New Welsh phenomena, Funeral For a Friend have been invited to support Iron Maiden in December on the British dates of their Dance Of Death World Tour. These dates, listed below, are part of Maiden's last ever Arena tour. Funeral For A Friend are currently enjoying Top 20 UK chart success with their double A Side single 'She Drove Me to Daytime Television / Bullet Theory'. This is the second Top 20 single release from their debut album 'Casually Dressed & Deep In Conversation' which has just been released through Warner Music (Monday October 13th) and is similarly expected to make a big impression on the album charts.
The band's remarkable rise since the summer has made them one of the most exciting prospects for the next generation of hard rock acts. They have been named the 'Hottest New Band on the Planet' by Kerrang! as well as receiving a Kerrang! award for Best Newcomer Artist. Reviews of the new album have been nothing short of spectacular; described by Metal Hammer as 'this year's most relevant album', by Kerrang! as 'a band who now undoubtedly deserve your attention, consideration and respect' and NME who say the new album is 'mapping out just how important Funeral are about to become'.
'It's an honour to be asked to support one of, if not THE, greatest metal bands on the planet,' says vocalist Matt Davies. 'Everything is just going so well for us with the chart success of the single and debut album about to come out plus we are half way through our tour which is pretty well sold out. So to go out after all this with such a huge and influential band as Maiden and play to another 90,000 rock fans in Britain is just awesome and a brilliant early Christmas present!!”
With Dance of Death being the No. 1 album in Europe on its release, Maiden are about to continue one of the most successful periods of their already illustrious career. Having already played to over 800,000 fans during the summer, on October 19th they kick off their last arena tour of Europe with many of the venues already sold. Starting in Hungary, this first leg of the tour ends at the Birmingham NEC on December 16th. In 2004 the band continue the tour in other parts of the world including South America, Japan and SE Asia.
Says vocalist Bruce Dickinson; “For support we wanted a really hot new band, preferably British, and they don’t come much hotter right now than the Funeral boys. I have been playing them for a while on my radio show, they have great songs and melodies and can get heavy with the best of them.
We are looking forward to the tour immensely although it will be strange going into these arenas for probably the last time. In particular places like the NEC in Birmingham, where we have played many times and even recorded a full live show there on the Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son tour. We will just have to make it a very memorable and spectacular experience for the fans and, of course, ourselves. AND WE WILL!!!!! '
Dance of Death World Tour – British Dates
DECEMBER
Mon 1 IRE, Dublin The Point
Wed 3 ENG, Newcastle Telewest Arena
Thu 4 ENG, Nottingham Arena
Sat 6 ENG, Sheffield Arena
Mon 8 SCO, Glasgow SECC
Tue 9 ENG, Manchester Arena
Fri 12 ENG, London Earls Court Arena
Mon 15 WAL, Cardiff CIA
Tue 16 ENG, Birmingham NEC