Flight 666: An encore!

Its not everyday that Bustards like me get lucky, but beast has always been nice to me. So I went to PVR to see this documentary called as Flight 666. There were only 10-15 people in whole theatre. This documentary primarily covers IRON MAIDENS recent tour "somewhere back in time", which as compared to their previous world tour "World Slavery" is much bigger. Maiden were carrying entire maiden troupe, entire equipment, entire crew in the Boeing 757, the service is called ED FORCE ONE and the flight.... sukkahs... its Flight 666!!!

This documentary is directed by Sam dunn, who previously directed a film on heavy metal. He himself is a big maiden fan. Directing your fav band for a movie, nothing can be better.

Its an honour and a privileged that Maiden started this Tour from India, Bombay and I saw that concert LIVE!!! Bruce talks about crazy Indian fans and how spicy Indian food tossed Steve's digestion. From India they headed to Malaysia and then to Japan. Japan is well known for its hospitality, so maiden crew were overwhelmed with all showering of love and teenage girl running into the band. Not much population of Japan understands English but "Fuck what", Maiden Fans remains undivided even after linguistic barriers. So while they were showing Indian part of movie, they played "Aces high", atleast 6-10 people in theatre were singing.
From Japan they headed to Australia, where they played at Sidney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane! Holy eddie! 4 cities in a single country? Lucky bustards Ozies! And to my surprise all stadiums were full to capacity, what a killer fan following.. And to name a few, Adrian played tennis with Pat Cash, Oz tennis champion, who is a maiden fan too!

The Next stop from here was in US, Los Angeles. Needless to say, crowd response was amazing, people in their 40s who were listening to maiden for decades were here to attend the concert! Maidens have fans like Tom morello(RATM), who idolizes Steve Harris and then Nico Macbrain has inspire none other than Lars Ulirich(you fucking donno which band, Loser!). There were visitors like Kerry king and Ronnie James dio, all coming to see Maiden.

In between Maiden members were discussing about how Maiden members are part of one splendid family. Steve goes gaga about meticulousness of Adrian about sound and his guitaring. In between Steve's daughter three of them(*very hot* Drool stuff!!!) were making comment on how reserve daddy is?
Then the next Lag of Journey was Mexico. Bruce tells that real journey begins now, since the crowd of Latin and southern America is totally wild. I remember Rock in Rio Concert, the turn out for that concert in 1985 was around 300,000. In Brasilia, Maidens are worshipped like gods. So in Mexico it was a futbol stadium all ram packed. Bruce came wearing sombrero made by some fan especially for Maidens. Swarms of crazy fan making famous Mexican wave, singing in unison. Holy Eddie, I wish I was there.
Next stop was Costa Rica. I must say it was all teary affair in Costa rica. Maiden fans were on roads and streets and everywhere, waiting since days to get a glimpse of the lords. They were crazily mobbing around the hotel. By the end of concert there were dudes and chics crying, trust me, post gig depression can kill!
Next stop was Colombia, Bagota. On political grounds the security of this place was damn tight, Cops on horses patrolling everywhere. Fans were waiting in camps on the sides of roads for more than a week. Couple of them were complaining about lack of food and water due to security issues, but still they have swarmed the place like there will never be a next time. Maiden were floored with such a reception. What could be the the hieght of fanboism, there was a guy in coloumbia, who preaches Maiden writings in a church dedicated to maiden, he has 100+ maiden tattoos and calls himself Father Iron maiden!

so Maiden continued their onslaught in Brasilia, where they played futbol match with some local team. They performed at Sao paulo for an amazing crowd in a futbol stadium with many players wearing national team jersey on stage with Bruce.

