Maiden in Oz 2008 (It's Official )

[black_tooth_grin]

EDDIE GETS HIGH AND GOES GLOBAL
Published: September 5, 2007

http://www.ironmaiden.com/images/news/lineup.jpg

IRON MAIDEN announce their most ambitious and extraordinary touring plans ever -- and are very pleased to announce that this will include Australia for the first time in 15 years!

The 'SOMEWHERE BACK IN TIME' World Tour 2008 will be in three sections, starting in February and March 2008 with the first leg encompassing major concerts in 20 selected cities on five continents in seven weeks including India, Japan, North America, Central and South America, and, of course, Australia, opening in Perth on Feb 4 and continuing through Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane:

SOMEWHERE BACK IN TIME, AUSTRALIA 2008

February
Monday 4th, Burswood Dome, Perth
Wednesday 6th, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Saturday 9th, Acer Arena, Sydney
Tuesday 12th, Entertainment Centre, Brisbane


The tour then continues with more concerts in North America in late May and June before finishing with a third leg in July and August encompassing major stadiums and festivals all over Europe. During the tour the band is expected to play to well over one and a half million fans and travel close to 100,000 miles.

In an historic first, Iron Maiden, their 60-strong crew and support staff and over 12 tons of equipment will be travelling around the world en masse for the first leg of the tour in a specially commissioned and converted Astraeus Boeing 757 decorated with Maiden and Eddie designs! Vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who is a qualified Airline Captain flying for Astraeus Airlines, will pilot the plane on its epic mission, flying over 50,000 miles.

Comments Bruce Dickinson, "We had the idea last year of converting a jumbo jet into effectively what would be a flying 113 ton 'splitter bus' for touring and we have been working seriously on it ever since. It's pretty complex but in the end we were able, with a lot of help from Astraeus Airlines, to overcome all the technicalities of customising the plane for our purposes. We are taking out the back 10 rows of seats to fit in a customised cargo hold that we can use again in the future if this jaunt works. This is in addition to all the standard storage holds. By taking band, personnel and equipment in one form of transport it makes all the touring so much easier and overcomes the logistical difficulty of people and equipment going in different planes. We can even work out exactly how big our carbon footprint is and take care of that responsibility! 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. And it allows me to combine 2 of my greatest passions, music and flying!!

To tie in with forthcoming 2008 releases on DVD of the classic 'LIVE AFTER DEATH' and 'MAIDEN ENGLAND' concert videos (more details coming soon) this tour, aptly entitled 'SOMEWHERE BACK IN TIME', will revisit the band's history by focusing almost entirely on the 80's in both choice of songs played and the stage set, which will be based around the legendary Egyptian Production of the 1984-85 'Powerslave Tour'. This will arguably be the most elaborate and spectacular show the band have ever presented, and will include some key elements of their Somewhere In Time tour of 1986/7, such as the Cyborg Eddie.

Steve Harris comments; "On the last tour we opened the show by playing our new album 'A Matter of Life and Death' in its 80 minute entirety. We thought we needed the challenge and it proved the right thing to do. However, it can be hard on the fans playing so much new material and we really appreciated the superb support they gave us. So now l guess it's payback time. It's tremendous to be able to use the profile of the DVDs to do what is effectively an 80's show. It will be enormous fun and by changing the approach to the songs we play tour by tour it keeps it fresh and interesting for both the band and the fans alike. l think 'Powerslave' was an incredible show with the Egyptian theme and look forward to seeing it all again myself. We have been planning this for a few years and hoping to take it to Australia -- so we are all delighted that it has now worked out. I would also like to say that we are all are very grateful to our loyal fans in Oz who have kept the Maiden flag flying all these years and we are sorry to have disappointed you for so long. Thanks and see you there"


Rod Smallwood, Iron Maiden's Manager, further commented; "Following Bruce's various hints from on stage this last year about our plans for 2008 ("We are taking some time off to build some pyramids!"), fans have been pestering me for details of the tour and especially asking which songs from that era will be played. That may be as easy as a run in the hills but we will keep our aces close to our chest on this issue. I know it would only take a couple of minutes but at this stage of planning, I'd have to be clairvoyant to know what they will do. I'm sure though it will be no revelation for you that we intend to make up for those wasted years by visiting a large number of hallowed metal venues around the world. Historically 'Powerslave' was an incredibly important album for the band and it would be madness if we didn't give the fans a taste of the full on Iron Maiden show from that time. With our jumbo there really is no rime nor reason why the band cannot now visit fans almost everywhere as many have been real troopers to have waited this long. Heaven only knows what the band will choose but if l could and did tell you now l would have to shoot you! You'll all have to be patient and see. But it will be spectacular. No fear!!"


Historically, this will be Maiden's fourth Australian Tour having first toured in 1982 when 'The Number of the Beast' was Australia's number one album, then again in 1985 with the original 'Powerslave' show and most recently in 1992 with 'Fear of the Dark'. However a great deal has happened with the band since then, especially in recent years when ticket sales have continued to explode around the world as the band's loyal fan base continues to flourish. As Maiden have never had airplay or much video channel exposure anywhere in the world their popularity spread mainly by word of mouth on the back of a legacy of many great albums and an awesome live reputation With the ever increasing power of the internet the Maiden legend has fired the imagination of new young fans around the planet, and, although their audience spans two generations, it is now predominantly a young one, inspired by the massive legacy and influence of this unique band (and, of course, Eddie).

