Heavy metal legends Iron Maiden have been announced as key ambassadors, or “Album Champions,” for the UK’s 2025 National Album Day. The legendary band will serve as a leading voice for this year’s rock-themed celebration of the album format, with both frontman Bruce Dickinson and manager Rod Smallwood releasing powerful statements on the vital importance of the full-length record in their 50-year career.
The annual event, which takes place this year on Saturday, October 18, was launched in 2018 to celebrate the album as a complete art form. Iron Maiden will be joined as ambassadors by a diverse group of British rock acts, including Architects, Nova Twins, and Wolf Alice.
In his statement, Bruce Dickinson focused on the deep, personal connection that the physical album creates for both artists and fans.
His full statement reads:
“Albums matter. They always have not just to Maiden but to all of the band members that have done solo projects – none of them have just toured – they have always recorded and released product too – especially me!! The rush of first seeing the vinyl or the CD or back in the day the cassette for the first time never leaves you, and it’s great that fans are coming full circle to enjoy the totemistic experience that was lost for a while in this digital era.”
The band’s longtime manager, Rod Smallwood, offered a different but equally passionate perspective, explaining the crucial strategic role the album played in building the Iron Maiden global empire.
His full statement reads:
“Back in the day, and before the internet made the smallest snippet of conjecture about a band into global news, we had to rely on the release of a new album to do the heavy-lifting for us – it would herald new music of course, but also launch a tour, market the band to a wider audience with the title and the cover and – the bit I always loved – birthed a new Eddie! When things really exploded for Maiden back in 1982, with The Number of The Beast, the band were still finishing the album right up to going out on tour to promote it! They were different times and an amazing experience to connect with our fans.”
