'80s Metal Band Releases Dates for First Leg of World Tour
Saxon is getting ready to hit the road once again.
The British heavy metal veterans have announced the U.K. and Ireland dates for the first leg of their Gods of Thunder World Tour, with additional international dates expected to be revealed in the coming months. The run begins Feb. 13 in Wolverhampton and wraps up Feb. 27 at London's Eventim Apollo, marking the start of what the band says will be a worldwide trek.
The tour will also see the return of one of the most recognizable stage props in heavy metal history.
For all of the U.K. and Ireland dates, except Cardiff due to venue restrictions, Saxon will revive its legendary 30-foot mechanized Eagle, which first debuted during the band's early 1980s arena tours. Fans can also expect the return of the band's celebrated "Castles & Eagles" stage production, promising one of the group's biggest live presentations in years.
"We wanted to make the Gods of Thunder U.K. & Ireland tour extra special and what better way than to fly our beloved Saxon Eagle again," frontman Biff Byford said in a statement. "Get ready for take-off!"
Originally built in the early 1980s as Saxon prepared to tour its landmark Denim and Leather album, the towering Eagle was constructed by Midlands-based company LSD using airport runway landing lights. It quickly became synonymous with the band, towering over audiences during arena performances and later inspiring the title of Saxon's 1982 live album, The Eagle Has Landed.
Formed in 1977, Saxon emerged as one of the leading bands of the new wave of British heavy metal alongside Iron Maiden and Def Leppard. Albums including Wheels of Steel, Strong Arm of the Law and Denim and Leather helped define the movement, while songs such as "Princess of the Night," "747 (Strangers in the Night)" and "Motorcycle Man" became staples of the genre.
"Wheels Of Steel was such a big record for us," Byron told Louder. "We were going to get dropped after the first album didn't do so well. It was a rough period mentally. But when we wrote those songs for Wheels Of Steel it was great. Everybody knew we were on to something."
More than four decades later, Saxon continues to tour and release new music while remaining one of heavy metal's most enduring live acts. With the return of the band's iconic Eagle and more world tour dates still to come, the "Gods of Thunder" tour promises to be a celebration of both Saxon's past and its continuing legacy.
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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 7:54 AM.