Iron Maiden’s frontman, Bruce Dickinson, is clearly an honourable man. During their legendary concert in Bangalore last year, he promised us that Iron Maiden would be back in India within seventeen months. Ten months and two weeks later, Iron Maiden is all set to return, this time to Mumbai.
To say that this is a hugely anticipated tour would be a disrespectful understatement. They are recreating their best stage shows ever (‘The World Slavery Tour’ 1984-85 and ‘Somewhere on Tour ‘1986-87), and compiling a setlist from three of their most successful albums (Powerslave, Live After Death and Somewhere in Time). It is a tantalising prospect.
The World Slavery Tour of 1984-85 established Iron Maiden. Their elaborate stage settings and immaculately-conceived setlist complemented the breathtaking brilliance of Powerslave. It was a breakthrough tour, the first leg of which was the first tour by a major band of the Eastern Bloc countries. Fittingly, 24 years later, the commemorative tour begins in a city they’ve never performed in before.
The 200-plus concerts took their toll on the band. Exhausted, they took a year off. When they returned to the studio to record Somewhere in Time, it was clear that it had been time well spent. Adrian Smith was in his greatest songwriting and guitaring form. His solos on that album are now part of heavy metal folklore. It was the album where Adrian Smith established himself. Since then, his territory has been encroached upon by Janick Gers. On this tour, however, Smith will reclaim his position.
The live double album Live After Death was recorded over four days at sold out shows at the Long Beach Arena in California as part of the ‘World Slavery Tour’. It is one of the finest live albums ever. By treating it as a separate album, the band can include some songs from their previous albums that are now concert staples. Iron Maiden, The Number of the Beast and Hallowed be thy Name have been performed at every concert for 25 years.
When Iron Maiden last visited, they were in the middle of a tour, and the more experienced (or psychic) among us had predicted their setlist down to the last song. Now we enter uncharted territory. We may have been robbed of the joy of conjecture by the fact that we know for sure at least eight of the songs they will certainly play (The Trooper, Hallowed be Thy Name, The Number of the Beast, Iron Maiden, Aces High, Powerslave, Wasted Years and Rime of the Ancient Mariner), but the other equally important question remains.
How, for example, do they intend to outdo that infamous tank sequence from their last tour? How will they recreate the grandeur of the original Powerslave set? Will they pull a few gems out of the vault like they did on their last nostalgia tour in 2005? Will they perform the classic Alexander the Great live for the first time ever on this tour (not just an a cappella version of the chorus)? We will know the answers to these questions before anyone else in the world.
‘The World Slavery Tour’ is considered their best tour. Some believe that the current lineup (which is the same as that of 1984 with the addition of Janick Gers on third guitar) is unbeatable. The Somewhere On Tour 1986/87 saw a more polished reincarnation of the band. These tours saw Maiden at their peak. Twenty four years later, they are resurgent. A number of parallels between the band then and now are evident. ‘The Somewhere on Tour’ was their sixth tour. ‘The Somewhere Back in Time Tour’ will be their sixth since Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith rejoined the band. The band’s popularity is, surprisingly, on the way up even now.
