If there is one thing that every Iron Maiden fan can truly remember, it's the first time they witnessed Iron Maiden running out on stage live. For me it was January 21, 1991 on the No Prayer on the Road Tour with Anthrax as the opener at the old Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, NJ. I had just turned 16 two months prior and had been foaming at the mouth for this chance. As a kid growing up in the 80's idolizing everything about Iron Maiden this was my "Future Past."
For almost five decades the British icons have toured the world captivating fans with their mesmerizing theatrical stage performances and their constant involving of a classic heavy metal sound that has made them a legendary staple to metal fans around the world.
Iron Maiden in my opinion could very well be viewed as the Grateful Dead of heavy metal. Take for instance the dedication their fans bring to the table is extraordinary. From touring around the world following the band like Dead Heads of the 60's with their flags representing their countries, too tattooing the iconic mascot Eddie on their bodies truly showing their loyal dedication for life.
During the East Coast run of the Future Past Tour I was fortunate enough to have the privilege of attending both the November 2nd show in Brooklyn, NY at the Barclays Center and the November 9th show in Newark, NJ at the Prudential Center. During those shows I got the opportunity to meet and talk with some extraordinary loyal fans, a few ironically I had actually photographed prior on the 2022 Legacy Of The Beast Tour when it made it's stop in Newark at the Prudential Center.
When I spoke with these fans I had photographed in the past I was amazed by their stories of dedication and passion they have for Iron Maiden. Johanna, who I photographed in the past, is from Ecuador and has seen Iron Maiden 33 times all over the world. On this tour alone Johanna told me she did 11 shows, 10 cities in 4 different countries. Johanna's friend Adrian from Costa Rica who I also photographed two years ago has been to a whopping 75 shows. They explained to me that they always travel for Iron Maiden.
Another fan I spoke with Petr, was here from London with a large group of friends from all over Europe, from Sweden, Finland, Scotland, Luxembourg, Italy and France. Petr told me he has done 4 shows on the East Coast and 9 last year on the 2023 leg of the Future Past European leg of the tour, he also told me he already has 11 shows lined up for next years Run For Your Lives tour. It was definitely great to meet these fans and hear their stories and learn their passion.
The energy was on full blast in Brooklyn on November 2nd as 19,000 fans eagerly awaited as they bared witness to the Mongolian folk metal band known as The HU. A band know for it's traditional Mongolian instrumentation and it's lyrics of ancient Mongolian war cries, the band began to warm up the crowd quickly. The band of eight decked in traditional like Mongolian warrior outfits reminded me of something out of a Conan movie.
For the majority of the crowd I'm sure this was their first encounter with the bands music as much of them took that opportunity to stand in massive lines for the ever coveted Iron Maiden merch. With the traditional cultural style of throat singing, traditional Morin khuur and tovshuur instruments combined with heart pounding percussions backed with a smooth grooving bass and guitar sound throughout the set they took us back in time the ancient nomadic empire of Xiongnu and brought to life a Frank Frazetta painting. To not say that was a great fit to open the show would be a lie.
With the ever familiar track of UFO's "Doctor Doctor" blasting throughout the PA system of the arena the already defining cheers from fans grew ever more louder as fans sang along word for word with heavy anticipation for the British icons to run out on stage and blow their minds. As "Doctor Doctor" wrapped up the theme from Blade Runner properly played which was only fitting as the curtains were pulled back to unveil a Sci-Fi backdrop much to the likes of Blade Runner itself.
As if the crowd wasn't already heading into a frenzy counting down the seconds with just the mere visual of a lit stage, cue the intro of "Caught Somewhere in Time" a blast of pyro tech ushering out the band from each side rushing to the stage galloping into this classic that hasn't been played live since 1987 and you've got faces melting right before your eyes. The shows choreography, flawless sound matched with frontman Bruce Dickson's electrifying stage presence as one of metals best front men electrified the arena.
It wasn't just Bruce's presence that ignited the crowd, Steve Harris, the backbone to Iron Maiden with his powerful basslines and energetic stage presence matched by the iconic dueling guitar solos of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, both unique in their own way along with the guitar work of the ever charismatic Janick Gers and Nicko McBrain's effortlessly smooth powerful drumming rounding off the bands rhythm section with pure precision as Maiden laid right into "Stranger in a Strange Land" another classic track off their 1986 platinum album Somewhere In Time, again another smash hit that hasn't been played live since their 1999 Ed Hunter Tour. Ironically this was the same tour that saw the return of both Dickinson and Smith to the line up.
