How did you first become a fan of Iron Maiden?
My life changed in Grade 9 in St. Albert, Alberta when I heard Rime of the Ancient Mariner during a song analysis assignment in Religion class at VJ Maloney Junior High School. I soon borrowed my friend’s cassette tape of Live After Death, and I was blown away by Aces High and the liner-note photographs and I was hooked deep. I studied the songs lyrics for every song in great detail and listened to Run to the Hills and Hallowed Be Thy Name about 2,000 times in that first week!
Over the next three years into high school, I became a huge Iron Maiden fan. I played hockey in the winter and baseball in the summer and was an honour roll student, and my friend group was not into heavy metal at the time but rather into the pop bands of that era, so I would show up as a bit of a misfit to school and to the weekend high school house parties in my Iron Maiden t-shirts. Looking back on it now, I was a real Stranger in a Strange Land in high school, living a double life of going to school during the day while dealing with some scary and unusual family problems at home (my Dad had severe and un-treated mental illness).  Playing guitar and listening to Iron Maiden were an escape for me, something to hold onto during a really difficult time at home in my teenage years.
Playing guitar and listening to Iron Maiden were an escape for me, something to hold onto during a really difficult time at home in my teenage years.
In grade 10 (1987), a good friend explained Eddie’s album cover history to me and the death of Eddie at the end of the Piece of Mind Tour, and the Live After Death concept related to Powerslave. I attended the next few Maiden shows and got backstage to meet the band a few times. It was an incredible time to be alive with all the amazing hard rock and heavy metal that was being produced at the time, with Maiden standing out from the crowd for me. My bedroom walls were covered in Iron Maiden posters and pictures of the band that I cut out of Circus and Hit Parade magazines, and I had lots of autographed albums and t-shirts, plus drum sticks, guitar picks, and set lists from the stage. I literally listened almost exclusively to Iron Maiden for many years.

Tell us all about the first show you saw them play.
My first Iron Maiden show was on April 22, 1987 during Somewhere on Tour at the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, after the band took time off following the World Slavery Tour. I won backstage passes at a record store for this show and went backstage after the show, this was 10 years before the Wayne’s World movie with the backstage passes scene! It was an incredible experience for a 16 year old die hard Iron Maiden fan like me and my brother!
Bruce was sporting a full beard during those days of Somewhere on Tour and, when we met him backstage, he did not really look like the Bruce Dickinson we all knew from the Live After Death concert video! See picture!
The highlight of the concert was Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Bruce was going to tell a story about the performance of the song on the World Slavery Tour, but he stopped himself and asked the crowd “Who is at their first Iron Maiden show tonight?” and most of the crowd screamed. So Bruce said “oh, ok, I won’t say anything, you’re all in for a treat” and he skipped the story to allow the first timers to enjoy the moment.

How many shows have you seen since then?
After Somewhere on Tour, I attended Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour in 1988 and got backstage again to meet Steve Harris, that was incredible. Guns N’ Roses opened for the band that night before anyone knew who they were (their first album was just released) and they put on a great show.
Dave Murray did not join the Meet and Greet that night in 1988 because he had a hand injury from the show – his guitar cable got tangled in a scene straight out of Spinal Tap, and Dave Murray tripped and went flying across the stage at the start of 22 Acacia Avenue. With Dave laid out on the floor and the crowd going crazy, Bruce Dickinson addressed the situation by asking “What the Fuck is going on here, Edmonton?” while Adrian Smith wailed out the opening riffs for Acacia Avenue.
After Seventh Tour I got into the grunge music scene like a lot of music fans around the world and did not attend my next Iron Maiden show until my birthday in 2004 when I flew to New York for the Somewhere Back in Time Tour. Maiden had two promo shows in North America on that first global tour with Ed Force One with stops only in New York and Toronto, and I had to be at that show! At the end of that concert, Bruce promised “We are bringing the Tour to all of North America next year including Eddie and some surprises!” He was talking about the re-incarnation of the giant Eddie “monster” from Live After Death! Accordingly, I saw the Somewhere Back in Time Tour again in Calgary in 2008.
I subsequently saw Maiden when they came back to Calgary in 2015, 2019 (Legacy of the Beast), and 2023 (The Future Past Tour).

