A new species of lizard has been named after Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson.
According to a new article by ReptilesMagazine, the species Enyalioides dickinsoni was one of two new species found in the Cordillera de Colán mountain range and the Río Marañón and Río Chiriaco basins in Peru.
The website states that "Enyalioides dickinsoni was named after heavy metal band Iron Maiden’s lead singer, Paul Bruce Dickinson. The lizard was found in the Cordillera de Colán mountain range 460 miles north of Lima, Peru. Three localities are known to be home to this lizard species. its habitat includes coffee crops, cacao and citrus, as well as cow pastures. and mountainous forests at elevations from 4,600 to 5,600 feet (1,405-1,717 m)."
Pictures of the male and female of Enyalioides dickinsoni can be seen below.
As reported by Loudwire, the naming of the lizard was a well thought out tribute from Iron Maiden fans in the scientific community. A Latin American Post article reveals the motivation behind the tribute.
"The naming of ‘Enyalioides dickinsoni’ in honor of Bruce Dickinson is a testament to the enduring influence of cultural figures on scientific discovery. It’s a reminder of the interconnectedness of our world, where the legacy of a heavy metal icon can extend into the realms of environmental conservation and scientific research. This discovery not only enriches our understanding of the biodiversity of the Amazon but also celebrates the multifaceted contributions of individuals like Dickinson to global culture and awareness."
Dickinson has previously been honoured with a species of spiders the Extraordinarius bruceickinsoni back in 2019.
The naming of the lizard after Dickinson is one more milestone for the 65-year-old singer to celebrate in 2024, with Iron Maiden commemorating the 40-year-anniverary of their 1984 album Powerslave, a new solo record The Mandrake Project set to be released on March 1, via BMG and of course, Iron Maiden set to hit Australia for a run of epic shows on the The Future Past tour.
The British heavy metal icons will return to Australia for the first time since 2016 when they bring The Future Past tour to Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland next September. Support on all shows will come from metalcore luminaries Killswitch Engage.
The Future Past tour concept sees Iron Maiden include songs from both the band’s most recent studio album Senjutsu as well as 1986’s seminal album Somewhere In Time, alongside other fan favourites. The tour played to over 750,000 fans at more than 30 sold-out shows across Europe in the summer of 2023. Featuring one of the most spectacular stage productions of the band’s career, it received rave reviews in every city and country that Iron Maiden visited.
On the subject of the announcement Iron Maiden's bass player Steve Harris says, “We’ve really enjoyed playing all the shows on THE FUTURE PAST TOUR this year, and the reaction from our fans has been incredible.
Being able to play some of these songs for the very first time has made the tour even more memorable and we can’t wait to continue it next year. We’re all really excited to finally be able to return to Australia as we know our fans have waited so patiently for us over the past few years. It’s going to be great to get back there, especially with this new show. We promise you all, it’ll be worth the wait!”
Manager Rod Smallwood comments, “All our best-laid plans to bring the Legacy Of The Beast Tour to Australia were derailed by the shut-down of the live music industry during covid but we assured everyone at the time that we would come back to Australia and, as our fans know, we always keep to our promises. So, as you would imagine, we’re very much looking forward to bringing this amazing new show to the Southern Hemisphere and giving our loyal Australian fans the best Maiden show we can. You can be assured it’s worth the wait. See you all in 2024!”
Watch a video from the opening night of the European leg of the tour below to get a glimpse of the scale of the production headed our way.
Iron Maiden
The Future Past Australian Tour 2024
Sunday 1 September: Perth, RAC Arena
Wednesday 4 September: Adelaide, Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Friday 6 September: Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena
Saturday 7 September: Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena
Tuesday 10 September: Brisbane, Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Thursday 12 September: Sydney, Qudos Bank Arena
Head to www.ironmaiden.com or www.tegdainty.com for all ticketing and tour information.
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