Bruce Dickinson is already looking ahead to his next solo album, with plans in place to begin recording in early 2026. During a recent interview with Charlie Kendall of Charlie Kendall’s Metalshop, as transcribed by blabbermouth.net, the Iron Maiden frontman shared that his next studio release is scheduled for 2027. He revealed: “We’re going in the studio in January next year to record the album with Brendan Duffey, who remixed [Dickinson’s second solo album, 1994’s] Balls to Picasso and did an amazing job. So we go in the studio with him in January, and we are looking to release the album in ’27.”
He added that the same lineup from his 2024 European tour will also record the new album and continue with him on tour in 2027. “The amazing band that is gonna record the new record with me is gonna be the same band that toured in Europe with me, and it’s gonna be the same band that’s gonna tour with me in 2027 when we release the new record. Or at least that’s the idea anyway, to release a new record [in 2027],” he explained.
Dickinson also discussed his upcoming North American solo tour, The Mandrake Project Live 2025, which launches August 22 in Anaheim, California. Speaking about the setlist, he noted: “This summer I’m touring the USA for the first time with Mandrake, and also we’re playing stuff from [1998’s] The Chemical Wedding, [1997’s] Accident of Birth… I mean, I’ve got seven studio albums to pick from. Obviously, I’m gonna be playing some stuff from Balls to Picasso, so “Tears of the Dragon” is gonna be in there and some other stuff, “Gods of War” probably, for sure. And a real cool mix of tracks.”
He continued: “I mean, stuff like “The Alchemist”, people in Europe, they’re like, ‘Oh my God. He’s playing “The Alchemist” from The Chemical Wedding.’ I went, ‘Yep, we’re doing that, and “Chemical Wedding”.’ And other things too that people will go, ‘Oh, that’s really cool.’ I hope they do anyway.”
Among the highlights of the setlist, Dickinson confirmed he’ll perform one Iron Maiden track, “Revelations”, from the 1983 album Piece of Mind. He explained why: “Because I’m going down to South America on this run just for one show — ‘cause the reason is it’s the 40th anniversary since I set foot in Rock in Rio, and there’s a big festival in São Paulo called The Town. So it’s a huge festival. I’m down there. I’m gonna be doing the show [on September 7].”
He went on: “So I’m gonna play one of what I might call my Maiden songs, ‘cause obviously I wrote some of them completely on my own. Da da. People say, ‘Hey, who wrote the guitar part to “Revelations”?’ I went, ‘You know the bit where it says who wrote the song? Did you see anybody else’s name there?’ They go, ‘Oh, man, I didn’t know you played guitar.’ So anyway, I used to play guitar with Maiden for 10 seconds on stage, but I think the bastards never plugged it in.”
Dickinson concluded, “So I’m gonna do that song, “Revelations”]”, down in Brazil. And I thought, ‘Hell, if I’m gonna rehearse “Revelations” for Brazil, oh, damn it, I might as well do it in the USA as well.’ So I think that’d be kind of cool. We’re not playing it on this next tour, this next Maiden tour. And I think because it’s my song, if I wanna tweak a few things and make a few little alterations that I think might maybe make it a little bit better, then, yeah, it’s my song. I’ll do what I damn well like.”
Returning with him on the road for The Mandrake Project Live 2025 will be the same core musicians from the 2024 lineup: drummer Dave Moreno, keyboardist Mistheria, and bassist Tanya O’Callaghan. New to the band are Swedish guitarist and producer Philip Näslund and Swiss session guitarist Chris Declercq, who previously performed on Dickinson’s “Rain on the Graves” single. Longtime collaborator Roy “Z” Ramirez will not be part of the live band this time around.
The tour will span major U.S. cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and stops across Texas, Florida, and Canada. Festival appearances include Rocklahoma in Oklahoma and Louder Than Life in Kentucky. Dickinson will also make a quick return to Brazil for his performance at The Town festival in São Paulo.
