Iron Maiden at the Waldbühne – July 29, 2025
Run for Your Lives, Berlin!
Iron Maiden at the Waldbühne – July 29, 2025
Last night, the gods of metal descended upon Berlin, unleashing a storm of riffs, nostalgia, and unrelenting energy at the Waldbühne. Iron Maiden’s “Run for Your Lives” tour proved once again why they remain the undisputed masters of live performance – although, not without a few stumbles.
🧾 Setlist Highlights
The evening’s setlist was a dream for fans of Maiden’s early era, with deep cuts and timeless anthems flowing like molten steel:
- The Ides of March
- Murders in the Rue Morgue
- Wrathchild
- Killers
- Phantom of the Opera
- The Number of the Beast
- The Clairvoyant
- Powerslave
- 2 Minutes to Midnight
- Rime of the Ancient Mariner
- Run to the Hills
- Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
- The Trooper
- Hallowed Be Thy Name
- Iron Maiden
Encore:
- Churchill’s Speech
- Aces High
- Fear of the Dark
- Wasted Years
From the eerie intro of The Ides of March to the cathartic sing-along during Fear of the Dark, the crowd roared through every chorus and solo, fists pumping and necks sore by the end.
🥁 On the Drums: Simon’s Growing Pains
This was my first time seeing Simon behind the kit – and I’ll be honest: I’m not sold yet.
While he clearly has the chops and stamina to pull off the set, his sense of tempo still needs tightening. There were moments when the guitars came in ’late’, and though that could be interpreted as musical nuance or a bit of live looseness, it often just felt… off.
“Run to the Hills” in particular was disappointing. That iconic drum fill is sacred ground for Maiden fans, and Simon’s execution lacked the punch and clarity it demands. It didn’t feel right – and in a band with such legendary precision, that’s hard to overlook.
That said, it’s still early days for him in the band. With time (and maybe a few stern chats from Steve Harris), there’s hope he’ll lock into that signature Maiden gallop.
🎭 Stage Presence and Atmosphere
Bruce Dickinson was, as always, a commanding force – bounding across the stage in military garb, storytelling through every verse. The production was massive but tasteful, letting the music shine. “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” was a theatrical high point, complete with haunting lighting and smoke that wrapped the stage like fog off the sea.
The Waldbühne proved a majestic venue: open-air, historic, and intimate enough to feel the heat of every pyro blast. Even from the back rows, you were part of the storm.
⚔️ Final Thoughts
Despite some rhythm hiccups, Iron Maiden delivered a powerful, career-spanning set that thrilled longtime fans and newcomers alike. Watching them tear through Hallowed Be Thy Name under the Berlin night sky was pure magic.
Simon may have some work to do, but the spirit of Maiden remains as fierce as ever. And as long as the crowd keeps screaming, they’ll keep running – not for their lives, but for the love of metal.
Up the Irons! 🤘🔥