UK heavy metal icons Iron Maiden celebrated 50 legendary years with over 50,000 roaring fans across two powerhouse shows at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. Tri-state metalheads packed the venue, joined by dedicated fans who traveled from Mexico, Eastern Europe, and South America just to witness these heavy metal titans make history.
Iron Maiden Delivers a Masterclass in Metal
At nearly 70 years old, frontman Bruce Dickinson commands the stage with more energy and athletic endurance than performers half his age. An Iron Maiden concert isn’t just a show—it is a full-scale theatrical spectacle. The band proved that early on by dusting off the classic 1988 deep cut “Infinite Dreams,” much to the delight of die-hard fans.
Visually, Iron Maiden remains unmatched. Their stage production and dynamic screen graphics completely transport the audience through time and space. The highlight of the night was an incredible live performance of the nearly 14-minute epic “Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” Coupled with captivating background visual storytelling, the song stood as a true testament to the band’s technical prowess and stamina.
The energy reached a fever pitch as Maiden cranked out fan favorites like “Run to the Hills,” “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” and “The Trooper.” Capping off the night with a blistering three-song encore, Iron Maiden delivered what can only be described as a dream setlist for lifetime fans.
Megadeth and Anthrax Bring the Power of the “Big 4”
Before Iron Maiden took the stage, two legendary American thrash metal acts set the stadium ablaze.
Megadeth delivered a precise, powerful set defined by Dave Mustaine’s signature lightning-fast riffs and calculated aggression. The pit erupted as they tore through thrash classics, including “Hangar 18,” “Sweating Bullets,” “Symphony of Destruction,” and “Peace Sells.”
Opening the night, Anthrax ignited the early crowd with their raw East Coast energy. Packing an intense punch into a short set, their mosh-pit-inducing anthems like “Antisocial,” “Madhouse,” and “Caught in a Mosh” set a high bar for the rest of the evening.
It isn’t every day you get some of heavy metal’s most iconic bands sharing one stage. The “Run For Your Lives” Tour stop in New Jersey was an unforgettable celebration of metal history.
Full Concert Setlists: Harrison, NJ
Iron Maiden Setlist
- Murders in the Rue Morgue
- Wrathchild
- Killers
- Phantom of the Opera
- The Number of the Beast
- Infinite Dreams
- 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:
- Aces High
- Fear the Dark
- Wasted Years
Megadeth Setlist
- Tipping Point
- Hangar 18
- Take No Prisoners (Tour debut)
- Sweating Bullets
- Devil’s Island (Tour debut)
- Tornado of Souls
- Symphony of Destruction
- Peace Sells
Encore:
- Holy Wars…The Punishment Due
Anthrax Setlist
- Caught in a Mosh
- Madhouse
- Metal Thrashing Mad
- Antisocial (Trust cover)
- It’s for the Kids
- Got the Time (Joe Jackson cover)
- Indians