Iron Maiden fans will get a double dose of heavy metal history in fall 2025 as the band celebrates its 50th anniversary with both a definitive visual book and a feature-length documentary. Thames & Hudson’s “Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams – The Official Visual History” will arrive alongside an official untitled documentary from Universal Pictures Content Group, giving devotees unprecedented access to the band’s five-decade journey.
The hardcover book chronicles Iron Maiden’s evolution from their earliest pub performances in 1975 through their commercial breakthrough with 1982’s “The Number of the Beast” and up to their 2021 album “Senjutsu.” Band founder Steve Harris, who provides the foreword, noted: “I knew I had kept a lot of things from the early days but they have lasted really well and the photography has brought them back to life.”
Meanwhile, Universal’s documentary promises to deliver an “emotive journey” through the band’s history from both the musicians’ perspective and their most devoted followers. The film will feature exclusive interviews with current and former band members, including the final interview with original vocalist Paul Di’Anno before his death last year. Notable fans like actor Javier Bardem and musicians Lars Ulrich and Gene Simmons will also make appearances.
The documentary will incorporate rare archival footage alongside new animated sequences of the band’s mascot Eddie, exploring Iron Maiden’s global impact and challenging common perceptions about heavy metal’s cultural significance.
Rod Smallwood, the band’s longtime manager, stated: “We have given them unrestricted access to the band, our fans and musical peers. We trust that they will excite not only music fans but also anyone who loves a story of an underdog beating the odds.”
Both projects arrive as Iron Maiden embarks on their Run For Your Lives World Tour, adding to their impressive tally of over 2,500 concerts across 64 countries. The dual releases reflect the band’s enduring legacy as pioneers of British heavy metal who have sold more than 100 million records worldwide since forming in East London in 1975.