Next stop was Buenes Aires, Argentina, from where they headed next to Santiago, Chile. Previously in Chile, Maiden were banned for spreading anti-Christ Faith. Harris commented that it was one of the totally misunderstood part. but, now after more than a decade, they are welcomed by frenzied mob of maiden devotees, who were on roads from Airport to Hotel room.
Next, the journey continued to New Jersey, US. The band member talks about how Steve harris is the backbone of Iron Maiden. Right from lyrics to finalization of songs, he is everywhere. I would say, he is one of the most disciplined musician around, his hard sticking to the schedule attitude has brought Iron maiden to this pinnacle.
So they had a crew song, "you are shit and you know you are", which they sang all time, whenever the plane took off for next journey(LOL!). There were couple of hot stewardess in the plane, who were having great time with band. The Last stop of this Journey was Toronto, Canada. Maidens were famous in Canada, much before it was famous in US. So Band is particularly fond of this place. The documentary ends with "Hallowed be thy name", I guess not a single soul in theatre can stop itself from howling and banging its head!
I was totally Maidenized, my addiction requires a regular dose of metal and this was it. Infact it was a really heavy shot of the toxin, which has mixed with blood so thoroughly that it will stay there until I pay my visit to lords, yet again.
\m/ up the irons!

Metal: a Headbanger's journey

Few days back sapota has seen this documentary titled as this blog. Sapota had heard about this one for quite some time, but couldn't spare enough attention for it. However, fortune favors the brave(haa haa ;) ). This fella called Sam Dunn is a Metalhead like Sapota and has shown many things and few of them were quite new. He made this documentary to let main stream people understand why typically metalheads are "what they are?". He has done quite an awesome work in covering things, particularly step by step analysis of entire heavy metal phenomenon from its origin to metal culture. Spota loved everything about this documentary.
Sapota would like to highlight few things which sapota find interesting. The documentary was talking about origin, although disputed, but everyone knows Sabbaths are the fathers of Heavy Metal. They interviewed Iommi and Rush vocalist to get an insight, which was too cool. But then they interview Alice cooper, who is quite a character, Sapota always took him for soft rock, but he is one of the originators of shock rock. Cooper made news for being wicked and bizarre, many countries banned him. This fella is Big mouth, he said he originated Metal!
Then one more interesting personality to be interviewed was Dee Schneider of Twisted sister, this fella has written songs on teacher-student and parent-student clashes from subject's point of view. He was questioned by congress committee for his explosive lyric contents, and he is such a dude that he blew them apart.
They interviewed Capt Dickinson also, who is always as welcoming as anyone can be, Sam Dunn is one true devotee of Iron Maidens. Documentary analysed female participation in Heavy metal, Sapota would like to say this section seems more like trying to be politically correct kinda or may be this guy is trying to be as impartial as possible. However not much females are seen in real Heavy Metal, only few in alternative metal, and quite few in newer gothic or nu-metal bands. Sapota is not trying to be racist of Chauvnist, but Sapota has not seen any female in metal worth appreciating.
Now most interesting part was Black Metal. Venoman early band with early sounds of metal, quite dark and controversial. Venom made an album called Black Metal, which can be attributed to be inspiration for this genre. Now the journey took us to small Norwegian town near OSLO. This place has an old Church, quite important to Scandinavians, which was burnt by some black metal vocalist,who was sentenced for long. Anyway this town is home of Black metal, so many black metal fellas were interviewed. Here the race is to become most brutal band and do thing never done, anyway black metal derives its lyric contents from norse mythology and has quite an element of melodic metal.
Documentary inspected violence and outrageousness of Metal fans and bands alike, but no definitive conclusion, since bands are just trying to express wildest of their imagination. They interviewed Slayer vocalist Tom Araya, who says "offcourse God does not hates us all, but then its a cool album title", Sapota full heartedly agree, period.
They mentioned almost everyone but mentioned Metallica just once, saying the biggest metal band. Sapota would have loved an interview with Jaymz and Marilyn Manson or Mustaine, but no place for them :(.
Concludingly offcourse this guy went to huge concert at Wacken Germany, the documentary ended with Metallica song.