The MSG Sphere in Las Vegas has quickly become one of the most talked-about venues in the world. With its massive, fully immersive LED screens both inside and out, the $2.3 billion arena has redefined what a concert can look like. For many bands, the Sphere isn't just another gig — it's a milestone, the sort of stage that cements a group's status in the uppermost tier of live performers.
So far, only a handful of acts have played there, most notably U2, whose 2023 residency was tailored around the Sphere's overwhelming visual capabilities. Other legendary groups, including Metallica, are now rumored to be in talks for their own runs. But not every band is enamored with the Sphere. Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, speaking with Eddie Trunk, made it clear that the pioneering metal band has no interest in stepping inside.
Dickinson's reasoning comes down to something very simple: Iron Maiden's live shows are about the raw connection between the band and the audience, not a high-tech spectacle that overshadows the musicians.
"No. It's not Maiden. Maiden's about the relationship between the band and the audience, and the show, whilst it's a show, is an enhancement to what we do. The Sphere, as far as I can gather… I mean, I appreciate what you're saying about it — it's all encompassing, it's this and that, it's the other — but I think the band would be very uncomfortable with the idea."
For Iron Maiden, the magic isn't in flashing lights or groundbreaking visuals; it's in the performance itself. The Sphere is undeniably a marvel of technology, but Dickinson sees a fundamental incompatibility between its design and what a live band does. In his view, the venue risks turning musicians into background figures within their own concert.
"I mean, we just do a lot of stuff: we run around, we go around, and at the Sphere, what's the point? What's the point? In fact, what's the point of even being there, if you're a band?"
His comments point to a deeper question for live music in 2025: are venues like the Sphere redefining concerts as visual experiences first, musical events second? U2's show was widely praised, but also sparked debate about whether audiences were watching the band or watching the screen.
