A flawless execution of entertainment – live report of Iron Maiden’s show in Prague 31.05

In 2025 there aren’t many legendary acts still performing in full force, so when one comes quite close to our home it’s imperative that we go see it. This is why the Chaoszine team took two flights to Prague and then walked to the Letňany Airport to witness the “Run For Your Lives Tour” with Iron Maiden performing classic hits of their enormous discography. Let’s start at the beginning…

Halestorm

Doors opened at 4 PM but for us travelers that was still too early to get there, so we arrived at the venue about at 5:30. Still plenty of time to go because the support act Halestorm was scheduled to perform at 6:40. They actually started a couple of minutes earlier which is always nice. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them before, and just like the first time, they were absolutely knocking it out of the park (or the airport, in this case!). The whole band was enthusiastic, in top shape and we could feel they were honored to open for such an outstanding band. Their setlist was a bit more centered on their upcoming album “Everest” rather than their classic songs, which at least for me made it even more interesting because their yet-unreleased tracks are intriguing. Lzzy at some point shouted “Are you an Iron Maiden freak like me?”, which obviously generated some action from the audience. Another solid performance by the American group, that is the perfect mix of old school heavy metal and modern sounds, without forgetting their unique Halestorm touch.

Setlist:

1. Fallen Star
2. I Miss The Misery
3. Love Bites (So Do I)
4. Watch Out
5. Darkness Always Wins
6. Familiar Taste Of Poison (shortened)
7. Rain Your Blood On Me
8. Freak Like Me
9. I Get Off
10. Everest

Photo: Dario De Marco.

Iron Maiden

When 8 PM arrives, we are welcomed into the headliner’s show with “Doctor Doctor” by UFO, which was also the same introduction they used on their precedent “The Future Past Tour” in 2023. But this time (pun not intended) there wasn’t the elaborate background that was so unmistakable for their celebration of “Somewhere In Time”, rather a very big center screen and two lateral smaller screens that displayed different images and animations. Those were an absolute pillars to enjoy fully their performance, as they provided context and information about the tracks that were being played. If you’ve seen Iron Maiden before, you know that you can expect a spectacular show more than just a mere concert, and this time it was exactly like that. While I did appreciate their show in Wacken Open Air two years ago, this time they have managed to improve on it. The almost 70,000 people present at the venue went crazy over the setlist, that focused on the first albums of the band. From singing out loud to “The Number of the Beast” (which I thought I would never be able to enjoy live due to it missing on the previous tour!) to jumping on “2 Minutes To Midnight”, the British band has pulled out all the stops to create incredible memories for their fans. Before their set began in fact, on the screens they kindly asked the audience to refrain from using the smartphones to record the performance and much to my surprise almost everybody obliged. Some phones were taken out though during “Run To The Hills”: even if Simon Dawson’s drumming is obviously different from McBrain’s, I have to admit that he hasn’t made a single mistake, thus honoring and respecting McBrain’s legacy. It was quite some time since I had so much fun at such a big show, and I am so glad that my colleagues convinced me to tag along with them. Also, Dario our photographer, is a huge Maiden fan and it was his lifelong dream to take photos of the band. Watching him realize this was also a highlight of the night! So thank you, Iron Maiden. We might be running for our lives, but you’ll be providing the soundtrack!

Setlist:

1. Doctor Doctor
2. Ides Of March
3. Murders in the Rue Morgue
4. Wratchild
5. Killers
6. Phantom Of The Opera
7. The Number of the Beast
8. The Clairvoyant
9. Powerslave
10. 2 Minutes to Midnight
11. Rime of the Ancient Mariner
12. Run To The Hills
13. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
14. The Trooper
15. Hallowed Be Thy Name
16. Iron Maiden
17. Aces High
18. Fear Of The Dark
19. Wasted Years

Photo: Dario De Marco.