Features
Iron Maiden’s Summer Assault
Iron Maiden unleashes its three-month summer plan for North America, featuring special guests Alice Cooper on several dates, Coheed And Cambria on others.
Photo: John McMurtrie
The O2, London, UK
If you liked Iron Maiden’s 1988 outing you’ll love 2012’s “Maiden England World Tour.” The band says the upcoming adventure will “closely mirror, in terms of production and content,” the band’s concert video shot on the “Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Tour.”
The band calls the “Maiden England World Tour” the third chapter in “The History Of Iron Maiden.” Chapter one began in 2004 with the release of “The Early Days” DVD followed by the 2005 tour of the same name. Chapter two began in 2008 with the “Live After Death” DVD release and the “Somewhere Back In Time World Tour.”
“Our intention is to play about two thirds of the original track list of ‘Maiden England,’ including songs we have not played live in a very, very long time, plus other favorites we just know the fans are going to want to hear,” vocalist Bruce Dickinson said. “We always try to give our fans a great show musically, but we have always tried to make it as entertaining and memorable an experience as we can visually. And we all feel this show is going to do that splendidly! We can’t wait to get started in Charlotte.”
Photo: AP Photo / MTI
Sziget Festival, Shipyard Island, Budapest, Hungary
Dickinson, a licensed airline pilot, will fly the band into Charlotte, N.C., for the tour opener at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre June 21. Other stops include Mansfield, Mass., at the Comcast Center June 26; Tinley Park, Ill. (Chicago), at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre July 5; Toronto’s Molson Canadian Amphitheatre July 13; Clarkston, Mich. (Detroit) at DTE Music Theatre July 18; Calgary, Alberta, at Scotiabank Saddledome July 26; Auburn., Wash., at White River Amphitheatre July 30; Denver at the Comfort Dental Amphitheatre Aug. 13 and The Woodlands, Texas, at The Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavilion Aug. 18.
Expect more dates to be announced. Special guest Alice Cooper appears June 21 through July 21; Coheed And Cambria after July 21 through the end of the tour.
Many venues will launch onsales March 2 and 3. In an effort to thwart scalpers, Iron Maiden is using paperless tickets whenever possible, if not for the entire venue, at least for the front sections. Ticket presales will be offered through the band’s fan club. Check out IronMaiden.com for more info.