After more than five decades in heavy metal, Iron Maiden still has plenty of fire left in the tank. Guitarist Adrian Smith says the band continues to enjoy performing live, and he believes its concerts have become even more exciting as younger fans join longtime devotees in the crowd.
In a new interview, Smith reflected on the band’s longevity, its current Run for Your Lives world tour, and the experience of revisiting songs from Iron Maiden’s early years.
“We’re still together, we’re still friends,” Smith said, emphasizing the bond that has helped the group navigate its long career. He added that the band enjoys playing live as much as, if not more than, ever.
Iron Maiden Is Winning Over Younger Fans
For Smith, one of the most rewarding parts of Iron Maiden’s continued success is seeing multiple generations of fans at its shows.
The guitarist said audiences now include parents, their children, and even grandchildren singing along to the band’s music. He also noted the growing presence of younger concertgoers, proving that Iron Maiden’s catalog continues to connect with listeners well beyond the generation that first discovered the band.
That enthusiasm gives the veteran musicians another reason to keep delivering high-energy performances.
Iron Maiden formed in 1975 under bassist Steve Harris and helped shape the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with landmark albums such as The Number of the Beast, Powerslave and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. The band has continued to draw fans worldwide while maintaining the elaborate stage shows and powerful performances that define its live reputation.
‘Run for Your Lives’ Tour Revisits Iron Maiden’s Early Years
Iron Maiden’s ongoing Run for Your Lives tour gives fans a trip through the band’s early catalog, with a setlist drawing from its first nine studio albums, released between 1980 and 1992.
The show brings back songs that the band had left out of its setlists for years. Smith specifically mentioned “Murders in the Rue Morgue,” from 1981’s Killers, along with material from the self-titled 1980 debut album.
Although Smith did not play on the debut, he enjoys performing songs from different stages of Iron Maiden’s history. “The music hasn’t changed, so, yeah, we can take songs from any era and make them work in a modern setting. And together with the show we have, it just takes you through that period of the band to bring it all to life. And it’s great fun playing the old stuff. It just brings back some great memories,” he explained.
Iron Maiden Will Return to North America in 2027
Iron Maiden will bring the Run for Your Lives tour back to North America in spring 2027 for a final leg featuring 16 shows. The band has said the upcoming dates will mark the tour’s last run, following a worldwide trek expected to reach 107 concerts across 36 countries.
Iron Maiden will have another major milestone to celebrate this year: its induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The ceremony is scheduled for November 14 in Los Angeles.
