ARE IRON MAIDEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST BANDS ON THE PLANET?

It’s a conversation I find myself having often with my non-metal friends (including the infamous “metalgf” of Prague Rock notoriety), and it usually goes something like this:

Friend: How about that Bruce Springsteen? Can’t believe he sold out all those arenas so quickly!

Me: Yeah, pretty amazing. Only a handful of bands ever get to that level. Iron Maiden is even bigger, and they can do it worldwide.

Friend: What?? Iron Maiden?? (shocked). Didn’t they like, die in the ’80s or something?

Me: Uh, no, actually they continue to release quality material and can sell out stadiums across the world on a whim.

The conversation then devolves into me trying to convince them of Maiden’s relevance and them not believing me. Well here’s the proof — Iron Maiden just sold 5,000 tickets in less than 12 hours to a show in Costa Rica — COSTA FUCKING RICA. Multiple that by a London, New York, Paris, Mexico City, Melbourne, Tokyo.. yeah, you get the point. Ticketwise, Maiden is right up there in music’s elite: Rolling Stones, U2, Shania Twain, Bon Jovi… Iron Maiden. Fuck all the naysayers.

-VN