IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harries recently touched on the legendary band’s mortality, as all good things must eventually come to an end
Speaking with Classic Rock, Steve was asked if there are plans for a follow-up to IRON MAIDEN‘s 2021 album “Senjutsu“, to which the bassist replied: “Who knows for sure? At the moment we want to tour as much as we can. But even if we did semi-retire [from playing live], we could still make albums. I don’t know. We’ll see.
“I always thought that it would be nice to make fifteen albums, which we’ve surpassed. It’s all downhill from here, isn’t it? [Laughs.] But each of us is still enjoying it – possibly more than ever – maybe because we know that we’re coming towards the end. We try not to think too much about that, but so long as everyone still enjoys what we do we’ll keep on going as long as we can.”
Harris was also asked if IRON MAIDEN would ever attempt to unleash another classic shorter song like “Run To The Hills,” to which the bassist says he generally writes the longer songs, especially on “Senjutsu“. “I tend to meander off,” he said. “But part of the direction of Senjutsu was me thinking: ‘If this is to be our last album, then I want to use some of the bigger ideas that I’ve got.'”
With Steve Harris turning 67 years old this month, he touched on his logic of an exhaustive touring schedule at this point in the band’s career, saying: “It makes me think: ‘Let’s get out there and do stuff while I still can.” People ask me how I still do what I do. The truth is that I don’t even think about that. The time will come when I will no longer be able to. I don’t even want to consider that.”
IRON MAIDEN recently added five more dates to their 2023 edition of “The Future Past Tour”.
The trek will now kick off at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland on June 3, and run through to July 22 where the band will perform at the Bizkaia Arena Bec! in Bilbao, Spain.
The setlist for the run is set to heavily feature tracks from IRON MAIDEN‘s latest album “Senjutsu“, as well as tunes from the band’s 1986 LP “Somewhere In Time“.
The additional dates announced are:
Jun 03: Nokia Arena, Tampere, FIN
Jun 07: Koengen, Bergen, NOR
Jul 18: Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, SPA
Jul 20: Estadio Enrique Roca, Murcia, SPA
Jul 22: Bizkaia Arena Bec! Bilbao, SPA
Steve Harris previously said about the tour: “Following the release of our latest album, Senjutsu, we updated the current Legacy of the Beast Tour a little by opening the show with the first three songs from it, with the Japanese Palace stage set.
“As it doesn’t make a lot of sense to repeat this for a Senjutsu album tour, we thought about other options and we’ve decided to revisit Somewhere In Time as that tour didn’t feature in the various retrospective history tours we’ve played over the years. They were based on our 80’s concert videos and sadly we did not film that tour (blame the manager!!). We have had lots of requests from fans over the years for many tracks on it so we are now going to play them, plus of course a few others we know you will like!
“It will also be particularly satisfying to finally get to play some of the more epic tracks on Senjutsu, it’s been a long wait! 2023 is going to be an exciting time and we’re really looking forward to seeing everyone again in the UK, Ireland and around Europe.”
According to the band, more dates will be announced in the days ahead.
IRON MAIDEN‘s full touring itinerary for “The Future Past Tour“:
Jun 03: Nokia Arena, Tampere, FIN
Jun 07: Koengen, Bergen, NOR
Jun 13: Krakow, Tauron Arena, POL
Jun19: Zurich Hallenstadion, SWI
Jun 24: Dublin 3 Arena, IRE
Jun 26: Glasgow OVO Hydro, SCO
Jun 28: Leeds, First Direct Arena, ENG
Jun 30: Manchester AO Arena, ENG
Jul 03: Nottingham Motorpoint Arena, ENG
Jul 04: Birmingham Utilita Arena, ENG
Jul 07: London O2 Arena, ENG
Jul11: Amsterdam Ziggo Dome, HOL
Jul 13: Antwerp Sportpaleis, BEL
Jul 15: Milan, The Return of The Gods Festival, ITA
Jul 18: Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, SPA
Jul 20: Estadio Enrique Roca, Murcia, SPA
Jul 22: Bizkaia Arena Bec! Bilbao, SPA
