Concert review: An ageless Iron Maiden fires up Xcel Energy Center crowd

The six members of British heavy metal band Iron Maiden are old enough to retire — they’re all between 66 and 68, save for 72-year-old drummer Nicko McBrain — but one would have never guessed that watching them perform live Tuesday night at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center.

Take lead singer Bruce Dickinson, who turned 66 this summer. He spent the nearly two-hour show absolutely nailing the notoriously difficult and sometimes operatic vocals that, along with the band’s triple-guitar attack, are the reason these guys remain so fiercely loved after 44 years in the business.

Not only did Dickinson’s voice amaze, so did his seemingly bottomless well of energy that sent him darting around every inch of the band’s massive stage. Speaking of, Iron Maiden clearly drew inspiration from Ridley Scott’s iconic 1982 sci-fi film “Blade Runner” in designing said stage. A series of screens placed at various depths flashed apocalyptic cyberpunk imagery and other visuals associated with the band.

For the set list, Dickinson and company turned to their most recent, and 17th overall, album “Senjutsu” and 1986’s “Somewhere in Time” and played five selections from each. The crowd of about 15,000 — many wearing Iron Maiden shirts — ate up the stuff from the latter, but also gave the new songs a warm welcome.

Of course, the most recognizable Iron Maiden visual is the group’s mascot Eddie, a towering, undead monster that adorns their album covers, music videos and merchandise. In addition to being shown on the screens, he made three visits to the stage. Eddie wore cowboy gear during “Stranger in a Strange Land,” engaged in a gun battle with Dickinson in the middle of the lengthy new one “Death of the Celts” and returned during the final song of the main set, “Iron Maiden,” brandishing a sword and tormenting the trio of guitarists.

Prior to playing another new one, “The Time Machine,” Dickinson spoke fondly about Paul Di’Anno, the band’s vocalist for their first two albums. Di’Anno died Monday at the age of 66 after years suffering from severe health issues that restricted him to performing in a wheelchair. Dickinson asked the crowd to take a moment of silence in his honor. (Yes, some yahoos insisted on screaming anyway.)

It’s rare for any legacy act at Iron Maiden’s level to play so much new material in concert and even rarer for it to be performed with the group’s most famous lineup still intact. The guys put on one heck of a show and don’t seem like they’re going to stop any time soon.