What do you think makes Maiden so special?
Iron Maiden is special to me because of the song writing and musicianship. Steve Harris is an incredible songwriter and musician, and so is Adrian Smith. Smith and Dave Murray are two of the most underrated guitar players in music, their work on all their albums and live shows is incredible. Nicko always had the biggest drum kick but somehow got away with a single bass drum setup with his very fast foot. Bruce Dickinson is a great front man and what band in the world has their lead singer fly their band around the world to their gigs?
I also love how the first 7 Maiden albums are among the best hard rock albums of all time, I simply cannot stop listening to those old records from the Iron Maiden debut album right up until Seventh Son. Amazing music and someday people will look back on that collection of albums like Shakespeare. I hope everyone gives those early albums a listen, you will be amazed.
The third thing that makes Maiden so amazing is their great health and ability to still perform their amazing music as they approach 70 years of life on the planet. We are very fortunate to still be able to enjoy them live. I was thrilled with the resurgence in Maiden’s popularity in 2006 with A Matter of Life and Death and the great video for The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg. It seems they have gotten more popular today than in the 80s with a couple of blistering albums with Senjutsu and The Book of Souls and an unbelievable global touring schedule year after year!

Anything else to add?
On March 12, 2026 I was in Los Angeles for work and I visited Long Beach Around and found the spot across the road from the Arena where Maiden posed for famous photos in March 1985 in front of the Queen Mary ship. March 12 was Steve Harris’ birthday and it was about 41 years to the day when Iron Maiden recorded Live After Death at Long Beach Arena, so that was very cool to be there!
In the tour guide for Somewhere on Tour in 1987, I read how Adrian and Steve and some of the Maiden guys reconnected with reality after the two-year World Slavery Tour by spending some time in the beautiful rugged Rocky Mountain areas of my home Province of Alberta, Canada, and that was really cool to me. When I saw the first music video released by British Lion in 2012 (This is My God), I immediately recognized scenes from Jasper and Banff National Parks in Alberta, in areas where I grew up camping with my friends. Please see my own recent family picture from this area (that’s Parker Ridge with a glacier winding through the mountains over our shoulder).
I encourage all Maiden fans from around the World to visit Banff and Jasper at some point in their life. Amazing scenery and amazing people in Alberta, lots of hard rock fans. Be sure to stop in for a pint in the Dead Animal Room at the Atha B Hotel in Jasper and also at the Rose and Crown Pub (thanks England!) in Banff. If you’re visiting, try to plan your trip so you attend the famous Calgary Stampede Rodeo and Exhibition (see family photo) at the start of July, it is the best summer party in North America. Look me up and I’ll buy you a pint down the pub!

In case you’re new around here, First To The Barrier (FTTB) is a time-honoured Iron Maiden Fan Club perk open to all members. It is your opportunity to bag a spot right at the front of the barrier at eligible shows (for which you have bought standing tickets), but spaces are limited, which is why we let Eddie draw the entries.

Please make sure you read the FAQ before entering, and there’s no rush – as long as your name is in the draw a week before the show, you’ll be in the running.

For all info just head here.

Good luck!

How did you first become a fan of Iron Maiden?
I got the German issue #150 11/99 of Rock Hard magazine as present from my uncle which included a live review section and they reported about Iron Maiden and their first reunion gig in Paris on 9 September, 1999. Fascinated and impressed by the whole concert review, I read it over and over again for hours, days and weeks listening to the only track of Maiden I had, which was on a sampler (Rock Aid Armenia) that included Run To The Hills. This ‘ritual’ kept on going for months until I could afford my first CDs: Iron Maiden and Live At Donington.

Tell us all about the first show you saw them play.
My first show was in Munich during the Dance Of Death tour on Friday 24 October, 2003. Together with my dad, who took care of me in the crowd.

