Following confirmation from the group that 2010’s The Final Frontier would not be their last album,[166] Bruce Dickinson revealed plans for a sixteenth studio record in July 2013, with a potential release date in 2015.[185] In February 2015, drummer Nicko McBrain revealed that a new album had been completed, although the release has been put on hold while Dickinson recovers from treatment for a cancerous tumour found on his tongue.[186] On 15 May, after Dickinson had been given the all-clear, manager Rod Smallwood confirmed that the album would be released in 2015, although the band will not tour until 2016 to allow Dickinson to recuperate.[187] On 18 June 2015, the band’s website announced its title, The Book of Souls, and confirmed a release date of 4 September 2015.[188] A critical and commercial success, it received positive reviews and became the band’s fifth UK No. 1 album.[189]
Smith, Harris, Murray and Gers performing in 2017.
The new record was recorded at Guillaume Tell Studios, Paris, which they had previously used for 2000’s Brave New World, with regular producer Kevin Shirley in late summer 2014.[190] With a total time of 92 minutes, it is the group’s first double studio album.[190] In addition, the release’s closing song, “Empire of the Clouds“, penned by Dickinson, surpassed “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” (from 1984’s Powerslave) as Iron Maiden’s longest song, at 18 minutes in length.[188] A music video for the song “Speed of Light” was issued on 14 August.[191]
In February 2016, the band embarked on The Book of Souls World Tour, which saw them play concerts in 35 countries in North and South America, Asia, Australasia, Africa and Europe, including their first ever performances in China, El Salvador and Lithuania.[192] As with 2008-09’s Somewhere Back in Time World Tour and 2010-11’s The Final Frontier World Tour, the group travelled in a customised aeroplane, flown by Dickinson and nicknamed “Ed Force One”, although this time they used a Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet.[193] The band completed the tour in 2017 with further European and North American shows.[194] On 20 September 2017, The Book of Souls: Live Chapter was announced. Recorded throughout The Book of Souls World Tour, it was released on 17 November 2017.[195]
In the summer of 2016, the group launched a mobile game, Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast.[196] Inspired by the game’s title, the band will undertake the Legacy of the Beast World Tour from 2018 to 2019, commencing with European shows in 2018.[197]
Source and photo Wikipedia
MAY26
