Live | Iron Maiden-Run For Your Lives Tour – Gelredome – Arnhem [NL]

23 July 2025

Fifty years ago, Iron Maiden was founded by Steve Harris (bass guitar) and now in 2025 this iconic heavy metal band is more successful than ever. Who would have believed that Iron Maiden would still, after being in the metal business for fifty years, sell out huge venues and football stadiums? Well, the ‘Run For Your Lives Tour’, celebrating 50 years of Iron Maiden, is under way and it has been remarkably successful so far. Tonight, Maiden plays the Gelredome in Arnhem [NL], and the place is packed and sold out for sure! The question would be of course, how do you celebrate fifty years of Maiden music, meaning: what songs is the band going to play? Well, the setlist contained in fact only crowd pleasers and iconic Maiden tracks, but all from the eighties, with the exception of ,,Fear Of The Dark”.

EPIC SONG

The beginning of the set is impressive with impressive pictures of Old-London on the huge screen at the back of the stage, also featuring an early Eddie, and the instrumental ,,The Ides Of March’’ (on tape, by the way). Then Murray, Harris, Gers, Dickinson, and Smith enter the stage, and the wild crowd is treated to a formidable version of ,,Murders In The Rue Morgue” also from the second Maiden album ‘Killers’. Next up are ,,Wrathchild” and the very energetic title track of the ‘Killers’ album. After this really insane ‘Killers’ triptych, Harris and Co. play the first epic Maiden song of this evening, being: ,,Phantom Of The Opera” from their debut album, released in 1980. ,,Phantom” is a superb heavy metal hymn, featuring impressive vocals by Dickinson – this man can still sing some mean metal indeed – and furious and soaring guitar solos by Murray and Smith.

SECOND HIGHLIGHT

Other Maiden classics, like ,,The Number Of The Beast”, ,,Powerslave” and shout along ,,Two Minutes To Midnight” follow and these songs are performed immaculately. The entire band is so dynamic and energetic on stage as if these guys are playing their first gig ever!! The second highlight of the set is ,,Rime Of The Ancient Mariner” from their ‘Powerslave’ album, a truly 100% heavy metal hymn with a wonderful, intriguing story and impressive instrumental passages of Harris, Smith, and Murray, visually accompanied by outraging images and pictures!

MILESTONE TRACK

,,Run To The Hills” is an absolute crowd-pleaser and the entire Arnhem crowd sings/screams along to this one, scream for me Arnhem….This short, fast heavy metal song is followed by the next iconic Maiden track, being the title track of their seventh studio album. ,,Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son” is the milestone track of this evening, mainly due to the beautiful, crystal clear vocals of Dickinson, the melodic twin guitar melodies by Smith and Murray, but also because of the impressive bass guitar work of Maiden founder Steve Harris.

,,The Trooper” is the next Maiden classic and of course good old Eddie is present again, but unfortunately the new drummer Simon Dawson sometimes is a but too late here, as he is actually really too slow; so here I really miss good old Nicko McBrain…..The amazing power ballad-like ,,Hallowed Be Thy Name”, with impressive vocals by Bruce, again, and the title track of Maiden’s debut album end the regular set, where it is obvious that the song ,,Iron Maiden’’ is definitely the “weakest” song of the entire setlist for sure!

THE ENCORES

Of course there are encores, being two more heavy metal highlights: ,,Aces High”. a song I never get bored of hearing and Maiden’s purebred singalong ,,Fear Of The Dark”! The final encore is ,,Wasted Years”, from their very underrated album ‘Somewhere In Time’ (1986) and then it is definitely over and done.

IRON MAIDEN – THE CONCLUSION

Conclusion: Iron Maiden played awesome, the sound was second to none, the show was spectacular, and the crowd enjoyed it from the first till the last minute! As far as I am concerned these guys can go on like this for a couple of years more; Up The Irons forever!!! Cheers and see you next time for their 75th anniversary gig……..

All photos by Martien Koolen