The back to back classic bangers were followed up by a trio of tracks from the most recent Senjutsu. The almost two hour long set was a seamless flow of both old and new which delighted the already electrified crowd with four live debuts off Senjutsu and the live debut of one my all time favorites "Alexander the Great." It was during Iron Maiden's trio of encore songs lead by "Hell on Earth" that completely blew the roof off the Barclays Center with the cult classic hit "The Trooper" that had 19,000 fans signing at the top of their lungs in harmony before ending to me what was the best show of 2024 by bringing back live one last piece of nostalgia, "Wasted Years."
On November 9th, one week after Iron Maiden's Future Past tour blew the roof off of Brooklyn's Barclays Center, I'm now across the pound in Newark, NJ at the Prudential Center. Unlike Brooklyn the vibe in New Jersey is different. The level of energy and anticipation is the same, but unlike Barclays in Brooklyn where everything and everyone is on top of each other with the non-stop hustle and bustle of NYC where as Newark's Prudential Center is located in a more spread out environment that sees street closures during events along with outdoor parking lots that host your traditional tailgating along with multiple entry points to the arena to thin out the heard of metal maniacs is where I find the vibe to feel a bit more laid back in a sense.
Once inside the sold out arena of 19,500 things were just as they were in Brooklyn. Fans holding court in the halls over cold beverages, long lines for the famous Maiden merch.
When the tours opener The HU hit the stage and kicked things off, again the vibe was much like it was in Brooklyn with the majority of fans still lingering around the arena halls socializing, still waiting in long lines for merch and concessions. However different from Brooklyn's show, it seemed that there were more faces in the crowd more familiar with the Mongolian folk sensation, but lets face it, New York is always a tough crowd and to top that off you're opening up for Iron Maiden.
Making my way into the media pit area with UFO's "Doctor Doctor" playing through the arenas PA system, I couldn't help but to still have this weird vibe around me that I just couldn't put my finger on. At first I thought, hey you guys in the front row here don't seem so energized, but I was quickly assured once the music hit that I would see the energy. Yet there was still something puzzling me. As with the show itself, I'm sure everyone who have hit multiple shows on the tour, myself included was thinking alright this is going to be awesome, same setlist, same choreography, same show. Sick! Ready to go! Let's have our minds blown away again. Let's see who's going to be louder? New York or New Jersey?
The show did set off just as it has been throughout the tour kicking off the set with the pre-recorded intro to "Caught Somewhere in Time" with the thunderous clap of pyro ushering out the band, and just like that thunderous clap, bang, Bruce comes running out and hits the stage blowing away 19,500 fans as he's donning the original Somewhere In Time jacket he wore throughout the 1986 Somewhere On Tour. It might sound corny, but that was it.
That feeling I had that something was different that night. It was a sense of surprise and one of legendary status. Every Maiden fan of that era along with those of the younger generation that know their Maiden history were completely in aww losing their shit. The jacket itself had been hanging on permanent display at the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame as of 2017. We all know how Bruce feels about the RRHF so theres no question that this was the original. What a way to come out and surprise fans. With a simple wardrobe change that makes an already amazing show that features a setlist of classics that haven't been played live in decades along with a heavy handful of live debuts that turned this show into a history maker. For "Stranger in a Strange Land" it was back to Bruce's original wardrobe with long trench like coat and futuristic like sunglasses that gave off the Jedi meets Mad Max bounty hunter vibe. Like the previous shows during this track fans were treated to the monstrous 10ft SSL Eddie.
This wouldn't be only sighting as fans would get the Somewhere in Time Eddie during "Heaven Can Wait" as he Bruce would go at firing off shots at one and other. It wouldn't be until later in the set that Eddie would make his way back out on to the stage this time fans would get the Senjutsu Samari Eddie for the song that started it all "Iron Maiden." Just as flawless as everyone on stage was in Brooklyn, they were just as flawless and energetic in New Jersey with the crowd just as electrifying. Seeing the smiles on the faces of everyone from Iron Maiden as they playing in front of the fans is great to see. It's a highlight all in it's own.
The prodigious talent combined with a unique personalty and energetic stage presence that every member brings to the stage every night at their age is true testament to Iron Maiden's legacy that will continue to resonate with fans of all ages for years to come. In 2025 will mark Iron Maiden's 50 year anniversary as they kick off the Run For Your Lives World Tour. After witnessing these mind blowing shows of epic proportion with a setlist stacked with classic hits some that hadn't been played live for ages along with a group of live debuts one can only imagine how insane Iron Maiden will bring it for the 50th in 2025.
Iron Maiden
The HU
