10 Most Overblown Stage Productions In Music Today

2. Iron Maiden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoiHX9azZeQ Never known for their understated live shows, Iron Maiden have always sought to impress live, aided hugely by representations of their mascot, Eddie. Not only is Ed present on all of their album artwork and many of their singles, but he's a staple of their live show, through representations on screen and on stage. Usually, the band pull out all the stops when it comes to their stage show, being noted by many festivals around the world as having the biggest stage setup they've ever known. Frontman Bruce Dickinson often manages to upstage all the glorious pyrotechnics himself just by being him; eccentric, engaging, energetic, and exciting. The stage comes complete with multiple podiums for the singer, while his bandmates have often dressed in hats, capes, and all manner of other garments. The shows themselves run on specific themes, with their most recent 'Maiden England' tour using arctic-themed props and imagery to enhance the whole experience. 'Maiden England' features a frozen Eddie and a barren landscape, while the use of pyrotechnics is at an all time high for the band after some years away. Dickinson recently said, "We like to alternate it every other year, because if you get the reputation that you€™ve got to go and see a band because of the pyro, and then you don€™t do the pyro, people think, 'Oh, I won€™t bother then.'" Now do you see why Muse aren't on this list? The Leyton-formed heavy metal act have become synonymous with a great live show, with their theatrics and borderline-operatics being one of the many things that helps set them apart from almost every other British metal artist ever. Whether it's with devil statues, flamethrowing gargoyles, or Eddie just being Eddie, Iron Maiden will always be a must-see live experience.