Iron Maiden mainman Steve Harris wants the band to record at least one more album and keep touring before it’s time to wind down.
And the 60-year-old is certain he’ll keep writing music after the NWOBHM icons go their separate ways.
They’re currently touring the world in support of latest album The Book Of Souls, which was released last year following a delay caused by frontman Bruce Dickinson’s cancer battle.
Harris tells Vorterix (via Blabbermouth): “We still want to make at least one more album, and we want to do some more touring. We’re enjoying ourselves at the moment. We’re just happy to be here after what happened with Bruce.
“It’s a privilege to play and be here – because a year ago we didn’t even know if we were going to be able to tour any more.”
He believes Maiden would have come to an end if Dickinson hadn’t been able to return. “At this stage of our career I don’t think we would have looked to another singer,” he says. “There’s no point. We can’t really replace Bruce anyway. But, thank God, we didn’t need to. The main thing is that he’s okay, but the second thing is, now we can tour and make albums.”
Harris has had to accept he can’t play football as often as he’d like any more. “It took me a long while to to realise that I wasn’t going to play on a regular basis. I still play once in a while, but that took me a long while to adjust.
“Obviously, with the band, it’s going to be even worse – so I’m not looking forward to that. You just have to focus and do other things, so you have your mind on something else.”
He continues: “I’d like to write more songs, and write more songs on my own. I’ve still got loads of ideas. Too many, probably, but that’s a nice problem to have. I’d rather have that problem than run out of ideas.”
Harris says he prefers to look forward rather than back, adding: “We’ve had a fantastic career. If it ended tomorrow, it’s been amazing, and I can live with that. But obviously we’d like to carry on longer. Hopefully we can carry on a bit more.”
Iron Maiden this week announced a third version of their Trooper beer, to be launched in September. The Book Of Souls tour continues with dates across the world until August, including a headline set at this year’s Download festival in June.
Iron Maiden will never become parody - Nicko McBrain
Iron Maiden The Book Of Souls world tour
Mar 24: Fortaleza Ginasio Olimpico, Brazil
Mar 26: Sao Paulo Allianz Parque, Brazil
Mar 30: New York Madison Square Garden, NY
Apr 01: Montreal Bell Centre, QC
Apr 03: Toronto Air Canada Center, ON
Apr 05: Detroit Palace of Auburn Hills, MI
Apr 06: Chicago United Center, IL
Apr 08: Edmonton Rexall Place, AB
Apr 10: Vancouver Rogers Arena, B
Apr 11: Tacoma Dome, WA
Apr 13: Denver Pepsi Center, CO
Apr 15: Los Angeles Forum, CA
Apr 16: LA Forum, CA
Apr 20: Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan, Japan
Apr 21: Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan, Japan
Apr 24: Beijing LeSports Center, China
Apr 26: Shanghai Mercedes Benz Arena, China
Apr 29: Christchurch Horncastle Arena, New Zealand
May 01: Aucklane Vector Arena, New Zealand
May 04: Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Australia
May 06: Sydney Allphones Arena, Australia
May 09: Melbourne Rod Laver Arena, Australia
May 12: Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Australia
May 14: Perth Arena, Australia
May 18: Cape Town Grand Arena, South Africa
May 21: Johannesburg Carnival City Festival Lawns, South Africa
May 27: Dortmund Rock Im Revier Festival, Germany
May 29: Munich Rockavaria Festival, Germany
May 31: Berlin The Waldbuehne, Germany
Jun 03: Lucerne Sonisphere Allmend Rockt, Switzerland
Jun 05: Rock In Vienna Festival, Austria
Jun 08: Arnhem Gelredome, Netherlands
Jun 10: Paris Download Festival, France
Jun 12: Donington Download Festival, UK
Jun 15: Oslo Telenor Arena, Norway
Jun 17: Gothenburg Ullevi Stadium, Sweden
Jun 19: Dessel Graspop Metal Meeting, Belgium
Jun 21: Herning Jyske Bank Boxen, Denmark
Jun 23: Kaunas Zalgirio Arena, Lithuania
Jun 25: Moscow Olimpiyskiy, Russia
Jun 29: Hameenlinna Kantolan Tapahtumapuisto, Finland
Jul 01: Sopron Volt Festival, Hungary
Jul 03:Wroclaw Stadium, Poland
Jul 05: Prague Eden Arena, Czech Republic
Jul 06: Zilina Airport, Slovakia
Jul 09: Viveiro Resurrection Festival, Spain
Jul 11: Lisbon MEO Arena, Portugal
Jul 13: Madrid Barclaycard Center, Spain
Jul 16: Barcelona Rock Fest
Jul 22: Milan Mediolanum Forum, Italy
Jul 24: Rome Rock in Rome Sonisphere, Italy
Jul 26: trieste Piazza dell’Unita D’Italia, Italy
Jul 27: Split Spaladium Arena, Croatia
Aug 02: Esch-sur-Alzette Rockhal, Luxembourg
Aug 04: Wacken Open Air, Germany
