Somewhere Back in Time World Tour was a concert tour by Iron Maiden in 2008 and 2009 to support the DVD release of their 1985 concert video Live After Death, as well as their 2008 greatest hits compilation CD Somewhere Back in Time. Being a re-creation of the band's 1985 World Slavery Tour, the stage is designed with an Ancient Egyptian theme and the set list primarily consists of songs from the 1984 album Powerslave. Songs from Iron Maiden (1980), Killers (1981), The Number of the Beast (1982), Piece of Mind (1983), Somewhere in Time (1986), Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988), and Fear of the Dark (1992) also comprise the set list.
Tour commentary[]
Iron Maiden's Boeing 757 tour plane, nicknamed "Ed Force One."
The first leg of Iron Maiden's Somewhere Back in Time World Tour opened in Mumbai, India on Feb 1st, and continued through Australia, Japan, Los Angeles and Mexico, followed by the band's first ever concerts in Costa Rica and Colombia, and then on to Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Puerto Rico and New York, before finishing in Toronto, Canada, on March 16. Over the 45 day period the band played 23 concerts to over 500,000 fans in 11 countries, flying close to 50,000 miles in the specially refitted plane.
EMA Telstar announced that the Maiden tour will be the biggest rock tour that any band has ever undertaken in these Nordic regions. Comments tour promoter Thomas Johansson of EMA Telstar:
"We are all very proud to be making history by giving our rock fans the biggest Nordic Rock Tour there has ever been and certainly one of the most spectacular. Maiden is so hugely popular with the Nordic peoples that we wanted to ensure that as many fans as possible got the opportunity to see this very special show next year as we expect demand for tickets to be enormous."
Maiden had also announced that they would be returning to cities that they hadn't returned to for years. Western Canada is included, as their five city run through Western Canada had sold out the very day they went on sale. Calgary and Regina had sold out in just under an hour. Edmonton sold out completely in a few hours. Winnipeg and Vancouver sold out within two hours. Calgary also had the highest pre-sale ever for the band, in which they sold out half the tickets. Edmonton and Regina were not far behind. Says Dickinson about the results: "We are truly overwhelmed by this response, especially as some of these cities we haven't played in 20 years!! Being Brits we are always very comfortable with Canadians and it will be a great pleasure to get back on the prairies again. It was always a LOUD response there! We look forward to this immensely and hope to give you all a show to remember." Most recently they played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tickets to this show were sold out. During the performance of "Powerslave" the band's instruments lost power for a brief period of time and they passed time by playing english football on the stage. Once the equipment was fixed they returned and asked the audience if they should play the last verse of the song or do the next one. The band opted to play the next song which was "Heaven Can Wait". Rarely ever have Maiden been cancelling gigs in the past 2 years, but due to storm damage to the PA and lights at the Metalway Festival in Zaragoza, Spain, Maiden had to cancel their July 12 date.
Opening Bands[]
Opening bands for this tour are:
- First Leg: Lauren Harris, Vanishing Point, Behind Crimson Eyes, Parikrama.
- Second Leg: Lauren Harris, Anthrax (May 30 and 31 only) and Trivium (June 14 only).
- Third Leg: Lauren Harris, Within Temptation (just at Twickenham Stadium and TT in Assen), Kamelot (only at TT in Assen), Avenged Sevenfold (not at every gig), Made Of Hate (Warsaw show only), Salamandra (Prague show only) and Slayer (Lisbon show).
