Bruce Dickinson annihilates Iron Maiden fans in Anaheim

Scream for me, Anaheim! Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson brought his Mandrake Project Tour to the United States — with Anaheim, California being the first tour date. In 2024, Bruce and his House Band from Hell played two warm-up shows — one at the famous Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles, and the other at The Observatory in Santa Ana — before kicking off the tour in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Fans from the United States were being treated to the U.S. leg of the tour at long last.

I attended the show in Guadalajara, so I had some expectation about how Anaheim would pan out… but, man, I was mistaken.

Plenty of excitement and emotion struck Anaheim as the line grew longer and longer outside of the House of Blues. Many were wearing Iron Maiden shirts, while others had Bruce Dickinson shirts on. As soon as the doors opened, a bunch of eager fans raced their way to the barrier at the front of the venue. Plenty of Iron Maiden fans were mingling and excited chatter could be heard from far away.

Many fans lined up at the concession stands to catch a quick bite to eat before the show, while others stocked up on drinks for the incredible night ahead. The merch booths were lined with Bruce Dickinson paraphernalia, from t-shirts to vinyl records, and a very excited crowd was waiting to get their hands on all.

As I made my way into the venue, I was met with the temperature of the room and the buzzing, restless crowd. The lights soon dimmed and, without hesitation, Combustion 96 gave the performance of their lives. Frontman Jon Howard greeted the crowd with such excitement; the band’s heaviness was something that was immediately welcomed by the thrashing crowd. From headbanging to loud cheers, attendees witnessed Combustion 96 absolutely kill their set. It was a joy to be able to watch. As time got closer for Bruce to take the stage, the crowd chanted his name over and over.

“Bruce! Bruce! Bruce!” 

Time quickly flew by and the lights dimmed as the House Band of Hell took their places onstage. Beginning their intense intro, as soon as Bruce Dickinson made his appearance, the venue absolutely exploded. With his left arm having a mind of its own, the air raid siren that is Bruce Dickinson let out his signature wails and screams — and I personally could not get enough. Bruce and his band were absolutely annihilating the stage all night. At one point, Bruce told us that he had a surprise for everyone; he hinted that it would not take us long to figure out what song he was about to perform.

With no time to waste, the intro to Iron Maiden’s “Flash of the Blade” began and that’s when all hell broke loose. This song has never been performed by Iron Maiden live to date, so this was a special treat for Iron Maiden fans!

Overall, the night was great. The energy was high, the excitement was there, and the overall vibe was understatingly amazing. If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Bruce Dickinson live, please take advantage and snag tickets to his next show; it is something you would definitely not regret.

Photography by Guillermo “Memo” Sanchez

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