To allow Iron Maiden fans in Australia to get right up close to the band,the fan club are organising advance booking of tickets for members and running a special draw for them whereby 60 winners and friend at each show will be given first access to the venue and be first to the stage barrier. Full details will be on www.ironmaiden.com.

Tickets go on sale to the public 9am Thursday 27th September, but members of the Iron Maiden fan club get exclusive first access to purchase tickets from 12 noon Thursday 20th September through to 12 noon Monday 24th September. More details soon!

I'm speechless, I think im going to cry.

[ultrachronic]

NNNOOOOOoooooo...

February's too early

[mawdyson]

Fuckin' awesome!

[pipsqeek]

OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!
!!ELEVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






















I can die now..... no........ on the 10th of Feb

[black_tooth_grin]

I want to get a petition out as soon as possible for support. I reckon LORD and Black Majesty will be great, don't you think?

I'll set it all up after I finish work today.

Oh man, this is so amazing. Thank god we live in the commonwealth.

[ultrachronic]

I can safely say that they're great live people.

Seen 'em twice in the past year.

So, if i'm reading that right, they'll be in Asia through March, yeah?

[Pethical]

heartbroken. (i'm in america then).

[fire_angel]

I'm with you Anwar. While i'm sure Maiden have already lined up some dickhead emo band for us yet again, i think not having Lord open for them would be the dumbest fucking thing to happen to metal in Australia. Two bands have never complemented each other as well as Lord and Maiden do, so it's seriously a no brainer. Sadly, given their history, and using the recent Heaven and Hell tour as an example, they will most likely bring their own support act, and they will most likely suck shit.

All of this is of course secondary to the fact that Maiden are actually coming to Australia (I still can't believe it quite frankly)

[Crabby]

Originally Posted by ultrachronic

I can safely say that they're great live people.

Seen 'em twice in the past year.

They are great live and I will do whatever it takes to get tickets for this one.

[ultrachronic]

Originally Posted by Crabby

They are great live and I will do whatever it takes to get tickets for this one.

I'd go and see them if they were playing in March. I plan on visiting Aus next year (got a mate moving there in 2 weeks ) and I'll probably be visiting in March. Ach, well, can always look forward to LORD should something happen then :P

Anyways, y'all have Eddie to look forward to (Picture taken Glasgow: December '06)

[Bucko]

nice one

[Watto]

I haven't had the internet more or less since ive been back from Europe. But thanks to a 6am Sms from Stormster informing me of the good news I had to find an internet connection to see it for myself. Stormy your a Fucking champ you made my shit day at work good

[Lord Tim]

*** PANTS EXPLODE OFF-TOPIC STYLEZ ***

[flip`]

Looking forward to this greatly!!!! \m/

I have a bad feeling about shitty supports though but imagine LORD in a packed Acer Arena, woaah!!!

[LegionsOfTheDead]

using the recent Heaven and Hell tour as an example, they will most likely bring their own support act, and they will most likely suck shit.

Down suck shit?

[fire_angel]

Only my humble opinion mate.

[Crabby]

I thought this would just be the 1984-88 material, but judging by the poster on the Maiden website they'll be playing material from the first seven albums. Words cannot describe how good that would be.

I never thought this would happen, because they've basically been paying lip service to Aussie fans for years, saying they're coming but never delivering. So that's why I was so surprised when it was officially announced, even though I'd heard plenty of rumours about it. Colour me absolutely beside myself with excitement though!

[cowboy]

Ticketek have their information page up now. No prices yet.

[fire_angel]

Originally Posted by Crabby

I never thought this would happen, because they've basically been paying lip service to Aussie fans for years, saying they're coming but never delivering. So that's why I was so surprised when it was officially announced, even though I'd heard plenty of rumours about it. Colour me absolutely beside myself with excitement though!

I'd put their decision to finally tour oz again as 5% good will and 95% profitability. But that's just my take, and i'd hardly expect them to come out of loyalty to the fans if they were to lose thousands in expenses

[Over the wall]

What do you think the odds are of them adding extra shows?

[Mean Machine]

I have a feeling there are going to be some fucking massive gatherings/pissups before these gigs haha.

[Bucko]

hope so, but can I afford it ... shit

[Celestial-Todd]

Originally Posted by Crabby

I never thought this would happen, because they've basically been paying lip service to Aussie fans for years, saying they're coming but never delivering

It was the same with Blind Guardian... it seemed like every 12 months there'd be new rumours of a BG tour but nothing would ever come it it. I was still anxious about the shows being cancelled up till about a week before the actual event!

[Nebulous]

I know I'm probably one of the only ones (and starting to sound un greatful) but I'd really like to hear some BNW material too. At least Dream of Mirrors, or the title track.

[Crabby]

Dream Of Mirrors is a real favourite of mine actually.