Iron Maiden - Flight 666 Review

Posted by Shawn S. Lealos on 06.12.2009

Iron Maiden is back with a documentary and a new live CD performance. Does it achieve the level that the Rock God's demand?

Iron Maiden fans rejoice. Flight 666: The Film follows the legendary rockers on their Somewhere Back in Time World Tour and takes you behind the scenes of the tour that spanned 50,000 miles, playing 23 concerts on five continents in 45 days. The feature itself checks in at just under two hours and gives you a look at the band in a way you have never seen.



The Somewhere Back in Time World Tour sees the band pulling classics out of their back catalogue but, unless you want to get on singer Bruce Dickinson’s bad side, don’t call it a revival tour. That is the mistake XM! Radio DJ Eddie Trunk made when he referred to the set as a “classics set.” Dickinson mentions that over the past eight years, the fan base for Iron Maiden has progressively gotten younger and this tour is not a chance to relive old glories as a fossil band, but instead a celebration of the new fans and a reintroduction for the new generation. When watching the footage of this world tour, it is clear while the band may have gotten up there in years their fan base has remained young, energetic and passionate about their favorite heavy metal band.

The filmmakers behind the documentary, Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen, cut their teeth on rockumentaries, working on both Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey and Global Metal. They were granted almost universal access to the band and present the film as both a fly on the wall as well as providing up close and personal interviews with members of the band and crew. They also give a loving look as the fans help breathe life into the amazing Iron Maiden live performances.

We start with a look at the customized Boeing 757, Ed Force One, which carries the band, crew and equipment on this world tour. Lead singer Bruce Dickinson pilots the plane and tells us early on that if it wasn’t for this revelation, the band would never have been able to complete this tour. Bands for too long have said they can’t travel to certain places because it was economically and physically unfeasible to do so. With the band using their own plane, customized to carry passengers and equipment, they are able to reach areas on the globe that were otherwise unattainable.

The size of the audiences greeting the band at every step of the tour is amazing. It is a testament to Iron Maiden that they have built such loyal and dedicated fandom despite receiving almost no support from radio and mainstream media. They have sold over 70 million albums and sold out shows all over the world, this tour no different albeit on a grander scale. On February 1, 2008, the band begins their tour in Mumbai, India. The cameras focuses on the band members, some a little more open than others, but soon, over the length of the tour, they all open up giving an inside look at the making of the band that pioneered the heavy metal music scene.

The first thing you notice is the reception the band gets across the globe. It seems a bit strange to realize that the American music scene is pretty neutered compared to the fanaticism that takes place in such remote areas as South America and India. While the metal shows in America having their fair share of metal heads, the fans that show up in third world countries carry something a little more in their love for the band, openly weeping and rejoicing that Iron Maiden would grace them with their presence. It is a sight to behold.

I’d like to take a second to say how strange it is to see members of Iron Maiden playing tennis, golf and scuba diving. Talk about breaking the illusion! Steve Harris explains that if they just stayed in the hotel the entire time, they would go crazy. Drummer Niko McBrain goes even further by explaining they remain fresher and deliver better shows if they spend hours on the golf course instead of hours drinking inside a bar. It goes a long way to explain the longevity of the band. Of course there are dangers, which you see later in the feature when Steve is hit on the arm with a golf ball and fears he will be unable to play that night.

When the band reaches Los Angeles, the documentary becomes rather interesting because famous Iron Maiden fans check in to explain the influence of the band on their careers. After seeing a quick photo opportunity with the WWE’s Chris Jericho, we hear from both Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) and Lars Ulrich (Metallica) who explain how they are where they are because of Iron Maiden.

As the band heads south, we encounter some of the greatest fans in the world. In Mexico, fans give their famous soccer chants towards Dickinson, who stares out in amazement and amusement. In Columbia, with military dominance and the constant fear of an outbreak, fans remain optimistic and camp outside the stadium for days leading up to the event. Despite soldiers being out in full force, taking away people’s food, cameras and belts, the fans remain strong because this is the first time Iron Maiden has visited their country.

Brazil was a big return for Iron Maiden, thanks to their Rock in Rio performance over twenty years ago. I would argue Rock in Rio is the event that made Iron Maiden Gods for this area of the world. A funny side trip is taken here as we meet a minister who preaches to his church using the morality of Iron Maiden lyrics. This is strongly contrasted with the reception the band receives in Chile, where they were at one time banned thanks to the Catholic Church’s take on their supposed satanic lyrics. The fans are finally getting their chance to see their favorite band and their energy and enthusiasm are the type that make the Iron Maiden concert experience one you can’t miss.

They finish up the tour with stops in New Jersey and Toronto, the city Bruce Dickinson refers to as the first place that truly embraced the band. It is a great documentary and, the best part is, you’re only getting started because the disc also includes the full live set, with a track played in each of the sixteen different cities. This is the same set you will find on the live album as well.

