Has Iron Maiden become a legacy act?
Has Iron Maiden become a legacy act that succeeds only thanks to its 80s output? Well, today instead of talking about what it feels like, let’s take a look at the actual numbers and see whether Iron Maiden’s post-reunion output can actually compete with our golden era in terms of being performed live. Here we go!
I built a Live Chance Score that takes into account the number of songs on each album, the size of Iron Maiden’s catalog at the time, how many concerts happened after each album was released, and how many times songs from that album were actually played live.
A few results:
Brave New World — 13.46
The Number of the Beast — 10.30
The X Factor — 9.69
The full ranking has some very surprising results – including a modern-era album at number one.
Full table and explanation are on my Patreon (free for everyone) – https://www.patreon.com/metal_pilgrim/posts/has-iron-maiden-161624534 and on YouTube for Sponsors – https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx27Ter1orYlWbDQkbAyfEASnEOkEzE1JP
00:00 – Intro
00:22 – The champion songs
03:26 – Once and done
06:26 – Ignored songs
08:27 – Is it that bad? Actually no…
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Background music: “Uberpunch” Alexander Nakarada (serpentsoundstudios.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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@MetalPilgrim
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
Full table and explanation for the allocated score of each album Iron Maiden ever released are on my Patreon (free for everyone) – https://www.patreon.com/metal_pilgrim/posts/has-iron-maiden-161624534 and on YouTube for Sponsors – https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx27Ter1orYlWbDQkbAyfEASnEOkEzE1JP Spoiler: Brave New World is one of the highest ranking albums!
@zombiemosher1139
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
I'd love to see Nomad or Montségur. I'd also love to see Flight of the Navigator make a return.
@ghastlynavigator
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
I would have never thought that…until this tour happened. We have virtually already had this tour with the early days aside from a few songs. I would have preferred an X factor thru Senjutsu tour. Run for your lives tour songs have been done alot. The saddest part is…this will be their last tour i know it. Also…leaving out No Prayer for the dying is ridiculous.
@ant12371
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
It'll never happen, but I'd love it if they played a residency in London. Like a whole summer of shows in the same venue (maybe it's time to pull a 'Clapton' and book the Royal Albert Hall?, Or maybe the Hammersmith Odeon……yes I said Odeon, not Apollo. It will always be the Odeon!!!!' )
Maybe a season of 20 shows over 6 to 8 weeks. Each night with a different themed setlist. Either focused on a particular album or era, or better still, a focus on song type…eg….a night of songs about war and conflict, a show with songs inspired by books/films/TV, songs they've never played live before, a show or two backed with an orchestra (particularly apt if they play the Albert Hall), only songs that have the title structure "???? of the ????" (Trust me, there are loads of them, they could probably play Two nights of these 😂😂)
It would be like GNR, Def Leppard etc. in Vegas, only better.
Sure, they'd have to pretty much learn every song they've ever done, but wouldn't it be awesome. You'd basically have the chance to play legacy shows, alongside newer material shows, mixed in with a bit of everything. As a fan, you'd have the choice of what kind of show to go for, a greatest hits type show, or something a bit more focused on rare songs or a particular favourite album. Or a season ticket for the whole run for the die hards.
Like I said, never gonna happen, they can't even switch a couple of songs in and out of a setlist anymore. Surely a different song or two in the encore from night to night isn't too much to ask, is it? I know they blame the staging/lights etc. as the reason they don't chop and change setlists, but now they have the big screens (finally!!! It only took how long? ) it would be easy enough to put something together. And if it was just the encore songs, then just put the main camera feed on the screen, or audience views.
@AlucardHV
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
I have seen maiden 35 times and I have never seen Dance of Death live
@ricardobunn34
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
Maiden England, Rock in Rio 3 and Death on the Road are excellent setlists!
@ricardobunn34
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
Forgotten Surprise World Tour 2028:
1 – Intro – Cross-eyed Mary
2 – The Alchemist
3 – The Mercenary
4 – Back in the Village
5 – To Tame a Land
6 – Judas Be My Guide
7 – Only the Good Die Young
8 – Gangland
9 – Genghis Khan
10 – Starblind
11 – Mother of Mercy
12 – The Assassin
13 – Purgatory
14 – Mother Russia
15 – The Parchment
16 – Lightning Strikes Twice
17 – Different World
18 – Gates of Tomorrow
19 – Judgement of Heaven
20 – Heaven Can Wait
Done! Hahahahahahahha!!
