Metal stalwarts are here to stay: Iron Maiden “can’t see” retirement ever happening
Iron Maiden may be taking a break in 2027, but guitarist Adrian Smith has confirmed that it is only a matter of time before they’ll be back.
For a band as iconic as Iron Maiden, the word “retirement” doesn’t seem to fit into their story. Smith shared this sentiment with Billboard, revealing, “I can’t see that [retirement] happening. We all love doing it.”
Although the band has been around for over half a century, they still have the energy of youth and carefree abandon. Smith gave a great example, explaining that bassist and band founder “Steve Harris, he’s 70 now, and the guy can go and play (soccer) in the afternoon, 90 minutes, a proper game, then go on stage and play tours of a Maiden set — then get up and basically do the same thing the next day.”
Smith added, “That’s the kind of spirit that drives all of us, so…I’m sure we’ll be back to it before too long.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the musician underscored the importance of live performances to the ethos of the group, sharing that they have “always been a touring band.”
He added, “We took the music to the people. I think in the long run people remember that, and it’s a very honest way to build up a following.”
This year, they will finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and will kick off their Run For Your Lives North American tour this August.
During the tour, the band will play some of their biggest North American performances to date, in stadiums like Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau and San Antonio’s Alamodome. This tour specifically focuses on Iron Maiden’s first nine albums, from 1980’s Iron Maiden to 1992’s Fear of the Dark.
On November 24th and 25th, Iron Maiden will perform at K-A1rena Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, which will round out their live shows until “at least” 2028 as the band takes a well-deserved break.
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