Lorik blog

Iron Maiden to play UK arena shows

LONDON (Billboard) – Metal rock band Iron Maiden has confirmed a U.K. arena tour for next summer, which will be the culmination of its Final Frontier World Tour.

The Live Nation tour kicks off at Glasgow SECC on July 20. Other locations include Aberdeen AECC P&J Arena, Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham Trent FM Arena, Manchester MEN Arena, Birmingham NIA, Cardiff CIA Arena and Belfast Odyssey (promoted by MCD).

The tour wraps at London's O2 arena August 5.

The Final Frontier World Tour began in June 2010 with a 25-date trek throughout North America. It was followed by selected European stadium and festival shows, including Knebworth for the U.K. Sonisphere festival.

Maiden recently announced the first leg of the 2011 tour, which starts in February in Moscow at the Olympic Stadium.

Frontman Bruce Dickinson, also a commercial pilot, will fly the band and crew in a specially customized Boeing 757. It will carry band, crew and tons of equipment across five continents to 13 countries, visiting 26 cities for 29 shows.

EMI said the band's 15th album "The Final Frontier," released in August, went to No. 1 in 28 countries. It also made No. 1 in Billboard's European albums chart.

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)