{"id":843317,"date":"2026-09-10T20:34:24","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T20:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/843317\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T20:34:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T20:34:24","slug":"review-setlist-iron-maiden-at-td-garden-boston-sept-9-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/843317\/","title":{"rendered":"Review & setlist: Iron Maiden at TD Garden, Boston, Sept. 9, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConcert Reviews\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t50 years in, the heavy metal heroes were as brilliant and blistering as ever in their Boston stop.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\n\tBruce Dickinson at TD Garden. Michael Last\t<\/p>\n

Iron Maiden, with Megadeth, at TD Garden, Boston, Sept. 9, 2026.<\/p>\n

For a band 50 years into their legendary career, Iron Maiden refuses to act its age. And for millions of fans worldwide, that\u2019s a great thing.<\/p>\n

One of the pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal<\/a>, Maiden showed the youngsters just how it\u2019s done, unleashing a blistering, brilliant 135-minute set in front of a packed house Wednesday night at TD Garden.<\/p>\n

Billed as the Run For Your Lives World Tour, the highly ambitious two-year trek is celebrating Maiden\u2019s rich 50-plus-year legacy, while also providing a stunning tutorial in musical precision 101.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna call this Boston therapy night,\u201d said singer Bruce Dickinson.<\/p>\n

Playing their 60th show of the tour, and third of their U.S. run, the six-piece outfit was the definition of well-oiled, rattling off several well-versed anthems while also unearthing a few buried treasures in between. Unlike past tours, which at times dwelled almost entirely on a new album\u2019s worth of material, this set focused on Maiden\u2019s first nine studio albums. Their meat-and-potatoes approach played well as they fed their rabid fanbase an array of head-banging hits.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is our third night south of the border in the United States of America,\u201d said Dickinson. \u201cWe did two shows in a stadium the other day in New Jersey, which I think is somewhere\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Boston fans didn\u2019t take kindly to the Garden State reference, loudly booing. But Bruce took it all in stride.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, so maybe it\u2019s not the United States of America, maybe it\u2019s somewhere else,\u201d said Dickinson, with a chuckle. \u201cI don\u2019t know. If you feel that strongly about it, I don\u2019t. I just love everybody. It\u2019s f\u2013king cool. You\u2019re Maiden fans, all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Led by founder and bassist Steve Harris, 70, the band did a deep dive into their history.\u00a0A\u00a0large video backdrop helped tell the story, transporting the audience back in time to the mean streets of London and their early club days. From rumpus set opener \u201cMurders in the Rue Morgue,\u201d transitioning to the punk-inspired pacing of \u201cWrathchild,\u201d before shifting into the sheer orchestration of \u201cPhantom of the Opera,\u201d Maiden covered its early era with a refreshing flair.<\/p>\n

\"\"Iron Maiden is led by founder and bassist Steve Harris. \u2013 Michael Last<\/p>\n

Many singers might scoff at the idea of performing such a lengthy homage to a past frontman, but Dickinson had no qualms diving into Paul Di\u2019Anno\u2019s shoes. In fact, he embraced it.<\/p>\n

If anything, it may have also helped warm him up for his own vocal heroics which followed.<\/p>\n

In a year that hasn\u2019t been exactly kind to some of rock\u2019s veteran singers, Dickinson, 68, is proving to be the exception. The \u201cHuman Air Raid Siren\u201d is indeed in the Robin Zander zone, still able to hit the high notes, while maintaining an aggressive growl throughout. His trademark scream on \u201cThe Number of the Beast\u201d remained razor sharp. It cut through the audience as a hail of pyrotechnics flashed across the stage.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t hurt to be backed by such an amazing ensemble. The heartbeat of Iron Maiden\u2019s sound, Harris remained headstrong in his approach with his machine-gun gallop and bravado. Sporting a black tank top and shorts, the grizzled bassist mowed them down on signature cuts \u201cPowerslave,\u201d \u201cRun to the Hills,\u201d and \u201cThe Trooper.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, guitarists Adrian Smith and Dave Murray weaved their musical magic, shifting from the melodic to full-out shredding. The two cornerstones remain a formidable force, trading off each other on delicate leads like \u201cAces High\u201d and \u201cSeventh Son of a Seventh Son.\u201d<\/p>\n

They uncovered deeper tracks like \u201cInfinite Dreams,\u201d which hasn\u2019t been played live in over 30 years. The pair also shined individually with searing solos. Murray, 69, mastered \u201c2 Minutes to Midnight,\u201d while Smith, 69, was simply incendiary on set closer \u201cWasted Years,\u201d a personal favorite of this writer.<\/p>\n