- Fourth Leg: Lauren Harris, Carcass, Atreyu, Morbid Angel, Anthrax (Bogota), Ágora (Mexico City), IRA (Monterrey), M.A.S.A.C.R.E. (Lima), Witchblade (Chile)
Setlist varied[]
2008 Setlist[]
- Intro.Doctor Doctor/Transylvania/Churchill's Speech
- "Aces High" (From Powerslave, 1984)
- "2 Minutes to Midnight" (From Powerslave, 1984)
- "Revelations" (From Piece of Mind, 1983)
- "The Trooper" (From Piece of Mind, 1983)
- "Wasted Years" (From Somewhere in Time, 1986)
- "The Number of The Beast" (From The Number of the Beast, 1982)
- "Can I Play with Madness" (From Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 1988)
- "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (From Powerslave, 1984)
- "Powerslave" (From Powerslave, 1984)
- "Heaven Can Wait" (From Somewhere in Time, 1986)
- "Run to the Hills" (From The Number of the Beast, 1982)
- "Fear of The Dark" (From Fear of the Dark, 1992)
- "Iron Maiden" (From Iron Maiden, 1980)
- "Moonchild" (From Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 1988)
- "The Clairvoyant" (From Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 1988)
- "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (From The Number of the Beast, 1982)
(the last three being the encore)
2009 Setlist[]
- Intro.Doctor Doctor/Transylvania/Churchill's Speech
- "Aces High" (From Powerslave, 1984)
- "Wrathchild" (From Killers, 1988)
- "2 Minutes to Midnight" (From Powerslave, 1984)
- "Children of the Damned" (From The Number of the Beast, 1982)
- "Phantom of the Opera" (From Iron Maiden, 1980)
- "The Trooper" (From Piece of Mind, 1983)
- "Wasted Years" (From Somewhere in Time, 1986)
- "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (From Powerslave, 1984)
- "Powerslave" (From Powerslave, 1984)
- "Run to the Hills" (From The Number of the Beast, 1982)
- "Fear of The Dark" (From Fear of the Dark, 1992)
- "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (From The Number of the Beast, 1982)
- "Iron Maiden" (From Iron Maiden, 1980)
- "The Number of The Beast" (From The Number of the Beast, 1982)
- "The Evil That Men Do" (From Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 1988)
- "Sanctuary" (From Iron Maiden, 1980)
(the last three being the encore)
Personnel[]
- Bruce Dickinson – lead vocals
- Dave Murray – guitar
- Adrian Smith – guitar, backing vocals
- Janick Gers – guitar, backing vocals
- Steve Harris – bass, backing vocals
- Nicko McBrain – drums, percussion
- Michael Kenney – keyboards
Tour Dates[]
| Date | City | Country | Venue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tickets sold | Tickets on sale | Percentage sold | ||||
| Leg #1 (Asia, Oceania, North America & South America) | ||||||
| 1 February 2008 | Mumbai | India | Bandra-Kurla complex | 30,000 | 30,000 | 100% |
| 4 February 2008 | Perth | Australia | Burswood Dome | 14,000 | 14,000 | 100% |
| 6 February 2008 | Melbourne | Rod Laver Arena | 11,000 | 11,000 | 100% | |
| 7 February 2008 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 100% | |||
| 9 February 2008 | Sydney | Acer Arena | 10,610 | 10,610 | 100% | |
| 10 February 2008 | 10,610 | 10,610 | 100% | |||
| 12 February 2008 | Brisbane | Entertainment Centre | 13,500 | 13,500 | 100% | |
| 15 February 2008 | Yokohama | Japan | Yokohama Pacifico | 4,000 | 4,000 | 100% |
| 16 February 2008 | Tokyo | Makuhari Messe | 10,000 | 10,000 | 100% | |
| 19 February 2008 | Inglewood, CA | United States | The Forum | 14,142 | 14,142 | 100% |
