again!
I'm almost 100% certain Nicko will finish the FPT. After that, who knows?
^ This.
Yeah. I feel like this too. Bruce and Steve are not replaceable and if 2 of the other members retire, that's a wrap.
That said, I can't see H and Jan retiring soon. Jan loves touring and H is basically traveling the world with Nathalie and playing a few shows in between. Nicko, it purely depends on his physical condition and if he stays fit enough, he will probably play for the rest of the life. Dave is the biggest question mark. However, I believe that those rumours we heard in the beginning of the year were exgreggated a bit.
I don't think anyone in the band want to retire. They enjoy touring a lot. Nicko might have not a probelm with another drummer filling in for him live, but Steve and Bruce said that if one of the band members retires, the whole band would do this too. The rumours about Dave were fake.
So my guess (or rather my hope) is, Iron Maiden opens their next tour with The Time Machine,
The Time Machine as an opener? The song has a too long intro with a lot of singing in it to be skipped live. It's not a good opener imo.
