For over two decades, Iron Maiden fans have known that the moment UFO‘s classic track “Doctor Doctor” blasts through the venue’s P.A. system, the show is officially about to begin. However, guitarist Adrian Smith recently admitted that he might be ready to switch things up.
During a recent chat with Sweden’s “Bandit Rock” radio station, Smith was asked if he ever gets tired of hearing the iconic intro song night after night. He confessed that while he holds a deep appreciation for the track, bringing back an old favorite could be a fun change of pace.
“Well, I mean, I love UFO — they’re one of my favorite bands — but maybe we should change it. We used to have a different one — it was an AC/DC song called ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top [If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll]‘, with the bagpipes and everything. So maybe we should bring that back. I do love ‘Doctor Doctor‘,” he said (via Blabbermouth).
While Smith might be open to a new entrance theme, frontman Bruce Dickinson previously explained the hilarious practical benefits of keeping the tradition alive. During a spoken-word performance in Chicago back in February 2022, the singer detailed why the five-minute warning is so crucial for everyone in the building.
“It has the added advantage that everybody knows we play ‘Doctor Doctor‘ before we go on stage. So, before the intro tape, there’s five minutes of ‘Doctor Doctor‘. It’s brilliant, so people go, ‘Oh, quick.’ Stop having a piss, drink the last pint, get to your seats. ‘Doctor Doctor‘ is playing. They’ll be on in a minute. And for the road crew, it’s also brilliant. It’s, like, ‘Stop mast**bating in the toilet. Wipe your a**.'”
Iron Maiden‘s deep connection to UFO is particularly strong for bassist Steve Harris. In a 2021 interview with Metal Hammer magazine, he named “Love To Love” off their 1979 live album Strangers In The Night as a song that fundamentally changed his life.
Harris said at the time: “UFO have loads of great songs, and loads of great albums, but this version in particular, on ‘Strangers In The Night‘, really struck a nerve with me. It’s the light and shade and the dynamic build-up which does it for me.”
“I used to listen to ‘Strangers In The Night‘ when I was driving the kids to school in the morning and it gets you fired up for the day.”
“UFO always had fantastic guitar players — Michael Schenker and Paul Chapman were brilliant — and Phil Mogg is a great singer.”
“Maiden played two gigs supporting UFO in 1981, in Long Beach and San Bernardino in California, and we’d have loved to have them out with us, but for some reason it never happened.”
Whether they walk out to UFO or AC/DC this year, fans will have plenty of chances to see the heavy metal titans in action. Iron Maiden is currently in the midst of their massive “Run For Your Lives” 50th-anniversary world tour, which initially launched in May 2025. The current setlist heavily focuses on their classic era, strictly featuring material from their 1980 debut Iron Maiden through 1992’s Fear Of The Dark.
The next leg of the tour will resume in late May and run straight through November, bringing their legendary stage production to audiences across Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. The extensive 2026 touring cycle will ultimately conclude with a pair of massive shows at the K-Arena in Yokohama, Japan, on November 24 and November 25.
