Awesome

Iron Maiden Movie Announced

A new documentary following Iron Maiden's 2008 world tour, titled Iron Maiden: Flight 666 is being produced by Banger Films (whose credits also include Metal: A Headbanger's Journey) and should be released in theaters (read: a single theatre somewhere just outside of Moosemin, Saskatchewan) in April of 2009. From the press release:

"The movie, which was created by Banger Films, EMI Records, UMe and Arts Alliance Media, follows Maiden from February to March, 2008 on the first leg of their “Somewhere Back in Time World Tour.” For the tour, the band flew in a specially customized Boeing 757 airliner piloted for much of the time by vocalist Bruce Dickinson. The plane also contained Maiden’s crew and 12 tons of music and stage equipment. Puddle-jumping from one location to another, the band played 23 sold out stadium and arena shows in Asia, Australia and North, Central and South America in just 45 days. Maiden performed in 13 countries, also landing in Azerbaijan and Papua New Guinea en route for fuel stops, travelling 70,000km and performing to almost half a million fans."

Wait, what!? "a specially customized Boeing 757 airliner piloted for much of the time by vocalist Bruce Dickinson"!?! Amazing. Is there anything Bruce Dickenson can't do? According to his Wikipedia article, no.

"Dickinson's interests include literature, writing, fencing (at which he has competed internationally, and he also founded a fencing equipment company under the brand name Duellist), train technology and flying Boeing 757 charter jets for the UK charter airline Astraeus where he is employed as a First Officer. He was taught to fly by British Airways commercial pilot Captain Phil Dales.

In the summer of 2006, Dickinson flew about 200 UK citizens home from Lebanon during the Israel/Hezbollah conflict. On 12 February 2007, Dickinson was given permission to fly Rangers F.C. to Israel for their UEFA Cup game against Hapoel Tel Aviv. Dickinson asked if he could pilot this flight as soon as he found Astraeus had the contract for it. After the collapse of XL Airways UK in September 2008 he piloted an Iceland Express aeroplane and flew home 180 stranded holiday makers from Egypt, as well as a Boeing 747 with a group of british RAF pilots from Afghanistan. 'A lot of them recognised him because they are Maiden fans, but he was there in his professional capacity as a pilot,' says an RAF spokesman."

Uh.... Amazing.