Iron Maiden has released an official statement explaining the events that led to their Paris La Défense Arena show being cut short. The band addressed a total power outage that halted the concert approximately fifty minutes into the set, detailing the sequence of events and their response to the disruption.
“Last night Maiden returned to La Défense Arena in Paris. Having played two sold out nights there last year in the 37,000 capacity indoor stadium, home of Racing 92 rugby club, this return a year later was specifically to film the show for posterity and future release, and an indoor stadium and exuberant French fans were ideal for this. However, about fifty minutes into the set towards the end of ‘2 Minutes to Midnight’, a total power cut brought everything to a stop.”
The statement also addressed the cause of the outage, citing findings from French electricity distributor Enedis.
“As stated by Le Figaro, the French national newspaper, today – ‘Officials are investigating whether the outage was linked to the extreme heat. However, French electricity distributor Enedis said the problem did not appear to originate from the public power grid and was more likely related to the arena’s own electrical installation. The exact cause remains under investigation.’ We will find out in the next few days exactly what happened with the power and why.”
The band was able to resume the show roughly an hour after the outage. A strict curfew, however, limited how much of the set could be completed.
“The band were able to resume on stage about an hour after the cut occurred continuing the set with ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner.’ The concert was scheduled to finish by 11pm with a curfew at that time which the local police chief would only extend to 11.35pm after the cut off because, we were told, all local transport in the area stopped by 12.15 and they could not have over 30,000 fans on the streets unable to get home. This gave just enough time for the band to complete the set finishing with ‘Iron Maiden’ but unable to play any of the encores.”
Frontman Bruce Dickinson also offered his own remarks, acknowledging both the disappointment and the remarkable response from the crowd.
“Despite everything the audience and atmosphere last night were fantastic and, like every other challenge Iron Maiden have faced over the years, we’ll find a way to deal with and overcome the missing songs in the encore when it comes to the final film. We know that many of you travelled long distances, waited patiently throughout the interruption, and were looking forward to experiencing the complete Run For Your Lives show. We share your disappointment. No one is more frustrated than the band and crew, who were eager to deliver the full performance you deserved.”
“What we will remember most from last night is the incredible spirit inside the arena. Your patience, understanding and unwavering support through an extremely challenging situation meant the world to us. The energy in the room was remarkable and is exactly what we have come to expect from Paris, and a reminder of why we always love playing here. Thank you, Paris.”
The investigation into the exact cause of the power outage is ongoing. Further updates are expected in the coming days.
The Paris show on June 22 was chosen specifically as the filming location for an official Iron Maiden concert film documenting the Run For Your Lives world tour. The disruption therefore carried consequences well beyond the disappointment of a single night’s audience, as the tour marks the band’s 50th anniversary.
The European leg of the tour is scheduled to continue through mid-July 2026. The production is then set to cross to North America in late August, followed by further dates in Asia and Australia.
Paris was also the only show on the entire tour where a strict phone-free policy was enforced. Fans on the floor were required to secure their devices in Yondr pouches — magnetically sealed cases kept on their person — to ensure the cleanest possible footage for the concert film. The combination of that policy and the power outage made the evening one of the most unusual nights in the band’s recent touring history.
Conditions inside the arena during the hour-long outage were far from comfortable. With air conditioning systems offline and Paris in the grip of a heat wave that pushed temperatures to 44°C, the venue became intensely hot for both fans and the band as they waited for power to be restored. Despite those conditions, the crowd remained patient throughout the interruption.
The power cut ultimately reduced the set from a planned 17 songs to 14. The encore — which was expected to include “Aces High,” “Fear of the Dark,” and “Wasted Years” — was cut entirely due to the curfew. Whether the incomplete footage will affect the release of the concert film remains unclear. Dickinson’s statement suggested the band is already looking at ways to address the missing material in the final production.
Source: ironmaiden.com