@augustgeary5538
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
I’d love if they did some limited run of shows at say the O2 and just played 2000s materials or a set of deep cuts from all over. I think the real fans would kill to go to those shows
@farmassist6212
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
is there a chance that Maiden could do a tour using songs from albums 10 thru 17 ?? this would definitely span all of their fan base from the beginning to the end and then they could quit touring….some of us have only been following Maiden thru these later years…
@qcvitals
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
I would love to see a special show where they play empire of the clouds
@Marcusssino
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
Nonsens.
The Futur – Past Tour was Full of songs from SENJUTZU.
@NoaŠavrljuga-k2x
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
If they ever play empire, i would never again have any complaints about any unplayed songs.
@DirkDiggler-b3d
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
No, they aren't becoming a legacy act but they do neglect the reunion albums and I can see how some people might say they are. Honestly, If they don't do another album but decide to do another tour in 2028, I want it to focus on the reunion albums with only the last 4 songs being old classics.
@TheAnglerCh
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
There are plenty of 80's and 90's Iron Maiden songs that have rarely or never been played live too. When's the last time you heard Flash of the Blade live? Have they even ever played Deja Vu live?
@LordEriolTolkien
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
I have been hoping now, for a couple years at this point, that Maiden would retire while they are still great, and before they become a self parody…. time is running out
@henrikthorsen5971
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
Paschendale!
@MaidenandMore-W8
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
If maiden played anything off of dance of death or a matter of life and death it would bring be to tears.
@roybell8470
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
I would love for them to play Strangeworld and Prodigal Son.
@LJD-n5v
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
Thanks for this video. 🙏 The post-reunion era non-played or rare-played songs I would like to hear live are : "Fallen Angel", "The Nomad", "Out Of The Silent Planet", "The Thin Live Between Love And Hate", "Montsegur", "New Frontier", "Face In The Sand", "The Alchemist", "Starblind", "The Man Who Would Be King", "Tears Of A Clown", "Empire Of The Clouds", "Lost In A Lost World" and "The Parchment". 😍 For the songs that have already been played live : "The Wicker Man", "Ghost Of The Navigator", "Brave New World", "Dreams Of Mirror", "Wildest Dreams", "No More Lies", "Dance Of Death", "Paschendale", "These Colours Don't Run", "Brighter Than A Thousand Suns", "The Longest Day", "Out Of The Shadows", "Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg", "For The Greater Good Of God", "The Final Frontier", "El Dorado", "The Talisman", "When The Wild Wind Blows", "Speed Of Light", "The Book Of Souls", "Death Or Glory", "Stratego", "The Writing On The Wall", "Days Of Future Past", "Hell On Earth". 🤩 I know, in a perfect world, and with my dream setlist, Maiden should do a two-days long concert. 😁
@sunilsatya7334
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
Since they played Iron Maiden – Fear Of The Dark in 2025 and 2026
2028 i think they might cover the Blaze Era
@jandrumm798
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
I Love all post reuion Albums and saw all Tours.
I miss an official live Album fron the Matter of live and Death Tour. Great setlist and phenomenal Stage Set with Eddie on the Tank
@vivekdravid4573
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
Book of Souls tracks are also one and done (so far). I would as well want to see more post reunion tracks in a future tour similar to 2011 US tour
@bluesea313
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
dance of death, the book of souls, the talisman, when the wild wind blows, no more lies, dream of mirrors
@xXUrObOrOSXx
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
THEY ignore songs they SHOULD play from NPFTD lol
I don't care about post BNW material.
@mattpascoe5324
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
I know Bruce would have struggled every night. But Montsegur was peak Dance of death outside of what was played.
And I was gutted when they changed the setlist in 2007 they dropped Lord of light.
Last one, I think the Parchment should have been given a run out rotated with Death of the Celts.
@MaidenFan1
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
I would love if Maiden did a tour with 2 different set lists on a different night something like Metallica are doing now then we'd finally see most or likely songs we've never heard Maiden playing live before and it would also finally end the speculation do Maiden fan's want the old and repeat songs or do they want changing in their set list
@twfua8717
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
As a rare species, who actually enjoys the reunion era more that the 80s, I would be happy with pretty much any set list if they were to do a reunion era tour, but if I were to choose three songs I would like to hear the most, that I would be “paschendale”, the parchment and brighter that a thousand suns. The Nomad and The thin line between love and hate would have been magical, but there are only so much long songs they can pack In the set.
@JD.Knight
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
Sands of time are running low to hear any of these songs again….very depressing 😔
@revivedfears
July 2, 2026 at 10:50 am
They've been a "legacy" act since Bruce returned the second time. Yeah, they've made records but they've relied on the legacy tours for many, many years to great success.