In a moment that will surely be etched into the annals of heavy metal history, Iron Maiden delivered an awe-inspiring performance on the first night of their highly anticipated Future Past tour in Slovenia.
The British hard rock legends blew metal-head brains by gracing the stage with an electrifying rendition of “Alexander the Great,” a song that had never before seen the light of day in a live setting.
Watch Iron Maiden play “Alexander the Great”
As the crowd roared with anticipation, the familiar opening chords reverberated through the air, signaling the arrival of a long-awaited masterpiece. As lead-guitarist Adrian Smith let out the song’s legendary riff, the crowd began in a chorus that mirrored its cinematically epic sound.
Under the leadership of frontman Bruce Dickinson’s powerful vocals, “Alexander the Great” unfolded like a grand tapestry, weaving together intricate melodies, thunderous rhythms, and Dickinson’s surprisingly strong chops (the man is 64).
The song’s performance marked a defining moment not only for the band, but also encompasses why they are special to their loyal fan base. The band kicked off the show with “Caught Somewhere in Time,” the 1986 Somewhere in Time album opener not performed live since 1987. Then, “Stranger In a Strange Land” for the first time since 1999, as well as “Heaven Can Wait,” absent from the setlist since 2008. Iron Maiden’s willingness to delve deep into their illustrious catalog while also still expertly showcasing their newest offering, Senjutsu is what makes them a great band.
There’s nothing worse than seeing a band you’ve grown up with that refuses to play the hits. Iron Maiden does that, and then-some with intricate set design that transforms you into a post-apocalyptic samurai hell-scape to match their latest 2021 release.
The May 28th Setlist (from twitter user metaltower.net)
01. “Caught Somewhere in Time” (first time since 1987)
02. “Stranger in a Strange Land” (first time since 1999)
03. “The Writing on the Wall”
04. “Days of Future Past” (live debut”
05. “The Time Machine” (live debut)
06. “The Prisoner” (first time since 2014)
07. “Death of the Celts” (live debut)
08. “Can I Play With Madness” (first time since 2014)
09. “Heaven Can Wait” (first time since 2008)
10. “Alexander the Great” (live debut)
Get tickets to see Iron Maiden on their 2023 tour here. And let’s hope they come to Dubai soon!