Iron Maiden keeps it real: Dickinson denounces backing track use

If there is one thing that we love about heavy metal, it should be that everything (or almost everything) that is being done on stage is genuine. No computer-generated music, no shortcuts, just music and simply music. And it looks like Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden firmly agrees on this topic too. Dickinson reiterated his belief that Iron Maiden was the real deal in an interview for the latest issue of Classic Rock Magazine, which is also available on Guitar.com. Dickinson promised that the band would never employ backing tracks in their live performance, even with their aging members and demanding tour schedule.

The idea that you can turn it into the Disneyland MAIDEN by using backing tracks, a few tricks… No! Maiden has to be one hundred per cent real — and fucking fierce! Only recently this guy, a big fan, said to me: ‘It’s so great to see Maiden still doing it.’ I said: ‘Yeah, and we’re doing it for real. There’s no detuning.’ This guy said: ‘Lots of bands use backing tracks now…’ I said: ‘No! No, no! That’s the day I quit. Or the day we stop. If it’s not real, it’s not Maiden.

That is comforting to know!

Upcoming shows:

MAY 2025
27 Budapest, HUNGARY – Budapest Aréna *
31 Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC – Letnany Airport *

JUNE 2025
01 Bratislava, SLOVAKIA – TIPOS Arena *
05 Trondheim, NORWAY – Trondheim Rocks (Festival)
07 Stavanger, NORWAY – SR-Bank Arena *
09 Copenhagen, DENMARK – Royal Arena *
12 Stockholm, SWEDEN – 3Arena *
13 Stockholm, SWEDEN – 3Arena *
16 Helsinki, FINLAND – Olympic Stadium *
21 Birmingham, ENGLAND – Utilita Arena ^
22 Manchester, ENGLAND – Co-op Live ^
25 Dublin, IRELAND – Malahide Castle *^
28 London, ENGLAND – London Stadium *^
30 Glasgow, SCOTLAND – OVO Hydro ^

JULY 2025
03 Belfort, FRANCE – Eurockéennes Festival
05 Madrid, SPAIN – Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano **
06 Lisbon, PORTUGAL – MEO Arena **
09 Zurich, SWITZERLAND – Hallenstadion **
11 Gelsenkirchen, GERMANY – Veltins-Arena **
13 Padova, ITALY – Stadio Euganeo **
15 Bremen, GERMANY – Bürgerweide **
17 Vienna, AUSTRIA – Ernst Happel Stadium **
19 Paris, FRANCE – Paris La Défense Arena **
23 Arnhem, NETHERLANDS – GelreDome **
25 Frankfurt, GERMANY – Deutsche Bank Park **
26 Stuttgart, GERMANY – Cannstatter Wasen **
29 Berlin, GERMANY – Waldbühne **

AUGUST 2025
02 Warsaw – POLAND – PGE Narodowy **

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