Posts

Showing posts from June, 2025

Live review: Iron Maiden, Utilita Arena, Birmingham 21st June 2025

Image
  Iron Maiden. Probably, no, definitely, the biggest heavy metal band to ever come out of the UK. Rivalled only by Metallica and AC/DC in terms of Global stature. A massive force now celebrating 50 years since their formation in London’s East End in 1975. 50 years! And such is their pulling power, that as they roll into the UK leg of their Run for your Lives tour, the streets of the UK’s second biggest city are thronged with black t-shirted clad fans of all ages, sizes, and genders. With about 95% of them already wearing the band’s t-shirts, which are stretched across the decades, that doesn’t preclude big queues of excited fans at the band’s pop-up shop (Eddie’s Dive Bar) or outside the venue itself, where the real die-hards are baking in the afternoon heat as they wait patiently for doors to open. At £45 a t-shirt, you can see why the band are masters of the merchandise. The designs are as awesome as usual, and the stores do a roaring trade. Doors are open and the crowds flood i...