How many shows have you seen since then?
153 in total.

What do you think makes Maiden so special?
From the very beginning when the intro starts with Doctor Doctor until the end, each show I’ve seen was pure magic. It’s unique for a band to have this kind of energy and level of performance from each individual member. None of those 153 concerts ever felt the same – even during the same tour. As soon as the band enters the stage, it’s like being in a different world, where it doesn’t matter who you are, where you came from, or what you do for living. Maiden have the most loyal and fanatic fanbase of all metal and rock bands worldwide. The passion and energy is very intense – everyone can feel it. Whether you just have to use your imagination – like me reading a magazine – or if it’s your first concert, or your hundredth. Iron Maiden is gonna get you, no matter how far.

Anything else to add?
The rougher the crowd, the better the show! From the front row to the last seat in the stadium.

“I am so proud of my two albums with the band,” says Blaze. I’m really looking forward to playing some of the songs that we recorded together.” Blaze and his band will be performing a setlist especially curated for Eddfest – taken from 1995’s The X Factor and 1998’s Virtual XI. 

He’ll be headlining the Maidenville stage – which is being curated by Steve Harris. It’s also just been announced that Steve’s pre-Maiden band, Gypsy’s Kiss, will also appear too! Co-founded by Steve and singer/guitarist David Smith in 1974, Gypsy’s Kiss were the first band Steve played in prior to Smiler and Iron Maiden.

“I’m very pleased that Blaze is able to join us and perform some of the songs we wrote and recorded in the 90s,” says Steve. “He has been a big part of Iron Maiden’s career and I know the fans will be really excited to see him on stage at Eddfest. It’s also great to have Gypsy’s Kiss too. They were a big part of my musical heritage and it’s really exciting to have them play at the Maidenville stage.”

Here’s those line-up for both stages in full. If you haven’t got your tickets yet, we strongly recommended you head over to the dedicated Eddfest website asap! You’ll find details of all the Eddfest attractions as well as the shows and info on all ticket choices.

FRIDAY NIGHT ON THE MAIDENVILLE SECOND STAGE

BLAZE BAYLEY
Stray
Maiden United
Airforce
Gypsy’s Kiss
Tony Moore’s Awake
+
Hair Metal Glamageddon

SATURDAY NIGHT ON THE MAIN STAGE
IRON MAIDEN
THE DARKNESS
The Hu
Airbourne
The Almighty

How did you first become a fan of Iron Maiden?
Despite being a huge metalhead my whole life, I got into Maiden relatively late. In high school, my band covered Metallica and Megadeth and I had heard the name Iron Maiden (thanks Bill & Ted) but never heard the music. In the summer of 2000, shortly before going off to college, I heard The Wicker Man on the radio and I was an instant fan. I made of up for lost time quickly, acquiring their entire catalog within six months despite my shoestring college monetary budget.

Tell us all about the first show you saw them play.
It was 2003 on the Give Me Ed… ‘Til I’m Dead tour at Madison Square Garden with Dio and Motörhead. Absolutely incredible line-up! Me and a friend came down from Albany, New York to see them. We figured we’d just catch a late train out of the city after the show and save money on a hotel room. 2 Minutes To Midnight is my favourite song, so I was beyond excited when they returned and played it as the first song of their encore. When they finished their set, my buddy and I raced to the train station along with at least a couple of hundred other fans. We all made it just in time, jumping on the train car just as the doors closed – departure time: 11:58pm!

How many shows have you seen since then?
I’ve seen them nine times since that first show, at some great venues (MSG, Jones Beach, The Forum, etc) as well as Bruce’s speaking tour he did a few years ago. These days it’s harder to get out to late concerts with a toddler at home, but the first date night my wife and I were able to pull off after he was born was The Future Past Tour stop in San Diego. It was an incredible show and awesome to see The Hu open for them! We have tickets for LA in September to see them with Anthrax and Megadeth, which will be epic.

