The '80s saw Iron Maiden shoot out of a cannon on their volcanic rise to the upper tiers of heavy metal.
Beginning the decade with their self titled debut, Iron Maiden (1980), and increasingly improving with Killers (1981), The Number of the Beast (1982), Piece of Mind (1983), Powerslave (1984), and wrapping it up with Somewhere in Time (1986), the band's current Run For Your Lives World Tour is a 50th anniversary celebration focused those wildly successful and innovative first albums spilling over to Fear of the Dark (1992).
The 2026 leg opened Saturday (5/23) at the Olympic Athletic Center in Athens, Greece, with a setlist that included a tour debut the Brits hadn't rocked since 1988.
The lads consist of Bruce Dickinson (vocals), Steve Harris (bass), Dave Murray (guitar), Adrian Smith (guitar), Janick Gers (guitar) and Harris’ British Lion bandmate Simon Dawson taking over drums on tour after longtime drummer Nicko McBrain retired from the live circuit in December 2024.
McBrain was another blessing to the band in the '80s as he joined Maiden in December 1982 and laid down some classic beats and fills for 42 years.
"We couldn't think of a better place in Europe to start this tour," Dickenson told the 50,000 Greeks.
"We know a few of you have seen some of this show before. We thought we'd just do a little bit of something different, just for this next song, because it's a song that we have not played for many, many years.
"No, it's not 'Alexander The Great,'" he joked.
"But it will be when you go to bed tonight... your 'Infinite Dreams.'"
The tune got its live debut in 1988, was played 96 times during the wonderfully named Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour and then never again.
What's incredible listening to it 38 years later is the musical center contains plenty of Maiden-esque leads and melodic moments.
Plus the drumming parts give Dawson some room to frolic.
The setlist is one banger after another. This is the show many old school Maiden fans have wanted for a while. The newest tune in the set is the title track of Fear of the Dark (1992).
If you include the 1985 live LP Live After Death, the '80s records Maiden put out accounted for over 45 million albums sold.
So why play a tune from the '90s that's been in the setlist of practically every tour they've done, when this could have been exclusively '80s? Maiden does what Maiden does.
Still, it's hard not to think "Flight of Icarus," from Piece of Mind would fit in the set a bit better. Not only is Piece of Mind strangely underrepresented with just "The Trooper" in the set, but it hasn't been played in four years.
And judging from how the band has been adverse to playing it, what if it never gets back in the set?
Could it be that Bruce doesn't like it because it's such a high register tune?
Fine: let the crowd sing it. Bands would die for a song like that in its arsenal.
Maiden is touring around Europe through July. In August they hit Canada, September the US is treated to the rock.
Grab your tix on Iron Maiden's website. Tell em Eddie sent ya.
Run For Your Lives World Tour 2026
May 28: Bucharest Arena Națională, Romania
May 30: Bratislava Národný Futbalový Štadión, Slovakia
June 2: Hannover Heinz von Heiden Arena, Germany
June 4: Sölvesborg Sweden Rock, Sweden
June 6: Nürnberg Zeppelinfield (Rock im Park), Germany
June 7: Nürburgring Rock am Ring, Germany
June 10: Amsterdam Ziggo Dome, Netherlands
June 13: Nickelsdorf Nova Rock, Austria
June 14: Hradec Kralove Rock for People, Czech Republic
June 17: Milan San Siro Stadium, Italy
June 19: Clisson Hellfest, France
June 22: Paris La Défense Arena, France
June 24: Copenhagen Copenhell, Denmark
June 25: Oslo Tons of Rock, Norway
June 28: Lyon - Décines Groupama Stadium, France
June 29: Antwerp Live is Live, Belgium
July 2: Viveiro Resurrection Fest, Spain
July 4: Cartagena Rock Imperium Festival, Spain
July 7: Lisbon Estádio da Luz, Portugal
July 11: Knebworth EddFest, United Kingdom
August 29: Toronto Scotiabank Arena, Canada
August 30: Toronto Scotiabank Arena, CanadaSeptember 3: Montréal Parc Jean-Drapeau, Canada
September 5: Harrison Sports Illustrated Stadium, USA
September 6: Harrison Sports Illustrated Stadium, USA
September 9: Boston TD Garden, USA
September 11: Bristow Jiffy Lube Live, USA
September 12: Charlotte Truliant Amphitheater, USA
September 15: Hershey Hersheypark Stadium, USA
September 17: Louisville Louder Than Life Festival, USA
September 19: Shakopee Mystic Amphitheater, USA
September 22: Chicago Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, USA
September 25: Los Angeles BMO Stadium, USA
September 27: Los Angeles BMO Stadium, USA
September 29: San Antonio Alamodome, USA
October 2: Mexico City Estadio GNP Seguros, Mexico
October 5: San Salvador Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González, El Salvador
October 8: San José Estadio Nacional, Costa Rica
October 11: Bogotá Vive Claro, Colombia
October 14: Quito Estadio Atahualpa, Ecuador
October 17: Lima Estadio Nacional, Peru
October 20: Buenos Aires Estadio Hurácan, Argentina
October 21: Buenos Aires Estadio Hurácan, Argentina
October 25: São Paulo Allianz Parque, Brazil
October 27: São Paulo Allianz Parque, Brazil
October 28: Curitiba Arena da Baixada, Brazil
October 31: Santiago Estadio Nacional, ChileNovember 1: Santiago Estadio Nacional, Chile
November 7: Auckland Spark Arena, New Zealand
November 8: Auckland Spark Arena, New Zealand
November 11: Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Australia
November 13: Melbourne AAMI Park, Australia
November 15: Sydney Allianz Stadium, Australia
November 18: Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Australia
November 19: Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Australia
November 24: Yokohama K-Arena, Japan
November 25: Yokohama K-Arena, Japan
