Iron Maiden goes all-80s for world tour

Huge news for metal fans: Iron Maiden is planning a world tour that will concentrate almost entirely on the band's music and stage setups from the 80s.

The '"Somewhere Back in Time" tour is so big, the band is unveiling it in three legs. The first leg includes shows in 20 cities on five continents in just seven weeks. The band begins on Feb. 4 in Perth, Australia -- its first visit Down Under in 15 years. The second legs begins in North America in late May and the third leg starts in Europe in July.

The band plans a retro stage production, based on the Egyptian-themed production from the 1984-85 "Powerslave" tour. It will also include features from other 80s tours, including the much-beloved "Cyborg Eddie."

Not totally psyched up yet? Try this: The band, its 60-member crew and support staff and 12 tons of equipment will travel around the world in a specially converted Boeing 757 decorated with Iron Maiden and Eddie logos. And lead singer Bruce Dickinson, a licensed airline pilot, will personally fly the plane for the first leg of the tour.

"We will be packing as much of the show into the plane as we possibly can for this first leg and intend to give the fans something very special to remember," Dickinson said in a statement on the Iron Maiden website. "And it allows me to combine two of my greatest passions, music and flying."

The tour will support the 2008 DVD releases of the "Live After Death" and "Maiden England" concert performances.

Comments

[Eric S.]

One of my favorite groups. My first concert of theirs was the Somewhere in Time tour.

There is little to no chance of them coming to Florida though. I don't see them coming to the South at all. I would guess LA and NY for sure. The rest of their Us trips would be a crap shoot. I would think Chicago, Philly, maybe a Texas date or two and another Calif date.

[Al]

Dickinson is a cool guy. "Fllllly toooo the hills, fllllly for your lliiives!" Dadada tis, dadada tis!