MusicWhat to expect from Iron Maiden’s setlist on their 50th anniversary tour, according to Bruce Dickinson

The new year also represents a “turning point” for the Iron Maiden. At the end of 2024, the band concluded — with two shows in Brazil — the tour The Future Pastfocused on albums Senjutsu (2021) and Somewhere in Time (1986). In 2025, more specifically from May onwards, the Run for Your Livesan excursion that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the group’s founding.

With a repertoire focused on the first nine albums — the debut from 1980 to Fear of the Dark (1992) —, the upcoming tour also marks the first occasion in decades that Maiden will perform without Nicko McBrain. The drummer, a member since 1982, stepped away from road activities and will be replaced by simon dawson (British Lion, TheOutfield etc).

The vocalist Bruce Dickinson has been the spokesperson for the group’s next plans. In a video on the networks, he had already promised that he and his colleagues “will do things we have never done before”, complete with a “memorable setlist”. Now, in an interview with Classic Rockshared some more details of what’s to come.

First, the singer said that the approach to the repertoire will be to include “the greatest hits”, albeit within a universe of the first nine albums. He stated:

“You want the greatest hits, right? Well we can’t do them all because we’ll stop at a certain album [Fear of the Dark]. It’s the greatest hits to a certain extent [1980 a 1992]. But the production will be out of this world. And we have a setlist that will blow people’s minds!”

Dickinson was also asked to reflect on the The Future Pastwhich, as mentioned, focused on the albums Somewhere in Time and Senjutsu. When talking about the most recent album, he mentioned a song that keeps the public’s attention in an unexpected way.

“There is a song by Senjutsu which is in pole position for people who go to the bathroom in the middle of the show — and they don’t — called ‘Death of the Celts’. It’s a long song, ten minutes, with a long instrumental part lasting 5 minutes and 20 seconds. I know this because that’s how long I have to have a cup of tea in between. You get to the end of the song and look at the audience and think, ‘Sh*t, we didn’t lose them, right? They are with us! They are paying close attention.’ That’s when you know you really have something.”

Then, he points out that the Somewhere in Time have aged well, almost 40 years after their original release. And he also highlighted one of his favorites on the tracklist.

“To place Somewhere in Time Under the spotlight is great. Somewhere in Time wasn’t exactly forgotten as an album, but somehow it always seemed to live in the shadow of what came before it — the Holy Trinity of The Number of the Beast (1982), Piece of Mind (1983) and Powerslave (1984) — and what came after it, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988). But there are some amazing songs on Somewhere in Time. I love ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’it has such a good groove.”

Iron Maiden and Run for Your Lives

Iron Maiden will take its Run for Your Lives first to Europe. There are shows scheduled on the Old Continent between the months of May and August. The expectation is that, in 2026, the itinerary will be expanded to other continents — including Brazil, the country that Bruce Dickinson visits with his solo career on September 7, to perform at the São Paulo festival The Town.

Check out Iron Maiden’s schedule for 2025 below:

• May 27th – Budapest Aréna, Budapest, Hungary *
• May 31 – Letnany Airport, Prague, Czech Republic *
• June 1st – TIPOS Arena, Bratislava, Slovakia *
• June 5th – Trondheim Rocks, Trondheim, Norway (Festival)
• June 7th – SR-Bank Arena, Stavanger, Norway *
• June 9th – Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark *
• June 12 – 3Arena, Stockholm, Sweden *
• June 13 – 3Arena, Stockholm, Sweden *
• June 16 – Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland *
• June 21 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, England ^
• June 22 – Co-op Live, Manchester, England ^
• June 25th – Malahide Castle, Dublin, Ireland *^
• June 28 – Longon Stadium, London, England *^
• June 30th – OVO Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland ^
• July 3rd – Eurockéennes Festival, Belfort, France (Festival)
• July 5th – Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain **
• July 6th – MEO Arena, Lisbon, Portugal **
• July 9th – Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland **
• July 11th – Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany **
• July 13 – Stadio Euganeo, Padova, Italy **
• July 15th – Bürgerweide, Bremen, Germany **
• July 17 – Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna, Austria **
• July 19 – Paris La Défense Arena, Paris, France **
• July 23 – GelreDome, Arnhem, Netherlands **
• July 25th – Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt, Germany **
• July 26th – Cannstatter Wasen, Stuttgart, Germany **
• July 29th – Waldbühne, Berlin, Germany **
• August 2nd – PGE Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland **
• * = Opening of Halestorm
• ^ = Opening The Raven Age
• ** = Opening of Avatar

Rolling Stone Brasil special: Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden on the cover:a Rolling Stone Brazil released an unprecedented collector’s edition for fans of the heavy metal band. The biggest albums, the list of shows in Brazil, the power of the group’s merchandising and even a tour of the band’s plane can be found in the printed special, on sale at Store Profile.