Iron Maiden is currently in Portugal writing new material and rehearsing for a short world tour. After the road trip, the band will go into the studio to record a new album with its reformed, classic lineup.
As we previously reported, singer Bruce Dickinson recently returned to the fold along with guitarist Adrian Smith (see "Dickinson, Smith Rejoin Iron Maiden").
The recording will most likely take place under the auspices of producer Kevin Shirley, according to sources close to the band. The record is expected to be released on Columbia in the year 2000. The album, as well as the tour, will be featuring a three-guitar onslaught.
The group reportedly chose Portugal to write and rehearse as it's a favorite vacation spot, a reasonably remote area where the band can work undisturbed, and because bassist Steve Harris owns a bar in the neighborhood.
The band is scheduled to head to eastern Canada in July for live rehearsals and concert pre-production before kicking off the mini-tour July 13 in Montreal.
The opening act for the first leg of the road trip will be Machine Head. Monster Magnet is slated to take over from Cleveland to Las Vegas. A third, as-yet-unnamed act will finish off the outing's American leg, which is currently scheduled to end August 8 in Dallas. The band will then head to Europe for a dozen dates with openers Megadeth.
The trek is supporting the release of the Maiden-inspired "Ed Hunter" video game, which is expected out in the U.S. (hopefully) before the start of the tour. The game, which is accompanied by a double CD of 20 classic Maiden tracks, was released to the rest of the world in late May.
The band's official Web site (www.ironmaiden.co.uk ) reports that Maiden's live show will include most of those twenty "Ed Hunter" tracks played in one set.
The dates are as follows:
- 7/13 - Montreal, QC @ Molson Centre
- 7/14 - Quebec City, QC @ L'Agora Du Viuex Port
- 7/16 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
- 7/17 - Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
- 7/20 - Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
- 7/21 - Cleveland, OH @ Nautica Stage
- 7/23 - Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
- 7/24 - Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
- 7/25 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon Theatre
- 7/27 - Englewood, CO @ Fiddler's Green Amph.
- 7/30 - Irvine, CA @ Irvine Meadows Amph.
- 7/31 - San Jose, CA @ San Jose Arena
- 8/2 - Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Hotel - The Joint
- 8/5 - El Paso, TX @ El Paso County Coliseum
- 8/7 - San Antonio, TX @ Sunken Garden Amph.
- 8/8 - Dallas, TX @ Bronco Bowl
- 9/9 - Paris, FRA @ Palais Omnisports
- 9/10 - Rotterdam, NET @ Ahoy
- 9/12 - Hamburg, GER @ Sporthalle
- 9/15 - Helsinki, FIN @ Icehall
- 9/17 - Stockholm, SWE @ Stockholm Globe Arena
- 9/18 - Goteborg, SWE @ Scandinavium
- 9/20 - Essen, GER @ Grugahalle
- 9/21 - Boblingen, GER @ Sporthalle
- 9/23 - Milan, ITA @ Forum
- 9/25 - Barcelona, SPA @ Sports Palace
- 9/26 - Madrid, SPA @ Real Pavilion
- 10/1 - Athens, GRE @ Apollo Arena