What do you think makes Maiden so special?
They have always stayed true to themselves and that’s no small feat over a 50 year career. They’ve never fallen for trends or tried to be something they aren’t, but instead have turned out album after album of undeniably Maiden music. There are very few bands – regardless of genre – that have the same staying power to be touring consistently for this long while also producing great new music. And the evidence is clear at every show – you’ll see die-hard fans from age seven to 70, singing along just as enthusiastically – whether it’s Running Free or The Writing On The Wall.

Any great pics or anything else to add?
My favourite thing in the world is how much of a fan my two-year-old son is of Iron Maiden. I have an extensive collection of Iron Maiden on vinyl and multiple times a day he wants to look at every album, and he’ll name them all (including live albums, rarities, and singles). He requests specific recordings of songs – this morning he needed to hear “The Trooper on The Book of Souls: Live Chapter when we drove to his toddler music class. He gets excited whenever I wear an Iron Maiden shirt and regularly will list off the member’s names (including referencing past members like Paul Di’Anno and Clive Burr). Many mornings, he’ll crawl into bed with me and want to listen to Maiden songs together. There truly is no bigger fan and it’s such a blessing to be able to share this with him and see how excited it makes him.

How did you first become a fan of Iron Maiden?
When I was six years old. It was 2016, and my dad and older brother were going to see them at Perth Arena. I remember my dad telling me about a giant Eddie robot that would appear on stage  and I begged to go with them. Sadly I was too young, but that moment sparked my curiosity. After that, my dad would play their albums around the house all the time, so before long I was completely hooked. Their music quickly became part of my everyday life. I’d listen to it constantly, around the house, and especially before softball and footy (Aussie rules) games to get myself pumped up!

Tell us all about the first show you saw them play.
It was in 2024 on The Future Past Tour. My dad and I went together for Father’s Day on September 1st in Perth. It was easily one of the greatest nights of my life. We were standing in the crowd, surrounded by thousands of fans, and the energy was unbelievable. The lights, the giant Eddie mascots, and the incredible pyrotechnics made the whole show feel larger than life. Hearing those songs live for the first time was surreal. My favourite moment was when they played Stranger In A Strange Land, which was my favourite song at the time. That concert was truly the moment that initiated my full obsession.

How many shows have you seen since then?
Since then, I’ve seen one other show, and it was an unforgettable one. I travelled halfway across the world from Perth, Australia to London, England to see Iron Maiden on their Run For Your Lives World Tour 2025 at London Stadium. It was the best night of my life. Now my Maiden journey continues, because I’ve just secured VIP tickets to see Iron Maiden in Sydney, Australia to celebrate my 17th birthday. I honestly couldn’t imagine a better way to celebrate!

What do you think makes Maiden so special?
What makes Iron Maiden so special to me is both their music and their stage presence. Their songs capture so many different emotions. Tracks like 2 Minutes to Midnight and Bring Your Daughter… To The Slaughter are perfect when I want energy and adrenaline while songs like Strange World and Sign of The Cross create a completely different, more atmospheric feeling. Iron Maiden’s music helped me a lot while grieving the loss of my grandmother last year and I truly appreciate the way the music helped me to cope. Musically, the band is incredible. Steve Harris’s bass playing is one of the biggest inspirations for me as a bassist. His galloping bass lines and melodic style sit perfectly alongside the guitar work of Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, and Janick Gers, whose harmonies create Iron Maiden’s signature wall of sound. Nicko McBrain’s drumming adds incredible energy and precision, while Bruce Dickinson’s powerful vocals and storytelling bring the music to life. And then there’s stage presence. Iron Maiden concerts aren’t just performances, They’re experiences! The storytelling, the visuals, the different versions of Eddie appearing throughout the show, it creates an atmosphere unlike anything else in music. Night after night, they deliver unforgettable performances and never disappoint their fans.

