MetalHammer caught up with Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith, where he discussed the difficulties of the set and performing live, as well as opened up about Maiden’s mascot Eddie.

Here’s what Smith said:

“It’s a complex set. Coming out and opening with Caught Somewhere In Time is a real handful. It’s difficult to settle yourself down in front of an audience that just wants you to go mad all the time.”

About the band’s mascot Eddie, Smith said:

“I had mixed feelings about Eddie over the years. I thought, ‘Is this overshadowing the band? It’s a big puppet, is it a bit questionable?’ We’ve had a few really dodgy Eddies over the years where I’ve thought, ‘Oh my god…’

However, Adrian further explained how he currently feels about Eddie and its usage on the show with the following words:

“With this new show, we’ve found a great balance. It’s got a modern edge with the screens, and the Eddies look really good. The walk-ons look great!”