Editing Iron Maiden (section)

===Experimentation (1986–1989)===
{{main|Somewhere in Time (Iron Maiden album)|Seventh Son of a Seventh Son}}
Returning from their time off, the band added different musical elements to their 1986 studio album, ''[[Somewhere in Time (Iron Maiden album)|Somewhere in Time]].'' These focused on [[synthesiser|synthesised]] bass and guitars to add textures and layers to the sound.{{sfn|Huey(3)}} The release performed well across the world, particularly the single "[[Wasted Years]]", but included no writing credits from Dickinson, whose material was rejected by the rest of the band.{{sfn|Wall|2004|p=260}} The album was the band's biggest American chart success to date, reaching number&nbsp;11 on the ''[[Billboard 200]]''{{sfn|Billboard}} and number&nbsp;2 in the UK charts.{{sfn|Wall|2004|p=257}}{{sfn|SS35Y|2023}} The [[Somewhere on Tour]] was also a success. The band played 157 shows for over two and a half million fans, including eighty-one shows in North America. Once again, Iron Maiden visited Poland, Hungary and Yugoslavia to play for tens of thousands of fans in each country.{{Sfn|SiTT|2023}} The experimentation evident on ''Somewhere in Time'' continued on their next album, ''[[Seventh Son of a Seventh Son]]'', which was released in 1988. A [[concept album]] recorded at [[Musicland Studios]] in Munich{{sfn|Musiclands|2021}} and based on the 1987 novel ''[[Seventh Son (novel)|Seventh Son]]'' by [[Orson Scott Card]],{{sfn|Popoff|2005(d)}} it was the band's first record to include keyboards, which were performed by Harris and Smith.{{sfn|Popoff|2005(d)}} Dickinson's enthusiasm was also renewed as his ideas were accepted for this album.{{sfn|Wall|2004|p=265}} Another popular release, it became Iron Maiden's third album to hit number&nbsp;1 in the UK charts{{sfn|Wall|2004|p=263}} and reached number&nbsp;12 on the ''[[Billboard 200]].''{{sfn|Billboard}}

During the following [[Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour|tour]], the band headlined the [[Monsters of Rock]] festival at [[Donington Park]] on 20 August 1988, playing to the largest crowd in the festival's history (107,000).{{sfn|Wall|2004|p=269}} The tour concluded with several headline shows in the UK in November and December 1988, with the concerts at the [[National Exhibition Centre|NEC Arena]], Birmingham, recorded for a live video, entitled ''[[Maiden England]]''. The video debuted at top spots of worldwide music videos charts.{{sfn|Wall|2004|p=272}} In May, the group set out on a [[Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour|supporting tour]], which saw them perform 103 shows to well over two million people worldwide over seven months.<ref name="plucky seven">{{cite journal |title= Plucky Seven |journal= [[Kerrang!]] |date= 16 April 1988 |first= Mick |last= Wall |author-link=Mick Wall| issue= 183 |page= 45}}</ref> To recreate the album's keyboards onstage throughout the tour, the group recruited Michael Kenney, Steve Harris' bass technician; Kenney has served as the band's live keyboard player ever since, also performing on the band's four following albums.{{sfn|Gennet|2010}}