Iron Maiden wrapped up the United States leg of their Run for Your Lives world tour on Tuesday by delivering a performance at San Antonio’s Alamodome, drawing a crowd of over 40,000 fans, ultimateclassicrock.com reported.
Anthrax and Megadeth Open San Antonio Arena Show
The concert began with a five-song set from Anthrax. Guitarist Scott Ian explained that regular drummer Charlie Benante missed the gig due to illness, leaving Raven and ex-Fear Factory drummer Mike Heller to step in for a last-minute performance, ultimateclassicrock.com reported. Following Anthrax, Megadeth delivered a nine-song set that included fan favorites such as “The Conjuring” and “Tornado of Souls.”
Iron Maiden Delivers Career-Spanning Metal Set
As UFO’s “Doctor Doctor” played over the loudspeakers, Iron Maiden took the stage to an enthusiastic Alamodome audience. The band opened with three tracks from their 1981 album Killers—”Murders in the Rue Morgue,” “Wrathchild,” and the title track—honoring late frontman Paul Di’Anno, according to ultimateclassicrock.com. Singer Bruce Dickinson, age 68, wore a leather jacket and skintight jeans while performing operatic vocals across a setlist focused on their first nine albums, spanning from 1980 to 1992’s Fear of the Dark.
Simon Dawson Fills in for Nicko McBrain
Bassist and bandleader Steve Harris drove the rhythm section alongside guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers. Drummer Simon Dawson filled in for Nicko McBrain, who retired from touring in 2024. While some fans initially criticized the digital screens that replaced traditional physical backdrops when the tour launched in May 2025, the visual elements during epics like “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” enhanced the performance, ultimateclassicrock.com reported. The haunted nautical imagery enhanced the spellbinding epic, drawing fans further into Maiden’s multisensory “theater of the mind,” as Dickinson has coined it. Fans cheered just as rapturously for seldom-played opuses such as “Infinite Dreams” and “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” as they did for well-worn crowd-pleasers such as “The Number of the Beast” and “Aces High.” Such is the joy of an Iron Maiden show.
Frequently Asked Questions About the San Antonio Concert
What venue hosted the end of Iron Maiden’s U.S. tour?
The concert took place at San Antonio’s Alamodome in front of more than 40,000 attendees, ultimateclassicrock.com reported.
Which bands performed as opening acts?
Anthrax and Megadeth served as the supporting acts for the tour finale, according to ultimateclassicrock.com.
Who performed on drums for Anthrax during the show?
Mike Heller, formerly of Fear Factory and currently with Raven, filled in on drums because Charlie Benante was unwell, ultimateclassicrock.com reported.
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