Anything else to add?
Iron Maiden are my all-time favourite band, and my most treasured memory connected to them is travelling halfway across the world to see them perform at London Stadium in 2025. From the moment I bought the tickets, the excitement was unreal. I remember waiting for the setlist to be announced, and when I saw that they would be playing Phantom Of The Opera (my all-time favourite song!) I could hardly believe it. When we arrived in London, I was counting down the days until the concert. On the day of the show, I even painted Eddie make-up on my face and wrote ‘Up the Irons’ all over my arms. As we walked through the city on the way to get a taxi I got a lot of looks and stares but I didn’t care, I was way too excited. The concert itself was unforgettable, easily one of the greatest experiences of my life. As a bassist, Steve Harris has always been such a huge inspiration to me and seeing him perform live on that stage was incredible. Moments like that are what make Iron Maiden so important to me. One day, I hope to become as great of a bassist as Steve Harris is himself and one day even meet him and the band that inspired me to play bass in the first place. Up the Irons!

How did you first become a fan of Iron Maiden?
Hangin’ with the ‘cool kids’ in grade school! One year a new student transferred in. I don’t know where he came from, but wherever it was, he brought his good taste of all things metal along and for me, Iron Maiden was easily the stand-out. We’d listen to random tapes (yes, cassettes) of all the different albums all the time. I remember looking at the Iron Maiden selection at Harmony House in Southgate, trying to decide which tape I should buy first. I chose Live After Death because it was kind of like a “greatest hits” that had songs from all the previous albums on it. Then, as I added their back catalog to my collection, it was fun recognising the tracks I was already familiar with on each new (well, new to my ears) tape.

Tell us all about the first show you saw them play.
I’m guessing July 2nd 1988, as evidenced by my scrapbook page! I took this photo when, back in the day, you had to really make an effort sneaking a film camera into concerts by hiding it in a ‘special spot’ where security wouldn’t pat you down! What I remember from that show is being doused from behind from someone up high tossing their beer into the crowd. Then later, pure bathroom anarchy as the men’s room was super overcrowded and everyone started using the sinks as urinals. Don’t try that at home, kids!

How many shows have you seen since then?
I’m guessing a dozen or more. Every Detroit show since then, plus I’ve driven to Toronto and Chicago to see ’em (and I’ll be going to Chicago yet again on Tuesday, September 22, 2026!). Also, now that sneaking in a camera is no longer necessary, I smuggle in Eddie masks instead!

What do you think makes Maiden so special?
Because Eddie is my number one bestest friend ever! But really, they are the best, period. No other metal band has permeated the underground and the mainstream like they have. This is evidenced by the fact that the Iron Maiden font, is, overwhelmingly, the go-to font for any metal-themed graphic design anywhere, ever!

It’s no secret by now that director Corin Hardy’s latest scare-fest pays tribute to his love of Maiden. He kindly invited a handful of the FC down for its London debut and pleasingly wore some truly killers socks for the occasion! Here, Petr – aka actwithoutdoing on the forum – gives us his view from the front row.

Pic: Alan West

By the time Tuesday 10th February had rolled round, it had rained in some parts of the UK for 40 days and 40 nights. The typical relief that comes with having endured the interminably long darkness of January had soured and been washed away into the gutters by the rainiest winter the country had seen in over a century. The mood was low. Besieged. Soggy. In A.D. 100, Roman historian Tacitus had described Britain as a place where ‘the sky is gloomy with many clouds, and showers are frequent’. He hadn’t seen anything yet.

So what better place to hunker down on a Tuesday night than in a cosy, dim-lit pub just off London’s (decidedly un-cosy) Leicester Square. We had come, heeding our esteemed leader’s call, six of us gathering in our Maiden t-shirts and sipping our pints of golden nectar, awaiting the arrival of Alex Milas esq., at which point – we’d hoped – he’d tell us what we’d actually gathered for. Yes, some of us had given an enthusiastic ‘Yes!’ to his invitation without even knowing what it had been for. Is this how cults start? Maybe. Maybe if you’re asking that question, it’s already too late!

