The following is an excerpt from Metal Hammer UK's recent online interview with IRON MAIDEN, conducted by the publication's readers:

Q: Do you believe your fans want to hear the whole new album (A Matter Of Life And Death) on this tour, and they wouldn't be happier with 10 classic Maiden tracks?

Steve Harris: “A lot of people might come along with the attitude that they want to hear a lot of old stuff. But when they actually see the show they’re pleasantly surprised. And if they’re not, they should’ve gone to the last tour. Or the next one.”

Dave Murray: “It’s obviously been all over the internet, the fact that we’re going to be playing the whole of the new album. So a lot of people realised that they had to listen to it and really get into it before coming to see us. Obviously there are going to be tours in the future where we’ll be playing much more of the old stuff. Sometimes you just have to change the script a little bit.”

Adrian Smith: “We played plenty of old material on the past couple of tours. We were prepared for a bit of stick this time but it’s gone down better than we thought it would. It’s a statement, isn’t it?”

Janick Gers: “We’re very proud of our history but we’re also very proud of the new album. There comes a point where we have to say this is where we’re at now. It feels right.”

Q: How do you feel about claims your new album is the best thing since 1988's Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son? Doesn't that write off a lot of work you've done in the interim?

Bruce: “Actually, I reckon it’s better than anything since ‘Piece Of Mind’ [1983]. Having said that, I’ve got no idea how the next one can possibly be – quote, unquote – ‘better’.”

Steve: “It stands up to anything we’ve done in the past but that’s a sort of view-from-the-bar debate.”

Nicko: “When we were recording the album I thought, ‘Man, this is too good. This is right up my street.’ It took me right back to the 1970s.”

To read the complete interview go to this location.

(Thanks: MaidenNorway.com)