Live Review: Iron Maiden @ RAC Arena, Perth

There came a point during Iron Maiden’s set on Sunday night when I genuinely wondered whether Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson had wizard-like powers. The frontman just has this rare ability to captivate thousands of people at once and have them respond to his every command. “Put your hands up,” Dickinson would shout, and the audience willingly complied like they were bewitched. After a while, I, too, was under his spell. 

This is not new news; Iron Maiden has captivated audiences for nearly 50 years. Iron Maiden, comprised of Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Nicko McBrain, and Janick Gers, is the definition of a rock and metal icon. After forming on Christmas Day in 1975, the band was shot out of a canon into rock and roll glory. All these years on, the band is still rocking. 

Last due back in Australia on their Legacy Of The Beast Tour, those plans were swiftly shut down due to the ravages of COVID-19. Given the band’s last tour of the country was in 2016, it’s fair to say a flood of anticipation was swallowing RAC Arena on Sunday night for the Future Past Tour. 

I was almost nervous before attending the gig. Questions brewed in my head about whether the band would truly live up to fan’s exceedingly high expectations. These fears were further heightened by the fact this was the first night of the tour. 

Upon walking into the venue, however, these fears soon evaporated. There was a certain magnetism between these leather jacket fans. There was an air of comradery in the packed-out mosh, whereby the die-hard fans looked out for younger enthusiasts, all with the words “heavy metal” practically tattooed to their lips. 

Kicking things off with a bang, boisterous American rockers Killswitch Engage left fans deliciously primed for the main act. From this point on, the atmosphere was fully charged with a rock n roll energy. 

As Vangelis’ End Titles from Blade Runner played, Iron Maiden eventually strutted onto the stage like creatures from a Mad Max film.

Jumping straight into Caught Somewhere In Time, the band whipped their audience into a wild frenzy. Bouncing up and down like children on a bouncy castle, the audience was fully engrossed from the word go. I have quite literally never seen more people making hand horns all at once in my life. “How ya doing there, Perth?” Dickinson asked his audience like a showman gone wild. Thrashing his microphone stand around the stage, he looks every inch a rockstar. 

Next, jumping into Stranger In A Strange Land off the band’s 1986 album, Somewhere In Time, Dickinson bounded around the stage like a ball in a pinball machine. Legs were flying everywhere, guitars screamed in pleasure, all the while Dickinson’s growl galvanised the audience into submission. You could instantly tell this band truly knows how to entertain. 

Dickinson is a natural storyteller with a propensity to use the odd, much-welcomed profanity from time to time. “I had to have a word with the quokkas. I asked them, ‘How do I get over jet lag and all that shit?’ And the quokkas looked at me and said absolutely fuck all,” he said to the roar of the audience. “Quokkadile Dundee,” he added. 

The band later jumped into crowd favourite The Prisoner from their 1982 album The Number Of The Beast. The song truly showcased the strength of the band’s guitarists. Adrian Smith and Dave Murray both delivered blistering harmonies that proved nothing short of spectacular. 

Next, jumping into Death Of The Celts, the stage turned into a lush garden of smoke and greenery. Before playing, Dickinson revealed the true symbolism of the song. “When you’ve got culture, music and family, nothing can kill you, no matter what,” he said. The song truly showcased Steve Harris, the band’s bassist and primary songwriter’s powerhouse nature. One couldn’t also help but be taken by Nicko McBrain’s relentless drumming, a backbone to the entire night. 

One of the show's most spectacular aspects was the elaborate decorations. These included intricately designed backdrops that corresponded with every song and large LED screens projecting clips from vintage films. The stage also contained multiple levels, which Dickinson made full use of throughout the set. 

Numerous special guests arrived on stage multiple times, taking the form of large Eddie, the band’s legendary mascot. Eddie later transformed into a monstrous cyborg and a pirate, adding an extra layer of theatricality. It was truly as much a Ridley Scott sci-fi film as it was a metal show. At one point, Dickinson even had a bit of a pyrotechnic shoot-out with Eddie using a Blade Runner-style gun! 

While the band finished the night with Iron Maiden, it was obvious that there would be an encore. How could there not be when the energy was just so filling? Returning to the stage only a few minutes later, they jumped into Hell On Earth. In this, Dickinson clearly demonstrated why he is still considered one of the greatest rock singers of all time. Though weathered by years of touring, his voice was as powerful and engaging as ever. Later, after ending on Wasted Years and soaking in the applause, the band had nothing left to prove. 

Despite their long career, this is a band that clearly still has it. With a setlist spanning their illustrious career, a production that was nothing short of spectacular, and an electrified crowd, the evening was a testament to why Iron Maiden remains one of the greatest bands in rock history. One can’t help but feel lucky for what the rest of Australia has in store for them.

Iron Maiden will also play in Adelaide (September 4), Melbourne (September 6 and 7), Brisbane (September 10), and Sydney (September 12 and 13). Tickets for those shows are still on sale and can be accessed here.