| 21 February 2008 | Guadalajara | Mexico | Telmex Auditorium | 11,000 | 11,000 | 100% |
| 22 February 2008 | Monterrey | Monterrey Arena | 12,000 | 12,000 | 100% | |
| 24 February 2008 | Mexico City | Foro Sol | 52,159 | 52,159 | 100% | |
| 26 February 2008 | San José | Costa Rica | Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá | 23,949 | 23,949 | 100% |
| 28 February 2008 | Bogotá | Colombia | Simón Bolívar Park | 87,788 | 87,788 | 100% |
| 2 March 2008 | Sao Paulo | Brazil | Estádio Palestra Itália | 37,812 | 37,812 | 100% |
| 4 March 2008 | Curitiba | Pedreira Paulo Leminski | 20,000 | 20,000 | 100% | |
| 5 March 2008 | Porto Alegre | Gigantinho | 15,000 | 15,000 | 100% | |
| 7 March 2008 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | Estadio Ricardo Etcheverry | 25,000 | 25,000 | 100% |
| 9 March 2008 | Santiago | Chile | Pista Atletica | 26,574 | 26,574 | 100% |
| 12 March 2008 | San Juan | Puerto Rico | Coliseo De Puerto Rico | 11,548 | 13,626 | 85% |
| 14 March 2008 | East Rutherford, NJ | United States | Izod Center | 14,154 | 14,154 | 100% |
| 16 March 2008 | Toronto | Canada | Air Canada Centre | 13,766 | 13,766 | 100% |
| Leg #2 (North America) | ||||||
| 21 May 2008 | San Antonio, TX | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheater | 13,667 | 19,982 | 68% |
| 22 May 2008 | The Woodlands, TX | Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion | 11,108 | 15,861 | 70% | |
| 25 May 2008 | Albuquerque, NM | Journal Pavilion | 14,973 | 14,973 | 100% | |
| 26 May 2008 | Phoenix, AZ | Cricket Wireless Pavilion | 11,435 | 19,921 | 57% | |
| 28 May 2008 | Concord, CA | Sleep Train Pavilion | 12,500 | 12,500 | 100% | |
| 30 May 2008 | Irvine, CA | Verizon Wireless Amphitheater | 16,133 | 16,133 | 100% | |
| 31 May 2008 | 16,133 | 16,133 | 100% | |||
| 2 June 2008 | Auburn, WA | White River Amphitheatre | 13,188 | 19,508 | 68% | |
| 3 June 2008 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum | 17,150 | 17,150 | 100% |
| 5 June 2008 | Calgary | Pengrowth Saddledome | 12,000 | 12,000 | 100% | |
| 6 June 2008 | Edmonton | Rexall Place | 13,000 | 13,000 | 100% | |
| 8 June 2008 | Regina | Brandt Centre | 7,000 | 7,000 | 100% | |
| 9 June 2008 | Winnipeg | MTS Centre | 12,500 | 12,500 | 100% | |
| 11 June 2008 | Rosemont, IL | United States | Allstate Arena | 12,254 | 13,041 | 94% |
| 12 June 2008 | Cuyahoga Falls, OH | Blossom Music Center | 10,028 | 21,340 | 47% | |
| 14 June 2008 | Holmdel, NJ | PNC Bank Arts Center | 11,340 | 16,996 | 67% | |
| 15 June 2008 | New York City | Madison Square Garden | 20,000 | 20,000 | 100% | |
| 17 June 2008 | Camden, NJ | Susquehanna Bank Center | 7,779 | 25,265 | 31% | |
| 18 June 2008 | Columbia, MD | Merriweather Post Pavilion | 9,211 | 15,000 | 61% | |
| 20 June 2008 | Mansfield, MA | Comcast Center | 19,900 | 19,900 | 100% | |
| 21 June 2008 | Montréal | Canada | Parc Jean-Drapeau | 22,500 | 90,000 | 56% |
| Leg #3 (Europe) | ||||||
| 27 June 2008 | Bologna | Italy | Gods of Metal | 40,000 | 40,000 | 100% |
| 29 June 2008 | Dessel | Belgium | Graspop Metal Meeting | 55,000 | 55,000 | 100% |
| 1 July 2008 | Paris | France | Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy | 16,500 | 16,500 | 100% |
| 2 July 2008 | 16,500 | 16,500 | 100% | |||
| 5 July 2008 | London | England | Twickenham Stadium | 52,000 | 52,000 | 100% |
