What are your thoughts on Hallowed Be Thy Name being dropped?

[Travis The Dragon]

Well, Nicko is still in the band! What are your thoughts on Maiden dropping their 2nd most overplayed classic of all time?

I must say that it did shock me because I never thought they would ever drop it in a million years and it did upset me a bit because I do like Hallowed quite a bit better than the songs that did replace it.

 

[Mosh]

I was very surprised, but it didn't bother me. When I saw them live, I knew the setlist ahead of time but the lack of Hallowed still never crossed my mind at all. I definitely didn't miss it. It's a great song, but it doesn't need to be shoehorned into every setlist, which is what it felt like sometimes, so I'm glad they decided to drop it this time. I really can't think of a place where I'd put it anyway.

The way I see it, it made room for more interesting songs. This tour (especially the 2012/13 legs) had a stellar setlist.

 

[Collin]

Well my first show was in 2012. So when they didn't played Hallowed I was shocked and it kind of bothered that it wasn't in the set. I've now seen Maiden 3 times and have not yet witnessed Hallowed Be Thy Name live.
Like Fear of the Dark, it should be played every gig.

 

[DJ James]

Wait, so Hallowed is never ever gonna be played live again?

 

[Mosh]

Wait, so Hallowed is never ever gonna be played live again?

What makes you think that? The band hasn't said anything regarding Hallowed being played in the future.

I don't like the idea of certain songs being required at every gig. I don't think it's good for a band to feel obligated to certain songs, they might grow to resent them or force them into setlists. Hopefully if/when Hallowed comes back, it'll sound fresh and even more energized than normal.

 

[Night Prowler]

I'm still angry that they haven't dropped it in like 25 years and that they just had to do it now. Seen them 3 times and only heard the best song ever once

 

[2Mins]

I must have seen them play it 13 out of the 15 times I've seen them, but I still miss it. It's an awesome track and one that, I think, deserves guaranteed-setlist status. I'd put it above Fear of the Dark, as spine-tingling as that song is live. I'd be OK with never hearing The Trooper, ETMD, NOTB, RTTH again if it made for more interesting setlists in the future, but Hallowed is, for me, the Maiden song.

It's also a shame that they wrote one of their worst songs and called it 'Iron Maiden' and therefore close the show with it every time. Hallowed would be a much better pre-encore set closer IMO.

 

[Dr. Eddies Wingman]

I must have seen them play it 13 out of the 15 times I've seen them, but I still miss it. It's an awesome track and one that, I think, deserves guaranteed-setlist status. I'd put it above Fear of the Dark, as spine-tingling as that song is live. I'd be OK with never hearing The Trooper, ETMD, NOTB, RTTH again if it made for more interesting setlists in the future, but Hallowed is, for me, the Maiden song.

It's also a shame that they wrote one of their worst songs and called it 'Iron Maiden' and therefore close the show with it every time. Hallowed would be a much better pre-encore set closer IMO.

Agreed. Hallowed must come back (and I'm sure it will). Just thinking of the reception it will get from the crowds when it returns, gives me goosebumps.

 

[Saapanael]

I wasn't surprised because at the time I thought Hallowed was a rarity live (which is obviously wrong).

 

[Gerald Wiley]

It is my favorite Maiden track and I have been lucky enough to see it live many times. It is awesome live. Yes, I would always pick it in the set, but there are so many "classics" that something has to give way now and then.
Comedy moment at Knebworth : There was a karaoke stage (generally to be avoided at all costs) and whilst we were sat down having some food, fairly close to it, some chap took on Hallowed ! He did a reasonable job of it, (Blaze standard) but the funny thing was, the crowd he attracted was (relatively) huge and getting in to it like it was actually Maiden.
He must have been loving the moment. Hats off to him, who ever he was.

 

[LooseCannon]

While I expect our friends at Maiden Fans United are livid, here at Maidenfans I believe this is firmly considered a non-issue.

Thank goodness for that.

 

[Gerald Wiley]

Why is it a non issue ? It's their greatest song and has not been in the set for a good few years now. Is that not worthy of some discussion ?

 

[LooseCannon]

Oh yeah, discussion, but not...concern.

 

[Gerald Wiley]

Right. I didn't "vote". I am not upset about it. To be honest, there isn't too much to discuss either. Nothing sinister going on. Just giving it a rest I suspect. Something to look forward too, for another time.

 

[DJ James]

What makes you think that? The band hasn't said anything regarding Hallowed being played in the future.

I don't like the idea of certain songs being required at every gig. I don't think it's good for a band to feel obligated to certain songs, they might grow to resent them or force them into setlists. Hopefully if/when Hallowed comes back, it'll sound fresh and even more energized than normal.

Oooooooohhhhhh, the Maiden England Tour is no longer spoiler tag worthy. I was just wondering why a thread like this just popped up today and not 2 years ago.

 

[Mosh]

Agreed. Hallowed must come back (and I'm sure it will). Just thinking of the reception it will get from the crowds when it returns, gives me goosebumps.

That's another reason why certain songs shouldn't be expected at every concert. when Hallowed does get played, it should be special. Not something we should feel guaranteed to hear.

 

[Perun]

Eh... you guys have all never heard Fear of the Dark live, have you? The response to it when it starts is always overwhelming, as if to say that's what everybody had been waiting for all night.

 

[2Mins]

Eh... you guys have all never heard Fear of the Dark live, have you? The response to it when it starts is always overwhelming, as if to say that's what everybody had been waiting for all night.

I believe I acknowledged Fear of the Dark in my post above.... "spine-tingling" live, but still not as good as Hallowed.
Plus, being an oldie, I remember a time before Fear. Hallowed was the only epic mainstay a setlist needed in those days...

 

[Mosh]

Eh... you guys have all never heard Fear of the Dark live, have you? The response to it when it starts is always overwhelming, as if to say that's what everybody had been waiting for all night.

Heard it. It's great live, but I stand by my point.

 

[harrisdevot]

The only thing I know is that I expect to hear Hallowed be thy Name again in a Maiden concert before they retire.
This is one thing to discover a setlist by reading it, and to experience it live : at first, you can be upset (I was when I learned which songs they were going to play for the summer tour, as there were 4 songs I'm not fond of at the beginning of the show), but when you're taken into the show, watching your favorite musicians and singing along all the lyrics, you enjoy every second. So, even if it has been played millions of times, I hope HbtN comes back and Fear orf the Dark is never dropped.