Iron Maiden will headline the 2013 Download Festival.
The Saturday, June 15 show is the first date of the band’s 2013 European tour to be announced, a trek that will see the group bring their “Maiden England World Tour” to the continent next year.
The Download gig sees Maiden return to the legendary Donington Park to headline for a record FIFTH time, following appearances in 1988, 1992, 2003 and 2007.
That achievement is equally significant as 2013 is the 25th anniversary of Maiden first topping the bill there in 1988 when the festival was known as Monsters Of Rock attracting 107,000 fans, which is still the highest attendance ever at Donington.
This was during their Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son tour, from which the current tour draws much of its inspiration for both set list and production as seen in the 1988 long form concert video “Maiden England.”
“We all can’t wait to bring this show to our European fans,” says vocalist Bruce Dickinson. “We’re absolutely over the moon to be headlining Donington again. The idea of returning exactly 25 years later with a show inspired by that same 1988 “Seventh Son” Tour, was too good an opportunity to be missed! And, thanks to modern technology, we’ve been able to update and improve on the original production. We will be bringing a huge new lightshow, stage set, various incarnations of Eddie, plenty of pyro and all kinds of other exciting stuff for the fans. And of course treating the fans to lots of their favourite songs from that period! We’ve had many great times at Donington and there is always a wonderful mix of bands and a really wild crowd who love their metal, all of which makes for a memorable show and fantastic party atmosphere!”
Maiden will announce more dates for the 2013 European Tour over the next few months.
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