| 9 July 2008 | Lisbon | Portugal | Super Bock Super Rock | 30,000 | 30,000 | 100% |
| 11 July 2008 | Mérida | Spain | Via de la Plata Festival | 25,000 | 25,000 | 100% |
| 12 July 2008 | Zaragoza | Metalway Festival | (Cancelled) | |||
| 16 July 2008 | Stockholm | Sweden | Stockholms Olympiastadion | 32,150 | 32,151 | 100% |
| 18 July 2008 | Helsinki | Finland | Helsinki Olympic Stadium | 42,000 | 42,000 | 100% |
| 19 July 2008 | Tampere | Ratina Stadium | 30,000 | 30,000 | 100% | |
| 22 July 2008 | Trondheim | Norway | Lerkendal Stadium | 24,000 | 24,000 | 100% [1] |
| 24 July 2008 | Oslo | Valle Hovin | 26,000 | 30,000 | 87% | |
| 26 July 2008 | Gothenburg | Sweden | Ullevi Stadium | 56 132 | 56 132 | 100% |
| 27 July 2008 | Horsens | Denmark | Horsens Gods Bane Pladsen | 13,000 | 25,000 | 52% |
| 31 July 2008 | Wacken | Germany | Wacken Open Air | 72,000 | 72,000 | 100% |
| 2 August 2008 | Athens | Greece | Terra Vibe Park | 35,000 | 35,000 | 100% |
| 4 August 2008 | Bucharest | Romania | Cotroceni Stadium | 25,000 | 25,000 | 100% |
| 7 August 2008 | Warsaw | Poland | Gwardia Stadium | 29,000 | 29,000 | 100% |
| 8 August 2008 | Prague | Czech Republic | Slavia Stadium | 35,000 | 35,000 | 100% |
| 10 August 2008 | Split | Croatia | Poljud City Stadium | 27,650 | 30,000 | 92.16% |
| 12 August 2008 | Budapest | Hungary | Sziget Festival | 40,000 | 40,000 | 100% |
| 14 August 2008 | Basel | Switzerland | St. Jakobshalle | 9,000 | 9,000 | 100% |
| 16 August 2008 | Assen | Netherlands | TT Circuit Assen | 25,000 | 25,000 | 100% [2] |
| 19 August 2008 | Moscow | Russia | Olympic Arena | 17,000 | 17,000 | 100% |
| Leg #4 (Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America & South America) | ||||||
| 10 February 2009 | Belgrade | Serbia | Belgrade Arena | 13,850 | 15,000 | 96% |
| 13 February 2009 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | Media City Amphitheatre | |||
| 15 February 2009 | Bangalore | India | Rock In India | 60,000 | ||
| 20 February 2009 | Auckland | New Zealand | Mount Smart Stadium | 42,000 | ||
| 22 February 2009 | Christchurch | Westpac Arena | 10,000 | |||
| 25 February 2009 | Monterrey | Mexico | Estadio Universitario | 15,000 | 40,000 | 37% |
| 26 February 2009 | Guadalajara | Arena VFG | 5,000 | 12,000 | 42% | |
| 28 February 2009 | Mexico City | Foro Sol | 25,000 | 50,000 | 50% | |
| 3 March 2009 | Alajuela | Costa Rica | Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto | 25,000 | 25,000 | 100% |
| 5 March 2009 | Caracas | Venezuela | Estadio Universitario | 20,000 | 25,000 | 80% |
| 7 March 2009 | Bogota | Colombia | Simon Bolivar Park | 70,000 | 87,000 | 90% |
| 10 March 2009 | Quito | Ecuador | Aucas Stadium | 26,000 | 28,000 | 91% |
| 12 March 2009 | Manaus | Brazil | Sambodromo | 15,000 | ||
| 14 March 2009 | Rio de Janeiro | Praça da Apoteose | 40,000 | |||
| 15 March 2009 | Sao Paulo | Autodromo de Interlagos | 400,000 | |||
| 18 March 2009 | Belo Horizonte | Mineirinho | 20,000 | |||
| 20 March 2009 | Brasilia | Estádio Mané Garrincha | 50,000 | |||
| 22 March 2009 | Santiago | Chile | Club Hipico | 65000 | 65,000 | 100% |
| 26 March 2009 | Lima | Peru | Estadio Nacional | 32,000 | 40,000 | 80% |
| 28 March 2009 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | River Plate Stadium | 41,000 | 65,000 | 63% |
| 31 March 2009 | Recife | Brazil | Jockey Club de Pernambuco | 50,000 | ||
| 2 April 2009 | Sunrise, FL | United States | BankAtlantic Center | |||