Eventually Alex arrived and we learned the truth: We’d been lucky enough to be granted some free tickets to the West End premiere of horror director Corin Hardy’s (of The Nun fame) brand new feature film, Whistle. Seeing off the rest of our drinks, we followed our luscious-locked Pied Piper through the alleys, puddles, and lights of central London until a colossal, foreboding Aztec death whistle loomed over us. We knew we’d arrived at the right place.

Bright lights, red carpets, showbiz razzle dazzle – not exactly our usual turf as rough ‘n’ ready, rivet-headed Maiden fans, yet we held our own and didn’t embarrass anybody as we moved like an Eddie-adorned herd of gazelles amidst the sharply dressed hobnobbers in the foyer. When Corin Hardy himself came over to say hello, and rolled up his trousers in glee to display his ‘Killers’ branded socks, we all felt like a secret handshake had been exchanged. Hardy, lovely, friendly chap that he was, posed with the lot of us for some pics for the official event photographer, and we went inside to find our seats.

Gigantic seats, earplugs-necessitating surround sound, and free popcorn – it was the perfect environment in which to enjoy Mr Hardy’s movie, a rip-roaring romp and homage to the American teen and horror films that have provided us all (and film lovers, especially) with so much rich imagery and iconography over the years. My personal policy when talking about movies is to give minimal information on plot and to focus more on vibes and technical aspects. Rest assured here that Whistle’s main goal is to have a gruesome good time, and in that it more than succeeds! Centred around some of the more inventive horror movie deaths seen in some time; bathed in warm, nostalgic colours; and unafraid to shoot scenes with actual contrast and camera intent unlike so much of modern cinema, Whistle had our packed screening whooping and cheering as the curse of the titular artefact swept over its characters. And in a lovely, Edd-tastic bonus, Hardy, enthusiastic Maiden fan that he is, has sprinkled the film with glorious Maiden references. If you make the trip to the cinema, see if you can spot them all!

How did you first become a fan of Iron Maiden?
My older sister Angie (also a drummer like myself) has been a fan for a very long time and introduced me to the band. My husband was also a fan when we met and we enjoy going to shows together. We play together in a band called Immune Friction.

Tell us all about the first show you saw them play.
In 2010 Angie flew my younger sister and me out to Northern California where she lives. She took us to see Maiden and I was hooked. Dream Theater opened and it was just an incredible show. I remember going back to her apartment and we watched the Live After Death DVD on repeat.

How many shows have you seen since then?
Living in such a rural area, I don’t make it to nearly as many shows as I would like. Since the initial concert, I’ve seen them only three other times. I saw British Lion in NYC in February 2020, right before everything shut down. Steve stayed after the show to meet every single person there, take photos with us, and sign a couple items. What a cool guy. My husband and I also saw An Evening with Bruce Dickinson in 2022 when he came to The Egg in Albany, NY. I got a seat right up front and kept pinching myself that Bruce came so close to our area. It was a blast! I have tickets to a comic con in NJ for my birthday this year and I’m going to finally meet Bruce. It’s a dream of mine that’s finally coming true. I also try to catch the tribute band The Iron Maidens whenever they come around these parts. As a fellow female musician, I love to support what they are doing.

What do you think makes Maiden so special?
I think it’s the intergenerational nature of the fandom and the timelessness of the music. When you go to a show, people of all ages are there having a great time. Often parents will take their kids with them. I actually bought tickets for my whole family to see Maiden and Megadeth in Boston this coming September. We are all converging from different states in the Northeast to see the show and enjoy family time together because we are all fans. That’s really special.

Anything else to add?
I really appreciate this opportunity to share my fan story with you all. Iron Maiden are my favourite band. Anyone that knows me knows that most of my wardrobe is merch at this point! I joked to my family that it’s hard for me to find a photo where I’m NOT wearing a Maiden shirt… I’m the local metalhead real estate agent and proud of it. I also want to add that Nicko and Bruce specifically have been big heroes of mine. Along with playing drums, I have been singing since I was little. Their technique, showmanship, and dedication to the fans is truly unmatched. As a whole, this band never phones it in. They always give 110% to everything they do. That’s rare, especially after all these years.