UK Metallers Iron Maiden are perhaps one of the best bands, when it comes to live performances clocking in around 2,000 gigs since the 1980's. Flight 666 follows the band consisting of Bruce Dickinson (Vocals) Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers (Guitars) Steve Harris (Bass) and Nicko McBrain (Drums) on the first leg of their most recent tour called Somewhere Back in Time World Tour.
Unlike most rock band documentaries, this isn't a case of a camera crew following the band on the road, Flight 666 takes you on a journey from England to Canada via India, Australia, Japan, USA, Mexico and South America on board a customised Boeing 757 sporting the band's mascot Eddie on the tail section and piloted by Dickinson himself.
Unlike most rock band documentaries, this isn't a case of a camera crew following the band on the road, Flight 666 takes you on a journey from England to Canada via India, Australia, Japan, USA, Mexico and South America on board a customised Boeing 757 sporting the band's mascot Eddie on the tail section and piloted by Dickinson himself.
The documentary team led by Sam Dunn are treated in a comically cruel way, after all the band aren't used to having "outsiders" following them around, and because of this there is little interaction between Dunn and the band which overall makes for a more natural film experience, though there is some interaction between them.
The film breaks the stereotype of a heavy metal band, instead of the sex, drugs and rock n roll lifestyle so often portrayed, Iron Maiden seem to thrive on pizza, golf and rock and roll, it shows the band as regular guys, although it is interesting to see the band's fans view them as gods. The filmmakers talk to a few of the fans at all the major stops on the tour and it is interesting to hear how they got into the band, (including cameo's from Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello, and Metallica's Lars Ulrich) and there is a meeting with a reverend who had over 100 tattoo's of the band.
The film is filled with extracts from live performances which look fantastic, from the set design to the crew's miming of the songs backstage while the band plays them, the live songs sound really good, probably the best Maiden can perform them without the polish and the gleam of the studio.
The only real problem with the film is that it seems a bit too optimistic, theres a scene where fans in Columbia are waiting to get in and from the narration and the way its been filmed it appears as though something bad is going to happen, fortunatly nothing does (or at least it isn't shown) and it feels as though something has been built up for nothing. There are a few problems shown, like the bands problems with jet lag and a near injury for Nicko, but other than that Flight 666 shows an almost positive look at the life of a touring band who have been touring for years.
The film is filled with extracts from live performances which look fantastic, from the set design to the crew's miming of the songs backstage while the band plays them, the live songs sound really good, probably the best Maiden can perform them without the polish and the gleam of the studio.
The only real problem with the film is that it seems a bit too optimistic, theres a scene where fans in Columbia are waiting to get in and from the narration and the way its been filmed it appears as though something bad is going to happen, fortunatly nothing does (or at least it isn't shown) and it feels as though something has been built up for nothing. There are a few problems shown, like the bands problems with jet lag and a near injury for Nicko, but other than that Flight 666 shows an almost positive look at the life of a touring band who have been touring for years.
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