Iron Maiden say fans will be ‘really surprised’ by songs on The Legacy of the Beast Tour
Bruce Dickinson has opened up about what to expect from Iron Maiden’s upcoming tour.
Taking in 38 shows across Europe this summer, including six in the UK, the Legacy Of The Beast World Tour is inspired by Iron Maiden’s comic book and mobile phone game of the same name, and, in keeping with this, the stage set design will feature a number of different but interlocking ‘worlds’.
When the tour was announced last November, it was confirmed that the setlist will be dominated by classic Iron Maiden material from the 1980s with a handful of tracks from later albums added into the mix.
Speaking about the setlist to Kerrang! Magazine, Bruce Dickinson said: “We’re playing one or two things that people are gonna be really surprised by. There’ll be social media madness after the first show.”
Pushed about whether he can reveal anything further, Bruce responded: “Not really! We’ve spent ages on it, though. And I’m already walking through it in my mind and going ‘Where can I input those moments of meaning? To shift peoples’ perceptions?’
“It’s like ‘Climb Like a Monkey’ – where’s that? That came from seeing someone at the front do it and it just became this massive thing.”
Despite the tour’s link to the mobile game, Bruce himself admitted he hasn’t “paid too much attention to the game element”, adding: “I’m focused on what’s gonna constitute an amazing setlist, and what’s gonna constitute an amazing stage show.
“I’m looking at the show as something that should certainly exceed what we did on the Book Of Souls tour, and I’m approaching things a slightly different way.
“I’m approaching some of the songs a slightly different way. I’m conscious that over the years we’ve fallen into a little groove with some songs, so I want to try to shake that groove up a little bit.”
The singer continued: “When you do a show like we’re planning to do, you want it to be really slick, but awesome. I want people to go, ‘Wow! F***ing hell, you’ve gotta see this show!’ I want people to be surprised as well.
“I want them to go home going, ‘F***ing hell, I can’t believe they played that song!’ That’s the reaction I want.
“On the Book Of Souls tour, there was quite a lot of chatting with the audience. I’m not planning that on this tour because we’ve got so much to do and there’s so much going on. The show and the music is gonna carry the whole bloody thing.”
There are extremely limited Newcastle, Aberdeen and Manchester tickets available to The Legacy of the Beast Tour from Planet Rock Tickets now.
Birmingham Genting Arena is completely sold out. For London and Belfast ticket availability, check at the venue box office. Iron Maiden play the following shows:
JULY 2018
Newcastle Metro Radio Arena – Tue 31st
AUGUST 2018
Belfast The SSE Arena – Thu 2nd
Aberdeen BHGE Arena – Sat 4th
Manchester Arena – Mon 6th
Birmingham Genting Arena – Tue 7th
London The O2 – Fri 10th
Lodnon The O2 - Sat 11th