Iron Maiden manager Ron Smallwood has slammed a “selfish few” who didn’t honor the band’s request to limit their phone usage during the metal legends’ latest concerts.

In a post titled “Put Away Your Phones and Get Ready to Run For Your Lives!” last month, Smallwood urged fans not to excessively film the concerts on their phones or tablets during the band’s “Run For Your Lives World Tour.”

After Iron Maiden’s back-to-back concerts in Budapest last week, Smallwood posted a new statement, thanking those who kept their phones down and respected the band.

At the same time, addressing “the selfish few that didn’t and just had to keep videoing”, he said, “I wish you nothing but a very sore arm!

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“But they were few, and we do hope this support from fans, especially in the floor area in front of the sound desk, continues in Prague tomorrow and beyond. As I said before, by all means take the odd quick pic as a memento of a great night, but otherwise please keep your phone in your pocket,” Smallwood added.

“On we go now to the first huge outdoor show and another fantastic sold out crowd waiting for us. We’re starting to hit our stride already and it’s going to be some ride for these next couple of months,” he said, referring to the rest of the shows, which are slated to run up to August 2nd.

Iron Maiden’s next show is set to take place on June 5th at the Trondheim Rocks Festival in Trondheim, Norway.

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DAVE MURRAY Says IRON MAIDEN’s Toughest Time Was When BLAZE BAYLEY Was Their Frontman – “We Took A Step Backwards, Really”

Iron Maiden guitarist, Dave Murray, says that he feared the band might have split up in the late ’90s – before the return of singer Bruce Dickinson and fellow guitarist Adrian Smith restored their popularity.

Maiden are celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2025 with the Run For Your Lives tour, which kicked off in Budapest on May 27.

Murray, a permanent member of the band since 1978, tells Musicradar that the toughest time they ever had was the period in the ’90s when Blaze Bayley was their frontman.

“Blaze was a great singer and a really nice guy,” Murray says. “I really liked him. But when Bruce left and Blaze joined we took a step backwards, really. Suddenly it was kind of like starting over again. We’d gone backwards after the initial after the momentum of going up. So in that period, we still enjoyed playing, but I did wonder how much longer the band would last. And then, just as suddenly, when Bruce and Adrian came back there was a rejuvenation.”

Iron Maiden opened up their Run For Your Lives World Tour in Budapest at the Budapest Aréna, featuring songs from their debut up to 1992’s Fear Of The Dark. They shared an official recap video of the show:

The Run For Your Lives World Tour marks 50 years since Steve Harris formed the band in late 1975 and to celebrate this, Maiden fans are promised a very special set list spanning the nine studio albums from Iron Maiden to Fear Of The Dark, with their most spectacular and elaborate show ever!

In keeping with that time period Iron Maiden are keen for everyone in the audience to experience this spectacular show as they would have when many of these songs were first played live back in 80’s and, in common with many other artists, the band are now asking their fans not to excessively film the concerts on their phones or tablets.

Explains manager Rod Smallwood: “We really want fans to enjoy the shows first hand, rather than on their small screens. The amount of phone use nowadays diminishes enjoyment, particularly for the band who are on stage looking out at rows of phones, but also for other concertgoers. We feel that the passion and involvement of our fans at shows really makes them special, but the phone obsession has now got so out of hand that it has become unnecessarily distracting especially to the band. I hope fans understand this and will be sensible in severely limiting the use of their phone cameras out of respect for the band and their fellow fans.

“We would very much like you to be “in the moment” instead and be fully actively involved to enjoy each and every one of these classic songs in the spirit and manner they were first played. This show isn’t just a celebration of our music; it is, as you will see, also about our years of art, of Eddie and of the many, many worlds of Maiden we have created for you.

“So please respect the band, respect the other fans and have the time of your lives as you join your Maiden family by singing your heart out, rather than getting your phone out!! It’s really not a lot to ask is it?”

The Run For Your Lives World Tour is one part of Iron Maiden’s 50th Anniversary celebrations and will feature many fan “meet-up” events in the cities the band are playing. As was debuted successfully in Australia on the last tour, these will include Eddie’s Official Pop-up Dive Bar which will be open for pre-show and post-show gatherings in 20 cities on the tour. They will be serving Trooper Beer and Darkest Red wine, with food, exclusive merch and further entertainment. Details are available. But please note the band will not be at these events!

Additionally, there is both a feature-length documentary film coming to cinemas worldwide later this year, via Universal Pictures Content Group, and an official hardback book providing a magnificent visual celebration of 50 years of Iron Maiden, being published by Thames & Hudson. More details on both of these exciting releases will be announced soon.