AceShowbiz - Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has blasted rock bands who charge extortionate prices for concert tickets - insisting they only have themselves to blame for half-empty arenas. The "Number of the Beast" hitmakers refuse to hike the face value of seats at their shows, despite pressure from record industry bosses to recoup lost cash from album sales through increased tour revenues.

He blames the practice for falling ticket sales for live gigs - and is adamant bands should keep prices low to encourage more fans to attend their concerts. Dickinson tells Sky News, "It's a massive commitment to come to see a band."

"They deserve not just a great show but they deserve a reasonable ticket price. Other people have inflated ticket prices to obscene levels and it's just not right. It's a rock 'n' roll show, it's not a cash cow."