Iron Maiden “Run For Your Lives” 2026 World Tour Dates:
- 05/23 – Athens, GREECE @ OAKA (feat. Anthrax)
- 05/26 – Sofia, BULGARIA @ Vasil Levski Stadium (feat. Anthrax)
- 05/28 – Bucharest, ROMANIA @ Arena Națională (feat. Anthrax)
- 05/30 – Bratislava, SLOVAKIA @ Národný Futbalový Štadión (feat. Anthrax)
- 06/02 – Hannover, GERMANY @ Heinz von Heiden Arena (feat. Megadeth)
- 06/04 – Solvesborg, SWEDEN @ Sweden Rock
- 06/06 – Nurnberg, GERMANY @ Zeppelinfield (Rock IM Park)
- 06/07 – Nurburgring, GERMANY @ Rock AM Ring
- 06/10 – Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS @ Ziggo Dome (feat. Evergrey)
- 06/13 – Nickelsdorf, AUSTRIA @ Nova Rock
- 06/14 – Hradec Kralove, CZECH REPUBLIC @ Rock For People
- 06/17 – Milan, ITALY @ San Siro Stadium (feat. Trivium)
- 06/19 – Clisson, FRANCE @ Hellfest
- 06/22 – Paris, FRANCE @ Paris La Défense Arena (feat. Evergrey)
- 06/24 – 06/27 – Copenhagen, DENMARK @ Copenhell
- 06/25 – Oslo, NORWAY @ Tons of Rock
- 06/28 – Lyon, FRANCE @ Groupama Stadium (feat. Anthrax)
- 06/29 – Antwerp, BELGIUM @ Live is Live
- 07/01 – 07/04 – Viveiro, SPAIN @ Resurrection Fest
- 07/04 – Cartagena, SPAIN @ Rock Imperium Festival
- 07/07 – Lisbon, PORTUGAL @ Estádio da Luz (feat. Anthrax)
- 07/11 – Knebworth, UK @ EddFest (feat. The Darkness, The Hu, Airbourne, The Almighty)
- 08/29 – Toronto, ON, CANADA @ Scotiabank Arena (feat. Megadeth)
- 08/30 – Toronto, ON, CANADA @ Scotiabank Arena (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/03 – Montréal, QC, CANADA @ Parc Jean-Drapeau (feat. Megadeth, Anthrax)
- 09/05 – Harrison, NJ, USA @ Sports Illustrated Stadium (feat. Megadeth, Anthrax)
- 09/06 – Harrison, NJ, USA @ Sports Illustrated Stadium (feat. Megadeth, Anthrax)
- 09/09 – Boston, MA, USA @ TD Garden (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/11 – Bristow, VA, USA @ Jiffy Lube Live (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/12 – Charlotte, NC, USA @ PNC Music Pavilion (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/15 – Hershey, PA, USA @ Hersheypark Stadium (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/17 – Louisville, KY, USA @ Louder Than Life Festival
- 09/19 – Shakopee, MN, USA @ Mystic Lake Amphitheater (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/22 – Chicago, IL, USA @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre (feat. Megadeth)
- 09/25 – Los Angeles, CA, USA @ BMO Stadium (feat. Megadeth, Anthrax)
- 09/26 – Los Angeles, CA, USA @ BMO Stadium (feat. Megadeth, Anthrax)
- 09/29 – San Antonio, TX, USA @ Alamodome (feat. Megadeth, Anthrax)
- 10/02 – Mexico City, MEXICO @ Estadio GNP Seguros (feat. Anthrax)
- 10/05 – San Salvador, EL SALVADOR @ Estadio Jorge “Mágico” González (feat. The Raven Age, Souls of Steel)
- 10/08 – San José, COSTA RICA @ Estadio Nacional (feat. The Raven Age)
- 10/11 – Bogotá, COLOMBIA @ Vive Claro (feat. The Raven Age)
- 10/14 – Quito, ECUADOR @ Estadio Atahualpa (feat. The Raven Age)
- 10/17 – Lima, PERU @ Estadio Nacional (feat. The Raven Age)
- 10/20 – Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA @ Estadio Hurácan (feat. La H No Murió)
- 10/21 – Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA @ Estadio Hurácan (feat. La H No Murió)
- 10/25 – São Paulo, BRAZIL @ Allianz Parque (feat. Alter Bridge)
- 10/27 – São Paulo, BRAZIL @ Allianz Parque (feat. Alter Bridge)
- 10/31 – Santiago, CHILE @ Estadio Nacional (feat. Mammoth, Nuclear)
- 11/01 – Santiago, CHILE @ Estadio Nacional (feat. Mammoth, Nuclear)
- 11/07 – Auckland, NEW ZEALAND @ Spark Arena (feat. Megadeth)
- 11/11 – Adelaide, AUSTRALIA @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre (feat. Megadeth)
- 11/13 – Melbourne, AUSTRALIA @ AAMI Park (feat. Megadeth)
- 11/15 – Sydney, AUSTRALIA @ Allianz Stadium (feat. Megadeth)
- 11/18 – Brisbane, AUSTRALIA @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre (feat. Megadeth)
- 11/24 – Yokohama, JAPAN @ K-Arena
- 11/25 – Yokohama, JAPAN @ K-Arena
