S Poddar
Dave Murray, guitarist of Iron Maiden, has made it clear that the band will bow out before they risk tarnishing their legacy. As the legendary heavy metal group marks its 50th anniversary with the highly anticipated Run For Your Lives tour, Murray shared his thoughts on their career and the inevitable moment when they will decide to step away.
Looking back, Murray couldn’t believe how fast the years have flown by. “It doesn’t feel like fifty years since I auditioned for the band,” he said. “And clearly a lot has happened in all that time – definitely a lot of touring!
This tour will be one of the most special experiences for the fans. “The production is going to be something we’ve never done before. And since we’ll be playing only old songs, it will be kind of like a band history lesson,” he said.
The setlist will be a nostalgic journey for fans, playing songs from their 1980 debut album to their 1992 album, Fear of the Dark. This way, the band gets to revisit their earliest work and reacquaint it with a new generation of fans who might have never witnessed these songs being played live.
It’s a great chance to do this specific set,” Murray said. “We’ll be selecting some of the tunes that we began with when we were gigging in the pubs. So there’ll be loads of material that we haven’t played for God knows how long, and it’ll be great to dig that out.
He also highlighted the resilience of their earlier music. “It indicates just how powerful those early songs are that we’re still playing them fifty years later. They’ve withstood the test of time. And obviously, a great deal of the younger members in the audience would never have ever seen those songs performed live previously.”
The tour will also witness a major changeover in the band’s personnel, with Simon Dawson joining as the new drummer to replace long-time member Nicko McBrain. The band does not suffer much from this transition, though, thanks in a large part to frontman Bruce Dickinson’s mighty presence.
“Bruce’s singing is fantastic right now,” Murray said. “It’s so strong. Last tour he was dashing around everywhere on the stage and singing so beautifully. He’s got it all. He’s got everything.”
Despite their passion, Murray recognized the need to know when to leave. “To me, there’s nothing worse than watching a band you enjoy on stage and they look like they shouldn’t really be there doing it,” he conceded. “We’re almost reaching the seventies milestone now, but I think we will all know when it would be time. It would be a joint decision.”
Murray is certain that they would be better off leaving on a high note instead of prolonging their career too long. “I think there’s a time and a place to bail out with dignity and grace – rather than milking it. If you can bow out at that high level, and then take your bows in a gracious sort of way, I think it would be pleasing to us.”. And not just flog a dead horse, when you’re doing it for the wrong reasons.”
In spite of plans for a future goodbye, Iron Maiden is completely focused on the here and now. “We’re ready to go on this tour, and then we’ll see what happens in the future. But right now the band sounds great, we still get that thrill and adrenaline when we go on stage. We’re still having fun, and that’s what it’s all about, really.”
With their reputation solidified in the annals of heavy metal history, Iron Maiden remains dedicated to their art. Whether or not this latest tour is to be a celebratory swan song or final chapter remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—never will they sacrifice their zeal or integrity.
