IRON MAIDEN manager Rod Smallwood, on the road on their Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 2008, has issued the following tour blog:

"So it was up early again - 7.30am - and car to airport to get 9.25 Quantas to Cairns up there in Northern Queensland. Plenty of time so got some breakfast at the airport. What is it that makes airport food so poor and sometimes as bad as a bad imitation of a motorway café?

I have been up to Northern Queensland before on what was then my third trip to OZ. I went with the band in '82 and '85 but we only got as far north as Brisbane and Newcastle, not many big tours get as far as Cairns. But in '89, just after Kathy and I got engaged, we went down for the British Lions Rugby Tour. Kathy read law at college with England and Lions hooker Brian Moore and he arranged tickets for us - and a memorable night out with the pack in a Sydney Harbour pub after the first test was lost - just me, Kathy and the Lions pack. As a total rugby groupie that must be my career highlight! At one point second row Donal Lenihan was chatting Kathy up - a British Lion, six foot four, a doctor and all that with the Oirish twinkle in the eye and a wonderful charming and romantic accent! I thought what chance had I but survived to get married a few weeks later."

Read more here at MaidenNorway.com.

Meanwhile, Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has issued the following:

"Well, well, well, this has been the most incredible time boys and girls!!?I have been so amazed at the response that you fans have shown us over the couple of weeks of shows.

Read more here.

Iron Maiden's Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 2008 schedule is as follows:

February

19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Forum
21 - Guadalajara, Mexico - Auditoria Telmex
22 - Monterrey, Mexico - Monterrey Arena
24 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Sol Stadium
26 - San Jose, Costa Rica - Saprisa Stadium
28 - Bogota, Columbia - Simon Bolivar Park

March

2 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Palmeiras Stadium
4 - Curitiba, Brazil - Pedreira Paulo Leminski
5 - Porto Allegre, Brazil - Gigantinho
7 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - River Plate Stadium
9 - Santiago, Chile - Pista Atletica
12 - Puerto Rico - San Juan Coliseo
14 - New Jersey, USA - Izod Center (formerly Continental Airlines Arena)
16 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre

June

27 - Bologna, Italy - Arena Parco Nord (Gods Of Metal Festival)

28/29 - Dessel, Belgium - De Boeretand (Graspop Metal Meeting)

July

1 - Paris, France - Ominisport De Bercy Arena
2 - Paris, France - Ominisport De Bercy Arena
5 - London, UK - Twickenham Rugby Stadium
9 - Lisbon, Portugal - Parque do Tejo ( Super Bock Super Rock Festival)
11 - Merida, Spain - Via De La Plata Festival
16 - Stockholm, Sweden - Stockholm Stadium
18 - Helsinki, Finland - Helsinki Olympic Stadium
19 - Tampere, Finland - Ratinan Stadion
22 - Trondheim, Norway - Lerkendalstadium
24 - Oslo, Norway - Valle Hovin
26 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Ullevi Stadium
27 - Horsens, Denmark - Horsens Gods Bane Pladsen
31 - Wachen Open Air Festival - Wacken, Germany

August

2 - Athens, Greece - Terra Vibe Park
4 - Bucharest, Romania - Cotroceni Football Stadium
7 - Warsaw, Poland - Gwardia Stadium
8 - Prague, Czech Republic - Slavia Football Stadium
10 - Split, Croatia - Split City Stadium
12 - Hungary - Sziget Festival
14 - Basel, Switzerland - St Jakobshalle
16 - Assen, Holland - Assen TT Race Track

(Thanks Maidennorway.com)