Tour Alert: Iron Maiden North American Tour Dates

JUN 21	Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
JUN 23	Atlanta, GA Aarons Amphitheatre
JUN 26	Boston, MA Comcast Center
JUN 27	Wantagh, NY Jones Beach
JUN 29	Philadelphia, PI Susquehanna Bank Center
JUN 30	Washington, DC Jiffy Lube Live
JUL 02	Newark, NJ Prudential Center
JUL 05	Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank
JUL 08	Quebec, QC Colisee Pepsi Arena
JUL 11	Montreal, QC Bell Center
JUL 13	Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre
JUL 14	Sarnia, ON Bayfest
JUL 16	Buffalo, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
JUL 18	Detroit, MI DTE Music Theatre
JUL 19	Indianapolis, IN Klipsch Music Centre
JUL 24	Winnipeg, MB MTS Center
JUL 26	Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome
JUL 27	Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
JUL 29	Vancouver, BC Pacific Coliseum
JUL 30	Auburn, WA White River Amphitheatre
AUG 01	Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
AUG 03	San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
AUG 06	Phoenix, AZ Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion
AUG 09	Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
AUG 12	Albuquerque, NM Hard Rock Pavilion
AUG 13	Denver, CO Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
AUG 15	San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
AUG 17	Dallas, TX Gexa Energy Pavilion
AUG 18	Houston, TX The Woodlands

Earlier this week, British metal greats Iron Maiden announced the North American dates of their Maiden England World Tour.

This 29-stop trek (with more dates to be announced) will mimic the live concert VHS Maiden England, shot in November 1988 when the band was touring on the album Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. The set list will likely include most or all of the following Maiden classics:

• Moonchild
• The Evil That Men Do
• The Prisoner
• Still Life
• Die With Your Boots On
• Infinite Dreams
• Killers
• Can I Play With Madness?
• Heaven Can Wait
• Wasted Years
• The Clairvoyant
• Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
• The Number Of The Beast
• Hallowed Be Thy Name
• Iron Maiden

Lead singer Bruce Dickinson commented in the press release, “Our intention is to play about two thirds of the original track list of Maiden England, including some songs we have not played live in a very, very long time.”

Shock rocker Alice Cooper will open for Maiden on all shows up to July 21, at which time he will separately tours Europe. After July 21, Maiden will be accompanied by Coheed and Cambria.

Tickets for most shows go on sale March 2 and 3. When possible, the band will sell paperless tickets to counter scalping efforts.

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HEAVY Rotation: Iron Maiden’s “The Number of the Beast”

In April 1982, Iron Maiden released “The Number of the Beast” as a single off of the album of the same name. Penned by bassist Steve Harris after a having nightmare from watching Damien: Omen II, the song became a heavy metal classic to fans and the devil’s music to social conservatives.

The Number of the Beast was controversial, to say the least. In traditional Iron Maiden form, the cover featured the band’s frightening mascot, Eddie, puppeteering a red devil (pitchfork and all) from the fingernails of his flesh-and-bones skeleton. But lyrically, the title track was most scrutinized.

The song begins with two Bible verses:

“Woe to you O earth and sea for the Devil sends the beast with wrath because he knows the time is short … Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast for it is a human number. Its number is six hundred and sixty six.”
- Revelation 12:12, 13:18

Then the intro begins a near-five-minute metal anthem so heavy, it requires two lead guitarists. Add the following lyrics from all three choruses:

In the mist, dark figures move and twist
Was all this for real or just some kind of hell?
6! 6-6! The number of the beast
Hell and fire were spawned to be released
…
In the night, the fires burning bright
The ritual has begun, Satan’s work is done
6! 6-6! The number of the beast
Sacrifice is going on tonight
…
6! 6-6! The number of the beast
6! 6-6! The one for you and me

The chanting of 6-6-6 and the dark imagery caused American right-wingers to label Iron Maiden as a “Satanic band.” However, the album became a critical success that yielded two other hit singles (“Run to the Hills” and “Hallowed Be Thy Name”) that supported their 1982 Beast on the Road world tour.

So, despite the uproar at the beginning, it led to global recognition, a 187-date tour and multi-platinum certification between the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Satan’s work is done…