MEGADETH & IRON MAIDEN @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheater, September 22nd 2026

As I drove home that night, I considered myself lucky, lucky to be alive during their birth of metal and seeing its founding fathers in their greatness.

Like it or not, everything gets old. Age may be relative, but its conclusion is inescapable. This is the time when living legends start to think about their legacy. The genre of heavy metal has existed since the late ‘60s / early ‘70s. That’s less than 60 years, suggesting that more than a few of us have experienced metal’s evolution firsthand.

Nobody knows how long an artist of extremity can exist as a live act. As the NWOBHM groups begin to fade, I’d argue we’re about to find out. I’ve made it a point these past few years to see and hear these bands one final time before they ‘hang it up’. MEGADETH & IRON MAIDEN at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheater (19100 Ridgeland Ave, Tinley Park, IL ) offered the opportunity to see storied monikers in the same night.

The Metal Channel Editor, Roger Schultz, and I arrived at the venue in ample time to see both bands. We grabbed and drink and checked out the merch booths when we heard Megadeth take the stage.

MEGADETH is a thrash metal band from Los Angeles. Formed in 1983 by vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine. Megadeth is known for their complex guitar work and intense musicianship. They are one of “The Big Four” of American thrash metal and are credited with helping develop and popularize the genre.
I first experienced Megadeth (Peace Sells) back in 1987 during the “Wake up Dead” tour with special guests Overkill (Taking Over) and Zoetrope (A Life Of Crime).

I’ve seen them numerous times over the years, even in 1992 at the Cabaret Metro when the band played a secret warm-up concert before performing live at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre the following day. It was the first time Megadeth performed under their mascot’s pseudonym, Vic & the Rattleheads.
Needless to say, Dave Mustaine revealed he’d been suffering from Dupuytren’s Contracture, a debilitating condition in which one or more fingers become permanently bent in a flexed position and that Megadeth would be calling it a career. Megadeth attacked the stage at a furious pace, ripping through ten classic songs in just over forty minutes. Highlight tracks for me were: “Sweating Bullets”, “Tornado of Souls”, “Symphony of Destruction”, “Peace Sells” and “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”. I was glad I got to experience this highly influential band one more time before Mustaine called it a career.

IRON MAIDEN has been entertaining audiences around the world since 1975. I first caught the band live during the “Somewhere In Time” tour back in 1987 and have made it a point to see them whenever they play Chicago. In my mind, Iron Maiden is the personification of heavy metal. Quality has been this band’s standard since their inception, and I believe that’s why Maiden has remained relevant for so long. With so many Iron Maiden members pushing 70 years old, I wanted to see them while they were still at the top of their game.

Maiden took the stage and went right for the jugular, we were literally ‘running for our lives’! The setlist, effects and stage show were all top notch. Maiden understands the value involving their fans in their music, even those occupying lawn seats felt a part of the performance. Highlight tracks for me were: “Wrathchild”, “The Number of the Beast“, “Powerslave”, “2 Minutes to Midnight”, “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and “Run to the Hills”.

As I drove home that night, I considered myself lucky, lucky to be alive during their birth of metal and seeing its founding fathers in their greatness. Not everyone can say they’ve experienced, Ronnie James Dio, Ozzy Osbourne or Lemmy Kilmister live but I can. I believe sooner than later, I’ll be able to add Dave Mustaine and Bruce Dickinson to that list and you know what? I wouldn’t change it for the world. \m/