As the clock winds down to the opening night of Iron Maiden’s Run For Your Lives world tour on May 27 in Budapest, the veteran metal titans are setting the tone for what promises to be their most ambitious live show yet. With over a million tickets already sold across Europe and most dates nearing capacity, the tour is shaping up to be more than just a concert series — it’s a full-scale tribute to a legacy five decades in the making.
Formed in 1975 by bassist Steve Harris, Iron Maiden is using this milestone year to look back on their earliest records, from Iron Maiden through Fear Of The Dark. The setlist is said to span all nine studio albums released during those years, paired with what the band promises will be their most elaborate production to date.
But while the band is going big on nostalgia and spectacle, they’re also asking fans for a modest but meaningful favor: put the phones away.
“We really want fans to enjoy the shows first hand, rather than on their small screens,” says longtime Maiden manager Rod Smallwood. “The amount of phone use nowadays diminishes enjoyment, particularly for the band who are on stage looking out at rows of phones, but also for other concertgoers.”
This isn’t just about aesthetics or etiquette. According to Smallwood, it’s about restoring the visceral, communal energy that live music was built on. “We feel that the passion and involvement of our fans at shows really makes them special, but the phone obsession has now got so out of hand that it has become unnecessarily distracting, especially to the band.”
He continues: “We would very much like you to be ‘in the moment’ instead and be fully actively involved to enjoy each and every one of these classic songs in the spirit and manner they were first played.”
In other words, fans are being asked to be participants, not passive observers. “This show isn’t just a celebration of our music; it is, as you will see, also about our years of art, of Eddie and of the many, many worlds of Maiden we have created for you. So please respect the band, respect the other fans, and have the time of your lives as you join your Maiden family by singing your heart out rather than getting your phone out!! It’s really not a lot to ask, is it?”
Beyond the music, Run For Your Lives will also bring a host of fan-focused experiences, echoing what the band trialed during their last tour in Australia. Pop-up “Eddie’s dive bars” are set to appear in 20 cities, offering pre- and post-show hangouts featuring Trooper beer, Darkest Red wine, food, exclusive merchandise, and more. Though the band won’t attend these gatherings, they’re meant to cultivate the community spirit Iron Maiden fans have always embraced.
Complementing the tour, the band has also lined up two major commemorative projects: a feature-length documentary in partnership with Universal Pictures Content Group, and a lavish hardback book via Thames & Hudson, capturing five decades of Iron Maiden through rare visuals and archival material. More details on both are expected soon.
The tour also marks the debut of Simon Dawson behind the kit — a significant change for longtime followers. Dawson, who previously worked with Harris in the British Lion project, steps into the drummer role for the first time on a Maiden tour.
With all of these elements converging — legacy, artistry, community, and a respectful request for presence — Run For Your Lives isn’t just a concert series. It’s a milestone moment in heavy metal history. And if Iron Maiden has its way, it will be remembered not through phone screens, but through full-throated sing-alongs, fist pumps, and the kind of shared memory that no camera can ever quite capture.
