This week's Kerrang! cover stars Iron Maiden literally can't wait to play Twickenham Rugby stadium this weekend.
The show, which will also feature sets by Avenged Sevenfold, Within Temptation and Lauren Harris, will, believe it or not, be the British heavy metal legends' first ever British stadium show.
"When we were booking the tour it did suddenly occur to me that this was our first one," says frotnman Bruce Dickinson. "I went 'Hang on a minute, this is the first one we've ever done'. And Twickenham seems fairly well set-up for it."
When asked what fans can expect from the show, Dickinson added:
"Well obviously [the Somewhere Back In Time] show (which is reminiscent of the band's now legendery 1985 World Slaver set-up). Nobody in the UK has had this show in anyway, shape or form yet. And we've made a few modifications to the normal Twickenham set-up that we hope will improve everybody's experience of it in terms of sound in terms of speaker positions and layout etc. We've tried to be a bit innovative about that. We are a live rock band and we want everyone to get it."
And bassist and founding member Steve Harris insists Maiden will be on top form for Saturday's gig.
"It's quite funny because I actually watched the Live After Death DVD a couple of months ago. I hadn't watched it for years, and I actually realised we're a lot better now than we were then," He says. "Not only playing wise, but the jumping around and Bruce's voice... Everything."
"I was quite surprised because I actually thought that was when we were at our best!,: he laughs. "I suppose 20 years of playing later we should be better really shouldn't we?"
For the full interview, and exclusive pictures, be sure to pick up this week's Kerrang! magazine.
Out tribute to Iron Maiden, Maiden Heaven, which features exclusive covers by Metallica, Trivium, Avenged Sevenfold, Machine Head and more will be given away with the July 16 edition of Kerrang! magazine.
Just goes to show how badly they're struggl...
