Iron Maiden tour poster banned in Lithuania for 'scaring children'

The heavy metal band are set to play in Kaunas later this month

Iron Maiden have been using their trademark gory artwork for decades (John McMurtrie)

Iron Maiden’s tour poster has been banned in Lithuania for giving children nightmares.

The heavy metal band are currently touring The Book of Souls around the world, with one poster showing their gory monster mascot Eddie the Head holding a bleeding heart in his claws and baring his yellow teeth.

Lithuania has taken exception to the promo material and ordered it to be removed from billboards “because it scares children”.

Live Nation spokesman Mindaugas Paukste told Russian website Delfi that the concert promotion company had received a letter stating that the poster violates the country’s child protection laws.

“Right now we have to decide how to carry on forward but we must also immediately take down the posters,” he said, adding that the outcry was surprising when the advertising has not caused problems anywhere else.

Iron Maiden will arrive to play Lithuania’s 18,000 capacity Zalgiris Arena in Kaunas later this month. Local residents had complained about the poster to authorities, with some demanding that it also be pulled from websites and ticketing outlets advertising the gig.