Iron Maiden are set to tour Australia in May next year, according to their website. The tour will include material from their new album The Book of Souls, which will be released September 4. It will be their first album in five years, and their sixteenth to date.
The tour is expected to cover six continents, 35 countries, and see the band traveling over 88,500 kilometres – but that’s not even the most impressive part. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson will fly the band, crew and over 12 tonnes of equipment in a Boeing 747-400 Jumbo Jet. The ‘Ed Force One’ is named after their friendly skeletal mascot Eddie the Head.
While Dickinson has flown the band on the tour -before, the 747 is considerably larger than previous tours. “Even though we have worked out the logistics of taking a plane of that immense size out on tour, I still have to learn to fly it before we can go anywhere! So, I’m currently doing my training to qualify as a pilot and Captain on a Boeing 747,” he says.
UPDATE 14/9:
Adelaide has been included in the five date arena tour of the country. Tickets will go on sale at noon (local time) on Thursday, September 24 via ticketek. Supporting the band on all dates will be English melodic metal band The Raven Age.
Dickinson says the band will bring a “spectacular” show “with a lot of heart,” and that fans won’t be disappointed with the setlist. “We haven’t decided on the set list as yet and won’t until we start rehearsing but we really look forward to playing a number of new songs live, especially as the recording was so much live. However, as it’s been a while since we saw you all, I am sure we will include plenty of older fan favourites too.”
Iron Maiden Australian tour dates
Wednesday, May 4 – Brisbane Entertainment Center, Brisbane
Friday, May 6 – Sydney Allphones Arena, Sydney
Monday, May 9 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Thursday, May 12 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
Sunday, May 14 – Perth Arena, Perth
Who
Iron Maiden
When
Thursday, May 12
Where
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
