# Somewhere Back in Time World Tour

Somewhere Back in Time World Tour was a concert tour by the heavy metal band Iron Maiden in 2008 and 2009, focused on the band's 1980s material, in particular songs from Powerslave, Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. The tour tied in with the second part of the DVD series, entitled "The History of Iron Maiden", and prompted the release of a new greatest hits compilation, Somewhere Back in Time.
The tour was advertised as a way of bringing back the 1980s stage show and forgotten "classics" for an audience of younger fans, not having been born in time to witness the original. Many of the band's songs had not been played in a long time, as much as 21 years in one case, and two of them ("Moonchild" and "Rime of the Ancient Mariner") never having been played by the current line-up. The stage set was based around that of the widely celebrated World Slavery Tour of 1984–85, featuring similar pyrotechnics and the return of the giant mummified Eddie, but also included a lighting rig and cyborg walk-on Eddie based on that of Somewhere on Tour 1986.
The tour would also see the first use of Ed Force One, Iron Maiden's customised Boeing 757, designed to carry band, crew and equipment across continents, which is piloted by the band's lead singer Bruce Dickinson, who also received the qualifications to flight the Boeing 757. The ground breaking nature of the tour led to the documentary entitled Iron Maiden: Flight 666, released in select cinemas in April 2009, followed by a Blu-ray, DVD and CD release in May and June, which would top the music DVD charts in 25 countries.
The 2008 tour was the second highest grossing of the year for a British artist, with the band reportedly playing to well over than 2 million people worldwide over both years.

## Tour synopsis

The first leg of Iron Maiden's Somewhere Back in Time World Tour opened in Mumbai, India on 1 February, and continued through Australia, Japan, Los Angeles and Mexico, followed by concerts in Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Puerto Rico and New Jersey, before finishing in Toronto, on 16 March. Over the 45-day period the band played 23 concerts to over 500,000 fans in 11 countries, flying close to 50,000 miles in the specially refitted plane: Boeing 757, dubbed "Ed Force One" after a competition to name the plane. On this leg of the tour, the Iron Maiden: Flight 666 film was shot.
Concerning concerts in Scandinavia, EMA Telstar announced that the Iron Maiden tour will be the biggest rock tour that any band has ever undertaken in these Nordic regions. Tour promoter Thomas Johansson of EMA Telstar commented:
   "We are all very proud to be making history by giving our rock fans the biggest Nordic Rock Tour there has ever been and certainly one of the most spectacular. Maiden is so hugely popular with the Nordic peoples that we wanted to ensure that as many fans as possible got the opportunity to see this very special show next year as we expect demand for tickets to be enormous.",

## Support acts

The opening bands on the tour were:
* First Leg: Lauren Harris, Vanishing Point (Perth and Melbourne), Behind Crimson Eyes (Sydney and Brisbane), Parikrama (Mumbai), Introspeciión (Bogota)
* Second Leg: Lauren Harris Anthrax (30 and 31 May only) and Trivium (Holmdel only).
* Third Leg: Lauren Harris, Within Temptation (London and Assen only), Kamelot (Assen), Avenged Sevenfold (from 1 to 31 July), Trooper (Bucharest), Made of Hate (Warsaw), Salamandra (Prague), Slayer (Lisbon and Mérida), Tainted (Christchurch), Rising Dream (Split)
* Fourth Leg: Lauren Harris, Carcass (Monterrey and Guadalajara), Atreyu (Monterrey and Mexico), Morbid Angel (Monterrey), Anthrax (Bogota), Loathsome Faith (Bogota), Abstract Enemy (Bogota), Ágora (Mexico City), IRA (Monterrey), M.A.S.A.C.R.E. (Lima), Witchblade (Chile)

## Setlist

Transylvania/Churchill's Speech Intro song to all shows on this leg of the tour.
* "Aces High" (from Powerslave, 1984)
* "2 Minutes to Midnight" (from Powerslave, 1984)
* "Revelations" (from Piece of Mind, 1983)
* "The Trooper" (from Piece of Mind, 1983)
* "Wasted Years" (from Somewhere in Time, 1986)
* "The Number of the Beast" (from The Number of the Beast, 1982)
* "Can I Play with Madness" (from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 1988)
* "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (from Powerslave, 1984)
* "Powerslave" (from Powerslave, 1984)
* "Heaven Can Wait" (from Somewhere in Time, 1986)
* "Run to the Hills" (from The Number of the Beast, 1982)
* "Fear of the Dark" (from Fear of the Dark, 1992)
* "Iron Maiden" (from Iron Maiden, 1980)
Encore
* "Moonchild" (from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 1988)
* "The Clairvoyant" (from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 1988)
* "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (from The Number of the Beast, 1982)
Transylvania/Churchill's Speech Intro song to all shows on this leg of the tour.
* "Aces High" (from Powerslave, 1984)
* "Wrathchild" (from Killers, 1981)
* "2 Minutes to Midnight" (from Powerslave, 1984)
* "Children of the Damned" (from The Number of the Beast, 1982)
* "Phantom of the Opera" (from Iron Maiden, 1980)
* "The Trooper" (from Piece of Mind, 1983)
* "Wasted Years" (from Somewhere in Time, 1986)
* "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (from Powerslave, 1984)
* "Powerslave" (from Powerslave, 1984)
* "Run to the Hills" (from The Number of the Beast, 1982)
* "Fear of the Dark" (from Fear of the Dark, 1992)
* "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (from The Number of the Beast, 1982)
* "Iron Maiden" (from Iron Maiden, 1980)
Encore
* "The Number of The Beast" (from The Number of the Beast, 1982)
* "The Evil That Men Do" (from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 1988)
* "Sanctuary" (from Iron Maiden, 1980)
Note:
* In Belgrade, the opening date of the 2009 tour, "2 Minutes to Midnight" and "Wrathchild" were played the other way round. In addition, The drum intro to "The Trooper" was mistakenly played before "Phantom of the Opera", and the intro to "Wasted Years" was also played before "The Trooper". Only the first mistake affected the concert's setlist.

