On the final night of its successful Legacy of the Beast tour, Dickinson was feeling a bit nostalgic and accomplished while rattling off some pretty impressive data regarding the success of the veteran band’s latest trek around the world: this final performance stood as show number 58 on this current jaunt and allowed the band to reach the impressive milestone of having played to 3 million fans in wrapping up the tour (although it's unclear if Dickinson meant 3 million in the band's life or on the current tour, which would mean an average of more than 51,000 fans per show). In grand fashion, this two-hour tour finale made it evident why the band’s loyal followers keep coming back and consistently catapult the group to remain among the most successful touring bands in the world.
Not ones to skimp on visuals or jaw dropping stage sets, the six-piece incarnation of Maiden walked out to thunderous applause and onto a stage designed to look like a Japanese pagoda. Detailed, colorful and realistic looking, the ornate stage was the perfect backdrop for the dramatic and well-choreographed rock show this sold-out audience of more than 13,000 would be treated to.
Photo by Phil DeSimone
'Senjutsu' included a gruesome, zombie-like figure Eddie, in full samurai gear and a large sword.
Donning a flowing swashbuckler shirt, tight leather pants and sporting a man bun at the top of his head, Dickinson got right down to business early; for the set’s opening number, “Senjutsu,” the title track from the band’s most recent studio album, quickly proved that Dickinson’s unmistakable, soaring, operatic vocals were in fine form. Wasting no time in preparing the crowd for the types of theatrics the night had in store, the band’s mascot, the gruesome, zombie-like figure Eddie, appeared in full samurai gear and sported a large sword during the song. And that was only a taste of the over-the-top presentation the audience had to look forward to.
Working its way through its vast catalog of 17 albums, the group smartly wove in older classics with newer material and delighted this crowd for the duration of the performance. Showing off the thunderous rhythm section of founding member Steve Harris and his booming, precise bass playing and drummer Nicko McBrain’s solid and sturdy delivery, the band benefited from an exquisite sound mix that only bolstered the energy and the intensity of songs like “Hallowed Be Thy Name” and “The Writing on the Wall” which each drew hearty reactions.
The three-guitar assault of ax men Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers worked as well in unison as when one of the longtime guitarists stepped out on their own to deliver their own sizzling leads. The tightness and the complexity of the band’s delivery is truly astounding; sounding fresh and energized, an intricate number like “Revelations,” which alternates between slow, building balladry to crushing metal, was flawlessly pulled off.
Photo by Phil DeSimone
As Dickinson called out the origin of the flags he spotted throughout the audience, he summed up the feeling of community by stating 'We can all agree, we’re Iron Maiden fucking family!' to maniacal applause.
The band’s international fandom was on display, as many in the tightly packed general admission area of the arena’s main floor raised flags of their home countries. As Dickinson called out the origin of the flags he spotted throughout the audience, he summed up the feeling of community by stating “We can all agree, we’re Iron Maiden fucking family!” to maniacal applause. The unifying statement was a perfect lead-in to “Blood Brothers,” an epic from the band’s 2000 album, Brave New World.
The theatrics, props, and changing scenery were all remarkable sights throughout the night. Dickinson’s many costume and garb changes found him donning cloaks, robes, masks, and hats while belting fiercely throughout the 15-song setlist. The stage scenery changed throughout the performance to coincide with the songs being played; at one time, it resembled a temple (complete with mock stained glass windows sporting vintage artwork lifted from some of the group’s album covers), and later, real, raging flames erupted from pots at the rear of the stage.
The strongest reactions came from the metal classics the group would unveil near the end of the night; Dickinson sounded strong and as powerful as ever during the classic “Flight of Icarus” and managed to operate a pair of flamethrowers strapped to each of his arms while singing it.
This night had many visual and aural highlights but the performance of “Fear of the Dark,” the closing, title track of the band’s 1992 album, might have been the true showstopper. Expertly pulling off all the tune’s tempo shifts and complexities alone proved why Iron Maiden’s blend of progressive metal still stands so strongly and why it has served as the inspiration for so many hard rock bands that have followed in its footsteps. As fans on the floor jumped up and down in unison and sang along to every lyric, it was easy to detect the unflappable loyalty that coursed through the veins of everyone in the building.
The one-two punch of the first encore-closing “Run to the Hills” along with the second encores “Aces High” (which amazingly featured a realistic war plane dangling and swooping over the band), closed this loud and incredible night of music from an unstoppable, long-lasting heavy metal outfit and again, proved why its been at the head of the pack for keeping the genre alive and thriving since the dawning of the 1980s.
Not ones to take it easy and rest on its laurels, as this tour came to an end, the band has already announced its next tour, another massive journey throughout Europe and the rest of the world in 2023. This hard working, reliable and consistent band is still at it, and, based on this spectacular show, show no signs of slowing down at all.
