The wait is over! Tickets for the 2016 Iron Maiden concert go on sale this Halloween.
Iron Maiden fans get pumped! MOVE Concerts has just announced the band’s return to Costa Rica on March 8, 2016. The mega-concert, to be held at the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium, comes as part of a 35-country tour to promote their new album The Book of Souls.
Vocalist Bruce Dickinson remarks:
[pull_quote_center]We can not wait to get back out on tour. Maiden thrives on the road and getting closer to our fans; it is also what we enjoy most.[/pull_quote_center]
While the set of songs to be performed has get to be finalized, the band promises to mix their new songs in with esteemed classics.
The Book of Souls, album
Released just months ago, The Book of Souls has already topped the charts worldwide. It offers a “spontaneous live feel” due to the fact many songs were written and then studio-recorded immediately after. It is their longest album thus far and features an unusually long song called “Empire of the Clouds” — 18 minutes in length.
Back with a Vengeance
The tour comes at an important time for Maiden as Dickinson was just given a clean bill of health in May after battling tongue cancer. While the album and tour have been hinted since the end of 2014, Ultimate Classic Rock says, “Dickinson’s illness… put a considerable delay on everything.”
According to the band’s manager Rod Smallwood earlier this year:
[quote_box_center]Although Bruce is naturally eager to resume Maiden activities, it will take a while before he is completely back to full strength… We know our fans will understand the situation and, like us, would prefer to wait until Bruce is back to his usual indefatigable levels of fitness before going out on the road.[/quote_box_center]
Now that that day has come, Maiden is ready and raring to take-off.
Ed Force One
Of course, faithful followers will remember the ground-breaking Ed Force One jet that was custom-designed to carry Iron Maiden, their crew and equipment to countries that had previously been considered unreachable. Back in 2008 when the jet was revealed for their Somewhere Back in Time Tour, Dickinson explained:
[pull_quote_center]Looking at the list of places we would like to play we have always had problems joining up the dots. With sea containers in various places it slows down the whole touring process, which is fine if you want a holiday but not if you want to play.[/pull_quote_center]
Since Dickinson was already a trained pilot who had already developed a relationship with Astraeus Airlines, The Ed Force One (Boeing 757) was the fan-named answer to that logistical problem.
For the 2016 tour, however, Maiden will board a new and improved Ed Force One: a Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet that will take the band over 88,500km and to six of the seven continents.
[pull_quote_center]When the opportunity arose from my friends at Air Atlanta Icelandic to lease a 747 for The Book of Souls World Tour, of course we jumped at the chance. Who wouldn’t?[/pull_quote_center]
Dickinson has already begun training to qualify as a 747 pilot at a simulation station in Wales.
Iron Maiden in Costa Rica
As it turns out, Costa Rica was on Maiden’s list of places they simply must perform.
[pull_quote_center]We had a wonderful reception from our fans when we visited Costa Rica the first time during the Somewhere Back in Time World Tour, so the whole band is excited to go back with our new album![/pull_quote_center]
March’s concert will feature special guests Anthrax and The Raven Age.
Presale tickets go on sale at 8am tomorrow, Halloween Day, for Credomatic customers. All other fans can make their purchases beginning November 5 via www.eticket.cr and authorized Servimás locations.
Prices (not including service fees) are as follows:
- VIP — ₡45,000
- Boxes — ₡55,000
- Platinum — ₡30,000
- Shade — ₡22,000
- Grandstand — ₡18,000