## Personnel

(Credits taken from the official tour programme.)

### Crew

* Ian Day – Tour Manager
* Steve Gadd – Assistant Tour Manager
* Jason Danter – Production Manager
* Bill Conte – Stage Manager
* Zeb Minto – Tour Coordinator
* Natasha De Sampayo – Wardrobe
* Doug Hall – Front of House Sound Engineer
* Steve 'Gonzo' Smith – Monitor Engineer
* Ian 'Squid' Walsh – Sound Technician
* Mike Hackman – Sound Technician
* Rob Coleman – Lighting Designer
* Rowan Norris – Lighting Technician
* Sean Brady – Adrian Smith's Guitar Technician
* Colin Price – Dave Murray's Guitar Technician
* Mick Pryde – Janick Gers' Guitar Technician
* Michael Kenney – Steve Harris' Bass Technician and keyboards
* Charlie Charlesworth – Nicko McBrain's Drum Technician
* Paul Stratford – Set Carpenter
* Ashley Groom – Set Carpenter
* Philip Stewart – Set Carpenter
* Jeff Weir – Tour Security
* Peter Lokrantz – Masseuse
* Dave 'Tith' Pattenden – Video Director
* Johnny 'TGD' Burke – Moving and Still Pictures
* Keith Maxwell – Pyrotechnician
* Eric Muccio – Pyrotechnician
* Boomer – Merchandising
* Dick Bell – Production Consultant

