Bruce Dickinson has ruled out an Iron Maiden residency at Las Vegas Sphere.
The 67-year-old heavy metal legend says the state-of-the-art venue – which is renowned for its immersive video and audio capabilities, including a giant wraparound LED screen – isn’t the right setting for the Fear of the Dark band’s action-packed live shows.
Speaking to Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM, he said when asked if Maiden could play the venue: “No. It’s not Maiden. Maiden’s about the relationship between the band and the audience, and the show, whilst it’s a show, is an enhancement to what we do. The Sphere, as far as I can gather… I mean, I appreciate what you’re saying about it — it’s all encompassing, it’s this and that, it’s the other — but I think the band would be very uncomfortable with the idea.”
He added: “I mean, we just do a lot of stuff: we run around, we go around, and at the Sphere, what’s the point? What’s the point? In fact, what’s the point of even being there, if you’re a band?”
While it’s not Maiden’s cup of tea, fellow metallers Metallica have been holding talks about a Sphere residency, although nothing is confirmed.
Guitarist Kirk Hammett revealed recently that the Nothing Else Matters band would love to stage a “crazy experience” at the venue in Sin City.
Quizzed about the prospect, he told The Hollywood Reporter: “Oh, heck, yeah! That’s a great example of how venues are changing. That’s using modern technology to the fullest, to really up the levels of production and entertainment, connected to AI and making it a crazy experience.”
Metallica have embraced developments in technology – appearing in the video game Fortnite and staging an immersive concert with Apple Vision Pro in recent years – and Kirk warned that other artists risk being “exploited” if they do not adapt with the times.
The 62-year-old rocker said: “The formats and venues just keep on coming. Ten years ago, I didn’t know we would be characters in a Fortnite game or that Apple would create VR headsets that can bring you literally right in front of the performer or the athlete. We didn’t see any of this coming.
“It’s important to pay attention to all this stuff, because if you don’t apply yourself in a responsible fashion, someone else is going to do it for you, and you’re going to be on the exploited end. If you’re not paying attention, then stuff like Napster happens. It’s not for me to say, but that’s something to ponder.”
U2, The Eagles and Backstreet Boys are among the acts to have landed residencies at Sphere.