In a recent interview with Charlie Kendall of Charlie Kendall’s Metalshop, IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson discussed his intentions to release more solo material, following the March 2024 arrival of his latest solo album, “The Mandrake Project”.
Dickinson said: ”We’re going in the studio in January next year to record the album with Brendan Duffey, who remixed [Dickinson’s second solo album, 1994’s] ‘Balls To Picasso’ and did an amazing job. So we go in the studio with him in January, and we are looking to release the album in ’27… The amazing band that is gonna record the new record with me is gonna be the same band that toured in Europe with me, and it’s gonna be the same band that’s gonna tour with me in 2027 when we release the new record. Or at least that’s the idea anyway, to release a new record [in 2027]”.
Dickinson also shared details about his upcoming North American tour, The Mandrake Project Live 2025, which is set to launch on August 22 in Anaheim, California. He said: “This summer I’m touring the USA for the first time with ‘Mandrake’, and also we’re playing stuff from [1998’s] ‘The Chemical Wedding’, [1997’s] ‘Accident Of Birth’… I mean, I’ve got seven studio albums to pick from. Obviously, I’m gonna be playing some stuff from ‘Balls To Picasso’, so ‘Tears [Of The Dragon]’ is gonna be in there and some other stuff, ‘Gods Of War’ probably, for sure. And a real cool mix of tracks. I mean, stuff like ‘The Alchemist’, people in Europe, they’re, like, ‘Oh my God. He’s playing ‘The Alchemist’ from ‘The Chemical Wedding’.’ I went, ‘Yep, we’re doing that. And ‘Chemical Wedding’.’ And other things too that people will go, ‘Oh, that’s really cool.’ I hope they do anyway”.
Joining the IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson on the Mandrake Project Live 2025 North American tour will be his 2024 solo band lineup, featuring Dave Moreno on drums, Mistheria on keyboards, and Tanya O’Callaghan on bass. They’ll be joined by two new members: Swedish guitarist, songwriter, and multi-platinum producer Philip Näslund, and Swiss session/touring guitarist Chris Declercq, who previously played on Dickinson’s single “Rain On The Graves.” Notably, longtime collaborator and guitarist Roy “Z” Ramirez will not be part of this touring lineup.
The Mandrake Project Live 2025 tour kicks off on August 22 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California, and will take the band across North America with stops in cities like New York, Los Angeles, various locations in Texas and Florida, as well as several dates in Canada. The run also includes festival slots at Rocklahoma in Oklahoma and Louder Than Life in Kentucky. Additionally, the tour will make a brief return to Brazil for a high-profile performance at The Town festival in São Paulo’s City of Light.
