Iron Maiden have announcing a series of headline stadium and festival appearances in March and June of this year. Always keen to take Metal to new places, Maiden will for the first time ever play in India at EDD-Fest, on the spectacular grounds of Bangalore's Palace on 17 March, marking the first time a major metal band has ever played in the subcontinent.

Iron Maiden's new album, 'A Matter of Life & Death' reached No 2 in the Indian album charts after debuting at No 4, which is believed to be the highest chart position in India ever for any rock act.

Maiden will be the first to bring in a full massive western style stage production - and promoters DNA Networks will be air freighting in almost 20 tons of backline equipment and their huge stage production for this one show. Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson commented "To say we're all really looking forward to going to Bangalore is something of an understatement. It's very special to us to be able play to new fans in countries we've never been to before, and we hear the Indian fans are very loud and into their metal".

Maiden are also visiting the United Arab Emirates where they will headline the Desert Rock Festival on 9 March. The band will also visit Croatia, Greece, Czech Republic and Germany and headline the Download Festival in the UK, the Heineken Jammin' Festival in Italy, the Fields of Rock Festival in Zwolle, Holland and the Graspop Festival in Dessel, Belgium