About the gig:

IRON MAIDEN announce their most ambitious and extraordinary touring plans ever – and are very pleased to announce that this will include Australia for the first time in 15 years! The ‘SOMEWHERE BACK IN TIME’ World Tour 2008 will be in three sections, starting in February and March 2008 with the first leg encompassing major concerts in 20 selected cities on five continents in seven weeks including India, Japan, North America, Central and South America, and, of course, Australia, opening in Perth on Feb 4 and continuing through Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. In an historic first, Iron Maiden, their 60-strong crew and support staff and over 12 tons of equipment will be travelling around the world en masse for the first leg of the tour in a specially commissioned and converted Astraeus Boeing 757 decorated with Maiden and Eddie designs! Vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who is a qualified Airline Captain flying for Astraeus Airlines, will pilot the plane on its epic mission, flying over 50,000 miles. Historically, this will be Maiden’s fourth Australian Tour having first toured in 1982 when ‘The Number of the Beast’ was Australia’s number one album, then again in 1985 with the original ‘Powerslave’ show and most recently in 1992 with ‘Fear of the Dark’. However a great deal has happened with the band since then, especially in recent years when ticket sales have continued to explode around the world as the band’s loyal fan base continues to flourish. As Maiden have never had airplay or much video channel exposure anywhere in the world their popularity spread mainly by word of mouth on the back of a legacy of many great albums and an awesome live reputation. With the ever increasing power of the internet the Maiden legend has fired the imagination of new young fans around the planet, and, although their audience spans two generations, it is now predominantly a young one, inspired by the massive legacy and influence of this unique band (and, of course, Eddie). Update: 30/09/07 (Laurei)