Some Iron Maiden tours are less well documented than others. Here’s a bootleg concert video from Philadelphia on the No Prayer For The Dying tour in 1991.
It was a new decade, and Iron Maiden had gone from Adrian Smith to Janick Gers. Their new album No Prayer For The Dying (1990) didn’t set the world alight, but it did show that Maiden had every intention of staying relevant in the 1990s.
Their new world tour ditched the conceptual set designs and special effects in favor of a stripped-down back-to-basics set-up with Marshall stacks flanking the drum riser. It might have been necessary as a reaction to the massive 1980s stage productions, but it had the inevitable effect of signaling that Maiden weren’t all that big anymore.
Click here to read about Maiden’s 1990s stage productions!
Maiden in jeans, making a conscious effort to distance themselves from the massive stage productions they had become known for in 1984-1988, and probably also to save money.
After completing a European tour in late 1990 the band headed for America. The hope might have been that the more aggressive sound and stripped-down production would resonate with a continent that was in the grip of thrash and about to get into grunge. Here’s a bootleg video of the performance in Philadelphia on 29 January 1991:
You can also go track by track from here:
SETLIST:
INTRO: 633 SQUADRON
TAILGUNNER
PUBLIC ENEMA NUMBER ONE
WRATHCHILD
DIE WITH YOUR BOOTS ON
HALLOWED BE THY NAME
22 ACACIA AVENUE
HOLY SMOKE
NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING
THE CLAIRVOYANT
2 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT
THE TROOPER
HEAVEN CAN WAIT
IRON MAIDEN
THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
BRING YOUR DAUGHTER…TO THE SLAUGHTER
RUN TO THE HILLS
SANCTUARY
The band played The Assassin and Hooks In You on either side of No Prayer For The Dying on the European leg of the tour. Here’s bootleg footage of the Dortmund show on 21 December 1990:
The Prisoner and The Evil That Men Do also appeared at a few shows in 1991.
A new decade had dawned, and Maiden took certain measures to position themselves. How it worked or didn’t work is an interesting point of debate. How do you all feel about the 1990-91 live performances?
Maiden Revelations 
My thought is that Dickinson’s voice struggles to go from raspy to high notes… I much prefer the approach on fear of the dark tour 1992 of course the first leg not 1993, where though similar to this style was a bit more well balanced and mature
Good point. It seems he hasn’t quite gotten there yet, but he would in 1992.
What a great gig! I can’t believe I haven’t watched this before.
I know it’s got some of Maiden’s weakest tunes, but NPFTD is just such a fun album, as it seems the live show was as well. Pity they didn’t ever play Run Silent Run Deep or Fates Warning though.
Those are probably my two favorite songs on that album.
RSRD is my fave by far… and not just because I have a fascination with all things nautical. Compositionally and lyrically it’s one of the most well composed “war” themed tunes they’ve ever done! Would’ve made for some great artwork if it was ever released as a single too… Eddie as a submarine skipper!
totally agree i love those two. they should have played them instead assassin and hooks in you.
@Adam: Damn right, untapped potential.
i think they should play mother russia whenever they have a concert in russia