## Tour dates

List of 2008 concerts :
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| 1 February 2008 | Mumbai | India | Bandra-Kurla complex |
| 4 February 2008 | Perth | Australia | Burswood Dome |
| 6 February 2008 | Melbourne | Australia | Rod Laver Arena |
| 7 February 2008 | Melbourne | Australia | Rod Laver Arena |
| 9 February 2008 | Sydney | Australia | Acer Arena |
| 10 February 2008 | Sydney | Australia | Acer Arena |
| 12 February 2008 | Brisbane | Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| 15 February 2008 | Yokohama | Japan | Yokohama Pacifico |
| 16 February 2008 | Chiba | Japan | Makuhari Messe |
| 19 February 2008 | Inglewood | United States | The Forum |
| 21 February 2008 | Zapopan | Mexico | Auditorio Telmex |
| 22 February 2008 | Monterrey | Mexico | Monterrey Arena |
| 24 February 2008 | Mexico City | Mexico | Foro Sol |
| 26 February 2008 | San José | Costa Rica | Estadio Ricardo Saprissa |
| 28 February 2008 | Bogotá | Colombia | Simón Bolívar Park |
| 2 March 2008 | São Paulo | Brazil | Estádio Palestra Itália |
| 4 March 2008 | Curitiba | Brazil | Pedreira Paulo Leminski |
| 5 March 2008 | Porto Alegre | Brazil | Gigantinho |
| 7 March 2008 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | Estadio Ricardo Etcheverry |
| 9 March 2008 | Santiago | Chile | Pista Atletica |
| 12 March 2008 | San Juan | Puerto Rico | Coliseo de Puerto Rico, José Miguel Agrelot |
| 14 March 2008 | East Rutherford | United States | Izod Center |
| 16 March 2008 | Toronto | Canada | Air Canada Centre |
| 21 May 2008 | Selma | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheater |
| 22 May 2008 | The Woodlands | United States | Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion |
| 25 May 2008 | Albuquerque | United States | Journal Pavilion |
| 26 May 2008 | Phoenix | United States | Cricket Wireless Pavilion |
| 28 May 2008 | Concord | United States | Sleep Train Pavilion |
| 30 May 2008 | Irvine | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre |
| 31 May 2008 | Irvine | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre |
| 2 June 2008 | Auburn | United States | White River Amphitheatre |
| 3 June 2008 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum |
| 5 June 2008 | Calgary | Canada | Saddledome |
| 6 June 2008 | Edmonton | Canada | Rexall Place |
| 8 June 2008 | Regina | Canada | Brandt Centre |
| 9 June 2008 | Winnipeg | Canada | MTS Centre |
| 11 June 2008 | Rosemont | United States | Allstate Arena |
| 12 June 2008 | Cuyahoga Falls | United States | Blossom Music Center |
| 14 June 2008 | Holmdel | United States | PNC Bank Arts Center |
| 15 June 2008 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| 17 June 2008 | Camden | United States | Susquehanna Bank Center |
| 18 June 2008 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion |
| 20 June 2008 | Mansfield | United States | Comcast Center |
| 21 June 2008 | Montreal | Canada | Parc Jean-Drapeau |
| 27 June 2008 | Bologna | Italy | Gods of Metal |
| 29 June 2008 | Dessel | Belgium | Graspop Metal Meeting |
| 1 July 2008 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| 2 July 2008 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy |
| 5 July 2008 | London | England | Twickenham Stadium |
| 9 July 2008 | Lisbon | Portugal | Super Bock Super Rock |
| 11 July 2008 | Mérida | Spain | Via de la Plata Festival |
| 12 July 2008 | Zaragoza | Spain | Metalway Festival |
| 16 July 2008 | Stockholm | Sweden | Stockholm Olympic Stadium |
| 18 July 2008 | Helsinki | Finland | Helsinki Olympic Stadium |
| 19 July 2008 | Tampere | Finland | Ratina Stadion |
| 22 July 2008 | Trondheim | Norway | Lerkendal Stadion |
| 24 July 2008 | Oslo | Norway | Valle Hovin |
| 26 July 2008 | Gothenburg | Sweden | Ullevi Stadium |
| 27 July 2008 | Horsens | Denmark | Godsbanepladsen |
| 31 July 2008 | Wacken | Germany | Wacken Open Air |
| 2 August 2008 | Athens | Greece | Terra Vibe Park |
| 4 August 2008 | Bucharest | Romania | Cotroceni Stadium |
| 7 August 2008 | Warsaw | Poland | Gwardia Stadium |
| 8 August 2008 | Prague | Czech Republic | Synot Tip Arena |
| 10 August 2008 | Split | Croatia | Stadion Poljud |
| 12 August 2008 | Budapest | Hungary | Sziget Festival |
| 14 August 2008 | Basel | Switzerland | St. Jakobshalle |
| 16 August 2008 | Assen | Netherlands | TT Circuit Assen |
| 19 August 2008 | Moscow | Russia | Olimpiyskiy Arena |
List of 2009 concerts :
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| 10 February 2009 | Belgrade | Serbia | Belgrade Arena |
| 13 February 2009 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | Media City Amphitheatre |
| 15 February 2009 | Bangalore | India | Palace Grounds |
| 20 February 2009 | Auckland | New Zealand | Mount Smart Stadium |
| 22 February 2009 | Christchurch | New Zealand | Westpac Arena |
| 25 February 2009 | Monterrey | Mexico | Estadio Universitario |
| 26 February 2009 | Guadalajara | Mexico | Arena VFG |
| 28 February 2009 | Mexico City | Mexico | Foro Sol |
| 3 March 2009 | Alajuela | Costa Rica | Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto |
| 5 March 2009 | Caracas | Venezuela | Poliedro de Caracas |
| 7 March 2009 | Bogota | Colombia | Simon Bolivar Park |
| 10 March 2009 | Quito | Ecuador | Estadio Aucas |
| 12 March 2009 | Manaus | Brazil | Sambodromo |
| 14 March 2009 | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | Praça da Apoteose |
| 15 March 2009 | São Paulo | Brazil | Autodromo de Interlagos |
| 18 March 2009 | Belo Horizonte | Brazil | Mineirinho |
| 20 March 2009 | Brasília | Brazil | Estádio Mané Garrincha |
| 22 March 2009 | Santiago | Chile | Club Hipico Santiago |
| 26 March 2009 | Lima | Peru | Estadio Nacional |
| 28 March 2009 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | José Amalfitani Stadium |
| 31 March 2009 | Recife | Brazil | Pernambuco Jockey Club |
| 2 April 2009 | Sunrise, Florida | United States | BankAtlantic Center |
* According to sponsors and the Flight 666 documentary, the concert held in Costa Rica was the largest in Central America, with over 27,000 attendants.
* The Metalway Festival appearance was cancelled due to extremely bad weather.
* The European Leg was the biggest sales achievement in band's career. Most shows were sold out in rapid time and streams of tickets were officially extra added due to high demand. The band's performance at Wacken Open Air in 2008 was their largest festival performance of the year. According to Metal Hammer DE, "...not less than 83.000 metal maniacs from all over the world attended this show".
* On the Latin American Leg in 2009 Iron Maiden played 16 gigs to well over half a million people. Their show at Autodromo de Interlagos had the biggest attendance for a rock music event in history of the venue.