Iron Maiden Celebrates 50th Anniversary! Poland Also on the Anniversary Tour

On August 2nd, the PGE Narodowy Stadium will gather fans of heavy music. The legendary band Iron Maiden will play at the capital's arena. The Warsaw concert is one of 32 shows the heavy metal giants have planned in Europe as part of their anniversary "Run For Your Lives World Tour." It will conclude the European leg of the tour.

The "Run For Your Lives World Tour" honors the 50th anniversary of the band, founded by Steve Harris in late 1975. To mark the occasion, fans can expect a unique setlist featuring songs from their first nine studio albums – from "Iron Maiden" to "Fear of the Dark."

The group abandoned traditional stage design in favor of a multimedia setting , created using seven immersive screens mounted throughout the entire stage structure. Lighting, pyrotechnics, special effects, and an extensive stage platform create the largest and most spectacular show in the band's history. The entire experience is enhanced by animations, clips, and 3D films created with the help of AI.

To ensure the best possible experience for fans, Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood sent fans an important message shortly before the tour began. The band asked the audience to significantly limit their phone use for the duration of the show.

"We really want fans to enjoy the concerts live, not on small screens. Using phones diminishes the enjoyment, especially for the band on stage looking at rows of phones, but also for other concertgoers," Smallwood said before a May concert in Budapest.

He added that "the obsession with phones has gotten out of hand" and has become a nuisance for the musicians, who are distracted by the sight. Relaying the band's wishes, Smallwood expressed hope that the audience will understand and that the anniversary shows will be a true celebration of Iron Maiden's legacy.

The anniversary celebrations were recently interrupted by sad news. The band expressed their sorrow over the death of Iron Maiden's original vocalist, Paul Mario Day . He died on July 29th at the age of 69. Day performed with the band from 1975 to 1976. He was replaced by Dennis Wilcock, Paul Di'Anno, and ultimately Bruce Dickinson.

"We are deeply saddened to hear that Paul Mario Day, the original vocalist of Iron Maiden, has passed away. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to Paul's family and friends. He was a wonderful person and a good friend," the band said in an Instagram post.

The anniversary tour isn't the only way Iron Maiden has celebrated their rich legacy. A documentary about the band, directed by Malcolm Venville , will debut in cinemas this fall. The film features interviews with former and current members of the band, never-before-seen footage, and the band's mascot, Eddie, was also brought to life for the documentary.

Also in the fall, an anniversary book titled "Infinite Dreams" will be released. The album, which will summarize Iron Maiden's 50th anniversary, will include a collection of previously unpublished photographs. Behind-the-scenes footage, memorabilia, and handwritten lyrics will be featured throughout the album. The book will include a foreword by bassist Steve Harris and an afterword by frontman Bruce Dickinson.