We Called It: Iron Maiden to Play Beijing April 24

We called it: Iron Maiden is now confirmed to play Beijing April 24 at the LeSports Center (formerly the MasterCard Center, formerly the Wukesong Arena).

The metal gods will be playing in both Beijing and Shanghai, but we get them first, on Sunday, April 24. The Shanghai show will be Tuesday, April 26, for those of you for whom one show won't be enough.

The group is making its first visit to China in support of "The Book of Souls," Iron Maiden's 16th studio album. We're still waiting to see if lead singer and human air-raid siren Bruce Dickinson pilots Ed Force One, the group's customized Boeing 747, into China's air space, as he is expected to do on other parts of the tour, although promoter AEG says that he will indeed be at the controls.

Beijing tickets are RMB 380/680/880/1480, with top-end tickets in Shanghai slightly less expensive at RMB 380/680/880/1380. Tickets go on sale from Tuesday, January 19 at 2pm,  through ticketing hotline 400-610-3721, and online via Damai.cn.

Oh please oh please oh please don't pre-cancel.

Photo: AEG China