IRON MAIDEN manager Rod Smallwood has spoken out against a small group of fans who ignored the band’s request to keep their phones in their pockets during the opening shows of the “Run For Your Lives” world tour.
In a message posted on the band’s official website following the back-to-back sold-out concerts in Budapest, Hungary, Smallwood expressed his gratitude to the majority of fans for their enthusiastic support and warm welcome for the band’s new drummer, Simon Dawson. However, he did not shy away from addressing those who disrupted the concert experience for others.
“A huge thank you to every one of you who kept your phones down, respected the band and your fellow fans, and embraced the show the way it’s meant to be experienced — in the room with us,” Smallwood wrote in a statement posted on band’s official website. “That was a great boost for us and the band appreciated it greatly. It is so much better when they can see you unencumbered and that drives them on without that distraction.”
However, Smallwood made it clear that not everyone followed the guidelines: “For the selfish few that didn’t and just had to keep videoing… I wish you nothing but a very sore arm!”
The comments came after the tour’s opening night on May 27 at Papp László Sportaréna in Budapest, where the band debuted their highly anticipated new production. The shows also marked the first live appearances with Simon Dawson, who stepped in for long-time drummer Nicko McBrain last December.
Smallwood’s message reflected both his appreciation for the fans’ enthusiasm and his frustration with those who disregarded the band’s request. While taking the occasional quick photo is understandable, Smallwood urged fans to resist the temptation to record large portions of the performance, emphasizing that it detracts from the shared energy between the band and the audience.
He concluded with a hopeful note for the tour’s upcoming dates: “We do hope this support from fans, especially in the floor area in front of the sound desk, continues in Prague and beyond. By all means take the odd quick pic as a memento of a great night, but otherwise please keep your phone in your pocket.”
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