Who saidIron Maiden were too old to be doing heavy metal? This Saturday, July 19, 2025, the Brits clearly proved us wrong. Bubbling energy, a setlist packed with thundering old hits, meticulous stagecraft and a Bruce Dickinson transformed into a veritable pile of electricity for the occasion... For the first of their two concerts at the Paris La Défense Arena, the members ofIron Maiden showed that they are still a force to be reckoned with, 50 years after the band was formed by talented bassist and composer Steve Harris.
For five decades now, this leading combo from the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) has been delighting our ears with powerful tracks, some of which have become veritable anthems.
Despite several line-up changes and recent albums that have been less memorable than their first, Iron Maiden is, and remains, a true source of inspiration for many young bands, eager to achieve the same success and longevity. Like Metallica, Iron Maiden is fortunate to be able to count on a solid fan base. On this Saturday, July 19, 2025, T-shirts bearing the effigy of the English band were in abundance outside the Paris La Défense Arena. Many fans have also gathered at Eddie's Dive Bar, the short-lived bar opened by Iron Maiden for this European tour. While waiting for the Paris venue to open its doors, many fans are looking back on fond memories: Iron Maiden concerts at Espace Balard in 1985, at the Zénith de La Villette in 1990 and at the Parc des Princes in 2005... The years go by, the memories remain and the love for this essential heavy metal band endures.
But before they could once again vibrate to the rhythms ofIron Maiden's hits, Paris La Défense Arena spectators were able to warm up with an opening act. While Halestorm had been chosen to open the festivities for the first half of the"Run for Your Lives World Tour", Swedish band Avatar, from Göteborg, was chosen for the last half.
At 7.30pm, the lights of the Paris La Défense Arena go out. A man dressed all in black brings what looks like a gift to the stage. He invites the audience to clap their hands, before opening the red box. Out pops a ball of the same color, with an attached... Johannes Eckerström, the eccentric and incredible lead singer of Avatar! Quickly joined by his bandmates on stage, Johannes bursts the balloon before the first notes of " Dance Devil Dance " echo through the hall.
As always with Avatar, nothing is left to chance. First of all, there's the theatrical, glam rock make-up worn by the singer, and then there are the ultra-polished costumes. AlthoughAvatar was only scheduled as the opening act, Iron Maiden gladly made room for a little scenography. The Swedish band's name is displayed in large illuminated letters at the back of the stage. A veritable beast on stage, Avatar kept the front rows sweating for around 45 minutes of their set, with their infectious energy, showmanship, headbanging and thunderous tunes such as " The Dirt I'm Buried In ", " Smells Like a Freakshow ", not forgetting " Captain Goat ", the new single from their forthcoming new album! On the other hand, the sound quality wasn't up to scratch...
At around 8.50pm, the English band UFO's " Doctor Doctor " echoed through the Paris venue, raising the temperature in the pit a notch. The lights go down again, and moving images are projected onto the giant screens, with " The Ides of March " playing in the background. We then travel through the streets of London before discovering the famous Eddie mascot on a brick wall. Then it's on to Paris, with the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Pantheon and a post-apocalyptic sky. It's at this precise moment thatIron Maiden finally take to the stage. And the British combo kicked off with a rousing rendition of " Murders in the Rue Morgue ". Unfortunately, the sound quality in the hall is far from perfect. But Bruce Dickinson's boundless energy is immediately impressive. At 66, the singer - with his singular, powerful voice - seems to have lost (almost) nothing of his youth, not hesitating to make his microphone stand twirl.
Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and the others soon follow with " Wrathchild " and the inevitable " Killers ", marked by the appearance on stage of a giant Eddie, with luminous eyes and an axe in his hand. The fans go wild. Bruce Dickinson takes the stage for the first time, and in the language of Molière for the occasion! The singer takes the opportunity not only to talk about his incredible five-decade career, but also to introduce Simon Dawson. The drummer succeeds Nicko McBrain , who announced in 2024 that he would be retiring from the stage after 42 years of loyal service.
The show kicks off again with " Phantom of the Opera ", giving rise to a wave of arms raised and swaying from right to left in the pit. Then comes the thunderous " The Number of the Beast ", enhanced by pyrotechnic effects and the projection on the screens of images from a black-and-white horror film. For this tour, which celebrates 50 years in the music business, Iron Maiden are truly delighting their fans with a number of their earliest and most iconic hits. And this is just the beginning.
Iron Maiden continues with other highlights, including " The Clairvoyant ", " Powerslave " and " 2 Minutes to Midnight ". The set design is meticulous, transporting us back to the time of the Pharaohs. And the space-time journey is far from over. We now head for the sea, aboard a haunted ship with " Rime of the Ancient Mariner ", followed by the Ice Age with " Seventh Son of a Seventh Son ". The whole is enhanced by beautiful paintings, numerous video projections and pyrotechnic effects.
The atmosphere in the hall is overjoyed. Fans brandish their horns, and sing at the top of their lungs to " Run to the Hills " and " The Trooper ",Iron Maiden's unmissable hit. Eddie returns to the stage, this time wearing the famous red tunic of the British army, while the indefatigable Bruce Dickinson waves the English flag and then the French flag, to great acclaim from the audience.
If Bruce Dickinson isn't short of energy, neither are the other members ofIron Maiden. Steve Harris doesn't hesitate to point his bass at the audience, while Janick Gers does a few stretching exercises on the amp. It's a real pleasure to see them having so much fun playing live after all these years!
With " Hallowed Be Thy Name ", Iron Maiden takes theatricality to a new level. Locked in a cage, Bruce Dickinson is sentenced to death by hanging. But the artist finally rises from the ashes, as the sharp riffs of this 1982 track send shivers down our spines and make us headbang.
The crowd's euphoria grows even stronger when the song " Iron Maiden " is played. As Janick Gers twirls his guitar, the giant screens reveal an angry Eddie in 3D, determined to put an end to the racket.
But Iron Maiden 's show isn't over yet. After a short break, the band returned to the stage for the one and only encore, to perform three final hits: the powerful " Aces High ", the brilliant " Fear of the Dark ", taken up in chorus by a very large part of the audience, and finally " Wasted Years ".
After 2h00 of flamboyant, stunning show, Iron Maiden ended their set to the praise of the audience and a round of well-deserved applause. After a career spanning 50 years, Iron Maiden are undoubtedly one of those legendary bands whose success is undeniable. Buoyed by their insane energy and a setlist featuring the very best of the band's rich repertoire,Iron Maiden 's Paris concert was a feast for the eyes and ears, while taking us on a journey back in time!
Reminder
Location
Paris La Défense Arena
99 Jardin de l'Arche
92000 Nanterre
