Before The Book of Souls Tour was announced, one was not sure whether IRON MAIDEN would play live again. After the unexpected news that Bruce was diagnosed with tongue and larynx cancer, all fans asked themselves whether MAIDEN would tour again or not. And even when they were to be able to do so, how Bruce would handle his duties that well as he had before. Well, after waiting for a couple of months, it was announced there would be 72 live shows on 5 continents. I said to myself: it is good, they`re sure of what they want to be doing.

The only supporting band worth mentioning was THE RAVEN AGE, yup, they did ok, with Harris` son as a guitarist. During the tour there were some other bands to show up and participate, here and there, like GHOST, SABATON and ANTHRAX; yet these ought to be described on a different occasion. 

After the supporting bands were done, the lights went off and the fog started to ooze onto the stage. There appeared a short video clip on the jumbotrons to introduce the new tour to the audience featuring jungle, Eddie, Maya Indians, Ed Force One and so on. The intro reverberated, and Bruce appeared from behind the drum set dais reciting the first verses of …Here is the soul of a man... and so it all started. Bright light flashed, the band got to the scene and started out with If Eternity Should Fail. What an awesome, intriguing track originally written for Bruce`s solo album. Perfectly executed, vocally powerful – just a perfect song to open a show like this one. Speed of Light was next, fast a track with galloping guitars. Was easy to see this band wasn’t lacking energy at all. Pure strength!

After that, Dickinson said hi to the audience. The mood was different now due to classic Children of the Damned. I don’t know how it sounded back in 1982, but in 2016 it just crushed. Bruce was really doing all right, like never before, he surely did. Hard to believe he`s gone through so much shit recently. Ok, we got back to their latest record and we had Tears of a Clown – written in memory of Robin Williams (RIP). It is a so-so track on the album, but awesome when played live. The Red and the Black was another new cut, and sung together with the fans–ooo –ooo –ooo. Amazing!

Another classic track – The Trooper with Bruce dressed as a cavalryman, milling around over the stage and waving the Union Jack flag. This track will never get old. the next cut was one of MAIDEN`s best: monumental Powerslave with them awesome, brain-drilling guitars. As the band-audience relationship is important, Bruce replaced his former feather mask with another one taken right from some sex-shop.

It was easy to notice them guys liked their trade. Death or Glory proved that very well, where Bruce, dressed in proper fluffy clothes, and regarding to track`s lyrics, behaved like a monkey. That mood was transferred onto the audience, no doubt. The Book of Souls, played next, was enough to make any undecided fella like their new album. Perfectly performed, with superb scenery – a four meter Eddy was brought onto the stage to have his heart extravagantly ripped off from his chest and thrown to the audience by Bruce. The band had never done nothing like that before! Amazing!

Ok, we were approaching the tracks considered absolutely necessary when there is an IRON MAIDEN gig. Hallowed by thy Name with amazing narration by Bruce and Cult Fear of the Dark – sung in harmony with the audience. And the last one was IRON MADEN, which meant getting back to band`s roots. And that was that. Dude, what they did overwhelmed me. These guys are doing ok, both physically and vocally. Scenography and lights were just stunning.

Well, the scenery behind the stage was changed after almost every track and so were the lights, changed totally from one song to another. It was high time for extra tracks – so we got The Number of the Beast – one of the most important tracks in MAIDEN’S history. The stage was set ablaze and a Lucifer ascended over the musicians. And thousands of people sung: six six six, the number of the beast.

The band didn’t slow down at all, and the only track from Brave New World was introduced by Bruce`s speech on metal unity. Wasted Years was the last one to celebrate this perfectly executed show. New tracks sounded live very well, this 1.5 show just flew, and it didn’t drag at all. And some tracks were at least 10 minute long, hey. What an orgy of heavy metal music it was! Perfect!

I did manage to see them play live 5 times in the span of 5 weeks in different cities, countries, and at different venues. MAIDEN were always fucking perfect. The shows looked pretty much the same, apparently. But each and every one was, factually, a different, unique experience. A stadium, concert hall or festival – you name it; don’t matter, really. They always give 100 % at work. Looking forward to their next tour. Up The Irons!

Written by Jacek „Abadon” Urbanowicz

Live show pictures by Jacek „Abadon” Urbanowicz