Iron Maiden’s esteemed manager, Rod Smallwood, recently expressed his heartfelt gratitude to fans for their enthusiastic reception of the band’s highly anticipated 2025 tour kickoff. However, he also addressed the issue of fans who neglected the band’s request to limit cell phone usage during performances, which has become a growing concern at live events.

The legendary metal band officially launched their Run for Your Lives 50th anniversary tour on May 27 in the vibrant city of Budapest, Hungary. The carefully curated setlist highlights tracks from Maiden’s first nine albums, spanning from Iron Maiden to Fear of the Dark. This kickoff event featured several classic songs that hadn’t been performed live in over a decade, creating a nostalgic experience for long-time fans.

Just a week prior to the tour’s commencement, Iron Maiden issued a heartfelt message urging fans to avoid excessive filming during the concerts. The band emphasized that they want audiences to fully immerse themselves in the spectacular performances, akin to how fans enjoyed these iconic tracks during their initial live performances in the 1980s. They appealed for understanding, stating, “Please refrain from filming the concerts on your phones or tablets,” in line with many artists’ wishes to enhance the concert experience.

READ MORE: Iron Maiden Launch 50th Anniversary Tour: Setlist + Video

In his communication, Smallwood shared, “We believe that the energy and engagement of our fans at concerts is what makes them truly special. However, the obsession with recording has become overwhelmingly distracting, not just for the audience but also for the band. We sincerely hope that fans will consider this and limit their phone usage out of respect for both the band and fellow concert-goers.” His message was clear and thoughtful, urging fans to prioritize the live experience.

Unsurprisingly, there were some fans who did not adhere to this request.

Rod Smallwood Expresses Gratitude to Fans While Addressing Cell Phone Usage Concerns

In a largely positive letter shared on Iron Maiden’s official website and social media channels, Smallwood addressed the fans who chose to ignore the request to limit phone usage. You can read his full letter below.

“What an incredible way to kick off this monumental tour with two sold-out nights in Budapest,” he wrote enthusiastically. “It was the perfect venue to launch our tour – a fantastic location, an amazing city, and the incredibly passionate Hungarian fans made it unforgettable.” He expressed appreciation for the fervor of the local audience and how it contributed to the overall atmosphere of the event.

Continuing in his message, he remarked, “We were thrilled to witness the overwhelming reaction and appreciation for the new production, which has allowed everyone to experience these legendary songs in ways we’ve never been able to before. The scale of this operation was significant, and we will provide more details on that shortly.” His excitement set the tone for the rest of the tour.

READ MORE: Iron Maiden Make Major Live Production Change on New 2025 Tour

Smallwood also expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome that fans extended to new Iron Maiden drummer Simon Dawson, who made his live debut with the band in Budapest following Nicko McBrain’s retirement from touring duties. He acknowledged the fans who respected the band’s request by keeping their phones down, stating, “Your commitment to experiencing the show as it was meant to be seen – live and in person – provided a significant boost for us, and the band truly appreciated it. It’s far more invigorating for them to engage with the audience without distractions.” 

He didn’t hold back with his words for those who ignored the band’s wishes: “For the few individuals who just had to keep filming… I sincerely hope you experience a very sore arm!” His humor lightened the seriousness of the message while still emphasizing the importance of live concert etiquette.

Fortunately, Smallwood noted that the number of phone-obsessed fans was minimal. “We hope this level of support from fans, particularly those in the area in front of the sound booth, continues as we move into Prague tomorrow and beyond. While capturing the occasional photo for memories is perfectly acceptable, we kindly ask you to keep your phones stored away during the performance.” His call to action encouraged fans to be mindful during the shows.

With four shows completed, Iron Maiden’s Run for Your Lives tour is set to continue with a performance in Trondheim, Norway on Thursday. The current European leg of the tour is scheduled to extend until August 2, culminating in Warsaw, Poland.

Rod Smallwood’s Comprehensive Statement on Iron Maiden Tour Kickoff and Cell Phone Usage Policies

“What an incredible way to kick off this monumental tour with a couple of sold-out nights in Budapest. The city was the ideal location to start this journey – it offers a fantastic venue, boasts an incredible city atmosphere, and has some of the most passionate fans I’ve ever encountered. Not to mention the dedicated traveling fans who came from near and far to witness this momentous reveal! It was heartwarming to see hundreds of fans and FC members gathered in the aptly named Heroes Square the day before our first performance, as it was a fantastic sight as always.

We were delighted to observe the positive reactions and appreciation for our new production, which has enabled everyone to experience these legendary songs in ways that were previously unimaginable. Coordinating this was quite the undertaking, but we will provide you with more insights into that very soon.

We also want to extend our gratitude for the fantastic welcome you offered to Simon during his initial performances with us. He felt your support from the very beginning—he has asked me to convey his thanks to each and every one of you.

To all of you who kept your phones down, respected the band and your fellow concert-goers, and embraced the show as it was meant to be experienced—in the moment with us—thank you immensely. Your commitment was a significant morale boost for us, and the band valued it greatly. It is far more rewarding when they can see the audience without distractions, which helps to energize their performance. For those few individuals who chose otherwise and had to keep filming… I wish you nothing but a very sore arm!

However, those were the minority, and we genuinely hope this level of support continues, especially from fans in the area in front of the sound desk, as we head into Prague tomorrow and beyond. As I previously mentioned, feel free to take a quick photo as a memento, but otherwise, please keep your phones tucked away.

Now, we look forward to our first major outdoor show, where another fantastic sold-out crowd eagerly awaits us. We are starting to find our rhythm, and it’s going to be an incredible journey over the next couple of months.

See you there.

Rod