Bruce Dickinson Shoots Down Backing Tracks for Iron Maiden: “If It is Not Actual, It is Not Maiden”

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If there’s one factor you’ll be able to say about Iron Maiden, it’s that once you watch 66 year-old most cancers survivor Bruce Dickinson operating round on stage, belting out an 11 minute epic like “Rime of the Historic Mariner” earlier than stopping the present to bitch about somebody smoking weed someplace within the venue, you already know it’s 100% actual. And that’s precisely the way it’s going to remain.

In an interview for the newest challenge of Traditional Rock Journal (additionally on Guitar.com), Dickinson doubled down on the concept Iron Maiden was the true article, opting to not dabble in a whole lot of the substitute techniques that different bands use to make their stay present sound one of the best it presumably can.

“The thought which you could flip it into the Disneyland MAIDEN through the use of backing tracks, just a few methods… No! Maiden must be 100 per cent actual — and fucking fierce!”

I don’t find out about you, however I may hear him say that in my head as I learn it. Nearly definitely adopted by one thing like “Scream for me, Hesher’s condominium!!!!!”

Regardless of the band’s rising age and rigorous tour schedule, Dickinson pledged that the band won’t ever use issues like backing tracks of their stay present.

“Solely not too long ago this man, a giant fan, stated to me: ‘It’s so nice to see Maiden nonetheless doing it.’ I stated: ‘Yeah, and we’re doing it for actual. There’s no detuning.’ This man stated: ‘Numerous bands use backing tracks now…’ I stated: ‘No! No, no! [If we use backing tracks,] that’s the day I stop. Or the day we cease. If it’s not actual, it’s not Maiden.”

Positive, you can learn his feedback and suppose “okay, boomer” however that’s not fully being truthful. So long as these guys can nonetheless carry out on the highest degree, they’ve each proper to carry agency on this challenge. As soon as Dickinson begins slipping within the vocals division or Steve Harris can’t do these iconic galloping bass traces, then they need to both rethink their stance or name it quits.

Within the meantime, they’ve received a complete different tour to prepare for with their ‘Run For Your Lives’ run. And whereas it is going to be their first tour with out Nicko McBrain behind the equipment (Simon Dawson will deal with that function), we a minimum of know that no matter they’re going to tug out that they’ve “by no means, ever completed earlier than” received’t be backing tracks.

Iron Maiden ‘Run For Your Lives’ Tour:

MAY 2025
27 Budapest, HUNGARY – Budapest Aréna *
31 Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC – Letnany Airport *

JUNE 2025
01 Bratislava, SLOVAKIA – TIPOS Area *
05 Trondheim, NORWAY – Trondheim Rocks (Pageant)
07 Stavanger, NORWAY – SR-Financial institution Area *
09 Copenhagen, DENMARK – Royal Area *
12 Stockholm, SWEDEN – 3Arena *
13 Stockholm, SWEDEN – 3Arena *
16 Helsinki, FINLAND – Olympic Stadium *
21 Birmingham, ENGLAND – Utilita Area ^
22 Manchester, ENGLAND – Co-op Dwell ^
25 Dublin, IRELAND – Malahide Citadel *^
28 London, ENGLAND – London Stadium *^
30 Glasgow, SCOTLAND – OVO Hydro ^

JULY 2025
03 Belfort, FRANCE – Eurockéennes Pageant
05 Madrid, SPAIN – Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano **
06 Lisbon, PORTUGAL – MEO Area **
09 Zurich, SWITZERLAND – Hallenstadion **
11 Gelsenkirchen, GERMANY – Veltins-Area **
13 Padova, ITALY – Stadio Euganeo **
15 Bremen, GERMANY – Bürgerweide **
17 Vienna, AUSTRIA – Ernst Happel Stadium **
19 Paris, FRANCE – Paris La Défense Area **
23 Arnhem, NETHERLANDS – GelreDome **
25 Frankfurt, GERMANY – Deutsche Financial institution Park **
26 Stuttgart, GERMANY – Cannstatter Wasen **
29 Berlin, GERMANY – Waldbühne **

AUGUST 2025
02 Warsaw – POLAND – PGE Narodowy **

*Halestorm | ^The Raven Age | **Avatar

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