1. Churchill’s Speech


2. Aces High (Mumbai, India - Feb. 01, 2008)


3. 2 Minutes to Midnight (Melbourne, Australia - Feb. 07, 2008)


4. Revelations (Sidney, Australia - Feb. 09, 2008)


5. The Trooper (Tokyo, Japan - Feb. 16, 2008)


6. Wasted Years (Monterrey, Mexico - Feb. 22, 2008)


7. The Number of the Beast (Los Angeles, CA - Feb. 19, 2008)


8. Can I Play With Madness (Mexico City, Mexico - Feb. 24, 2008)


9. Rime of the Ancient Mariner (New Jersey - March 14, 2008)


10. Powerslave (San Jose, Costa Rica - Feb. 26, 2008)


11. Heaven Can Wait (San Paulo, Brazil - March 02, 2008)


12. Run to the Hills (Bogota, Columbia - Feb. 28, 2008)


13. Fear of the Dark (Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 07, 2008)


14. Iron Maiden (Santiago, Chile - March 09, 2008)


15. Moonchild (San Juan, Puerto Rico - March 12, 2008)


16. The Clairvoyant (Curitiba, Brazil - March 04, 2008)


17. Hallowed Be Thy Name (Toronto, Canada - March 16, 2008)

After the obligatory Churchill speech, we kick off the show with “Aces High,” and Dickinson is more animated than a lot of rock stars half his age. The guy, at fifty years old, is more energetic and provides more bang for your buck then just about anyone I have ever seen perform live. The crowd was into it from the start and the Indian crowd was singing along throughout the entire number. “Revelations” presents us with a perfect example of the double axe attack while Dickinson gets the crowd worked up. The guitar work in this song is sick.

For “The Trooper”, a song about the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War from the viewpoint of the slain troopers, Dickinson runs out dressed in British Union attire waving the Union Jack overhead. Once again the guitar work tears up the stadium, something you grow quite accustomed to as this might be the perfect concert experience. By the time they reach Mexico, things really get going. There is a funny moment before “Wasted Years” where the crowd starts a soccer chant (OLE-O!) much to the amusement of Dickinson.

As great as that song is, it is a slight drop off before the excellence in Los Angeles with the iconic “The Number of the Beast”. No matter how great these songs sound in their original format, nothing can prepare you for the amazing sound live in concert. Dickinson wails in this song like he is a man twenty years younger and the entire band is awesome from the opening notes to the end of the song. This is what all concerts should be like.

It’s back to Mexico for “Can I Play with Madness” and then to New Jersey for the song Dickinson said he was most excited to be singing again on this tour, the epic 14-minute “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”. This is, without a doubt, the greatest single performance of any song by any band that I have ever seen live. The song builds to its boiling point and when it reaches its short instrumental interlude, smoke begins billowing from the stage. Finally, when Dickinson returns to the stage for the second half of the song, fireworks and pyro explode as the band amps it up to a heart pounding level. It is a masterful performance and there are still eight songs to go.

What hurts when a song and performance is as powerful as the previous one is the ones that follow come across as a bit of a letdown. That hurts “Powerslave” and “Heaven Can Wait”, which are both good rocking performances but memories of how great “Rime” was makes them seem ordinary in comparison. The CD is setup to avoid this pratfall as the first disc ends with “Rime”. “Run to the Hills” is the next song that helps me get back into the moment thanks in large part to Dickinson’s awesome vocal range.

Before watching this concert, I had a favorite live track by the band and, while it has fallen behind “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, “Fear of the Dark” once again proves to be the perfect live Iron Maiden song, with the entire crowd singing along from the minute the guitars start playing. Dickinson stands on the stage almost like a choir director leading the audience in the song involving the most interaction with the fans. Every time I hear this song live I realize how amazing Iron Maiden’s fans really are. I have never been to a show but to hear them sing along makes me wish I was standing right in the middle of the crowd.

“Iron Maiden” is another hard rocking effort from the band and is noted with the appearance of a giant remote controlled Cyborg Eddie, which lumbers around the stage during the song. It’s a perfect song to end the concert with, at least until the encore. They follow it up with a great rendition of “Moonchild” and the amazing “The Clairvoyant”. It amazes me how a song like “The Clairvoyant” can be twenty-one years old but still sound musically relevant today. The band is timeless and if their plan was to present their best songs to a new, young audience, this was an overwhelming success.

They finish the set with “Hallowed Be They Name”. This is not only one of the best songs in Iron Maiden’s catalogue but one of the greatest heavy metal songs by any band. The guitar work here shreds my mind. This is the performance that every band out there needs to watch to understand how to truly end a concert. It is a mind blowing finale to a fantastic show.

The 411: If you are a fan of Iron Maiden, a fan of heavy metal or someone who has good taste in music, buy this now. Get the CD if you must, you need to have this in your car and on your iPod. However, do not hesitate to get the film. If you have a Blu-Ray player pick up that version, as it was only $2 more than the DVD when I bought my copy. The picture is crisp and beautiful and the sound is mind blowing. There are a lot of rockumentaries out there but this ranks right up there at the top with the best of them. The feature is fascinating and the concert is magnificent. This is the perfect heavy metal DVD.

Final Score:  10.0   [ Virtually Perfect ]