Possessing a bundle of pure energy, third guitarist Janick Gers, 69, pirouetted across the stage like Mikhail Baryshnikov in his prime. His non-stop rhythm guitar heroics kept things in constant motion. He also added the occasional lead burst, none more prominent than on \u201cFear of the Dark.\u201d \u00a0Touring drummer Simon Dawson held his own in place of recently retired drummer Nicko McBrain, keeping the backend crisp.<\/p>\n

The stage show itself was truly a sight to behold. The mammoth production perfectly captured the flavor, essence and theme of each album from each era. These ranged from the alleys of London (\u201cKillers\u201d), a padded cell (\u201cPiece of Mind\u201d), a cemetery (\u201cFear of the Dark\u201d), to the pyramids of Egypt (\u201cPowerslave\u201d). It all culminated during a show-stopping rendition of \u201cRime of the Ancient Mariner.\u201d \u00a0The band literally (or at least digitally) took the audience aboard the doomed ship during the lengthy 15-minute epic, before it slowly disintegrated into the sea in a haze of fog and lightning-type blasts.<\/p>\n

Dickinson did his part adding to all the theatrics. He donned a feathered mask during \u201cPowerslave\u201d and a bomber\u2019s hat during \u201cAces High,\u201d before going full method, locked behind bars outside the gallows while crooning \u201cHallowed Be Thy Name.\u201d The singer also waved the British colors during \u201cThe Trooper,\u201d with Eddie, the band\u2019s familiar 12-foot mascot, standing by his side.<\/p>\n

Because it really isn\u2019t a Maiden show until Eddie shows up.<\/p>\n

\"\"Have you met Eddie? \u2013 Michael Last<\/p>\n

Megadeth opened the show with a fast and furious 45-minute set. Lead singer and guitarist Dave Mustaine and company hit the stage 30 minutes early, taking the audience by surprise. He held nothing back, fronting a brutal assault from set opener \u201cTipping Point\u201d before seamlessly segueing into the Herculean \u201cHangar 18.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mustaine maintained his signature snarl on \u201cSweating Bullets.\u201d He also applied some rust remover on foot-stompers like \u201cTrust,\u201d an unheralded gem off the \u201cRisk\u201d album.<\/p>\n

Former White Lion and Pride & Glory bassist James LoMenzo handled David Ellefson\u2019s familiar bass riffs effectively on \u201cSymphony of Destruction\u201d and \u201cPeace Sells,\u201d while drummer Dirk Verbeuren led the backbeat on the headbanger \u201cTake No Prisoners.\u201d Meanwhile, the new Mega-guy, guitarist Teemu M\u00e4ntysaari, proved he can shred with the best of them. The young gun traded some tasty licks with Mustaine on \u201cTornado of Souls,\u201d while providing added punch on set closer \u201cHoly Wars\u2026 The Punishment Due.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite their advanced age, Iron Maiden shows no signs of slowing down. They remain the only band that can still travel to the four corners of the globe \u2014 flying on a plane piloted by their own singer, no less \u2014 and be a stadium headline act half a century into their run. And with that kind of commitment fully intact, they can expect their loyal fanbase to have their boarding passes ready for the next 50 years, and beyond. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Fans ate it up at Iron Maiden\u2019s TD Garden show Wednesday. \u2013 Michael LastSetlist for Iron Maiden at TD Garden, Sept. 9, 2026:
\nMurders in the Rue Morgue<\/p>\n

Wrathchild<\/p>\n

Killers<\/p>\n

Phantom of the Opera<\/p>\n

The Number of the Beast<\/p>\n

Infinite Dreams<\/p>\n

Powerslave<\/p>\n

2 Minutes to Midnight<\/p>\n

Rime of the Ancient Mariner<\/p>\n

Run to the Hills<\/p>\n

Seventh Son of a Seventh Son<\/p>\n

The Trooper<\/p>\n

Hallowed Be Thy Name<\/p>\n

Iron Maiden
\nEncore:
\nAces High<\/p>\n

Fear of the Dark<\/p>\n

Wasted Years
\nSetlist for Megadeth at TD Garden, Sept. 9. 2026:
\nTipping Point<\/p>\n

Hangar 18<\/p>\n

Take No Prisoners<\/p>\n

Sweating Bullets<\/p>\n

Trust<\/p>\n

Tornado of Souls<\/p>\n

Symphony of Destruction<\/p>\n

Peace Sells<\/p>\n

Holy Wars\u2026 The Punishment Due<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Profile\t<\/p>\n

Christopher Hurley is an award-winning sports journalist covering local sports, the Bruins, Stanley Cup Finals, WrestleMania, and more since 1995.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the Today newsletter<\/p>\n

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