Iron Maiden: Flight 666 | |
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Directed by | Scot McFadyen Sam Dunn |
Written by | Scot McFadyen Sam Dunn |
Produced by | Scot McFadyen Sam Dunn |
Starring | Iron Maiden |
Narrated by | Sam Dunn |
Cinematography | Martin Hawkes |
Edited by | Lisa Grootenboer Wendy Hallam Martin Mike Munn |
Music by | Iron Maiden |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Arts Alliance Media EMI D&E Entertainment (US) |
Release date |
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Running time | 113 minutes[2] |
Countries | United Kingdom Canada |
Language | English |
Box office | $233,193[3] |
Iron Maiden: Flight 666 is a concert documentary film featuring the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The film follows the band on the first leg of their Somewhere Back in Time World Tour in February and March 2008, during which they travelled on their own customised Boeing 757, Ed Force One, which used the call-sign "666".
Flight 666 is co-produced by Toronto-based Banger Films, known for their documentaries Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, Global Metal and Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. The film was shot in high-definition video with accompanying 5.1 surround sound produced by Kevin Shirley (who has worked with the band since their 2000 album Brave New World). It was distributed by Arts Alliance Media and EMI (except in the US, where it was sub-distributed by D&E Entertainment) in select digital theatres on 21 April 2009.
Synopsis and background
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Boeing_757-23A%2C_Astraeus_Airlines_JP6187959.jpg/220px-Boeing_757-23A%2C_Astraeus_Airlines_JP6187959.jpg)
Iron Maiden: Flight 666 documents the opening leg of the band's Somewhere Back in Time World Tour, which took place between February and March 2008.[4] During this leg of the tour, the group travelled 50,000 miles (encompassing India, Australia and North and South America) in just 45 days, performing 23 shows in 13 countries to half a million fans.[4][5] To achieve this, the band travelled in their own Boeing 757, nicknamed "Ed Force One" after the band's mascot, Eddie, and in the style of the U.S. president's Air Force One, which was specially converted to carry the band, their crew and twelve tonnes of equipment.[5]
The aeroplane was largely piloted by the band's lead singer, Bruce Dickinson, who was then employed by Astraeus Airlines.[6][7] According to Dickinson, who came up with the idea, Ed Force One meant they could visit countries where "The bean counters said it's just not worth going" and allowed them to "do an almost European-type itinerary, but on an inter-continental basis".[7] As a result, the band were able to perform in Costa Rica and Colombia for the first time.[8] The aircraft was flown under the call-sign "666", a reference to their 1982 single "The Number of the Beast", which provided the film's title.[4]
Despite the technical aspects behind the tour, the documentary is predominantly about the group's fans, with Dickinson commenting that "Two-thirds of the film is not about us".[7] Scenes shot in South America are particularly focused on the audiences, where Reuters report that they are "venerated like football stars",[8] while The Daily Telegraph state that the film makers "elicit tearful eulogies" from those in Costa Rica and Colombia, then seeing the band for the first time.[4] Dickinson asserts that the band's relationship with their fans is "the real story of Maiden",[9] and the fact that this is the film's primary theme "is the way it should be".[7]
The documentary was written, directed and produced by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, using their production company, Banger Films.[2][1][8] McFadyen and Dunn requested permission to shoot the film as soon as the tour was announced, which they received with just two months left to prepare.[4] Despite the fact that the film makers had been acquainted with Iron Maiden while working on their first two documentaries, 2005's Metal: A Headbanger's Journey and 2007's Global Metal, some band members were initially mistrustful of the venture and were wary of having their privacy invaded.[4] Although Dickinson and drummer Nicko McBrain were the most comfortable with the filming, bassist Steve Harris and guitarist Adrian Smith took longer to adapt, while guitarist Janick Gers largely ignored the crew until the final week.[8] Following Iron Maiden: Flight 666, the band worked with Banger Films once again on their 2012 live video, En Vivo!.[10]
Theatrical showings
[edit]The film's world première took place at the Cine Odeon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 14 March 2009, during the final leg of the band's Somewhere Back in Time World Tour.[11] The UK première took place on 20 April 2009 at the Kensington Odeon in London.[12] The following night, the film was screened simultaneously on over 450 screens in 41 countries globally.[13] Distributed by Arts Alliance Media and EMI, with D&E Entertainment sub-distributing in the US,[14] Flight 666 was shown in a 2K digital format, with 5.1 surround sound mixed by the band's producer, Kevin Shirley.[15]
The screenings on 21 April were very successful, with Arts Alliance Media reporting that it was the largest simultaneous worldwide release of a documentary film.[14] This led to additional showings in some territories,[14] such as in India, where it was released on 8 May by PVR Pictures,[16] and Australia, where it was screened from 30 April to 6 May.[17][18] At the UK box office, the film grossed £84,276 (US$123,886),[3] while making $74,134 in Australia and $35,173 in Russia CIS, totalling $233,193 from the three territories tallied.[19]
Reception
[edit]Flight 666 was welcomed by overwhelmingly positive reviews from the music press and general media. Rock and metal magazines Kerrang! and Metal Hammer each gave the movie full marks, with Kerrang! referring to it as a "unique peek behind the Iron Curtain" that was "not to be missed" and Metal Hammer calling it a "continent-jumping, fire-breathing monster of a film".[20][21] Empire gave it 4 stars and felt that the behind the scenes antics were interesting, despite lacking in drama when compared to Metallica's Metallica: Some Kind of Monster and Anvil! The Story of Anvil, and that the concert footage is "magnificent".[22]
Flight 666 won the "24 Beats Per Second" award for best music documentary at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas,[23] Music DVD of the Year at 2010's Juno Awards,[24] and Best DVD at the 2009 Metal Storm awards.[25]
Home media
[edit]Iron Maiden: Flight 666 | ||||
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Video & live album by | ||||
Released | 22 May 2009 9 June 2009 (North America) | |||
Recorded | 1 February – 16 March 2008 | |||
Venue | Various concerts throughout the first leg of the Somewhere Back in Time World Tour | |||
Genre | Heavy metal | |||
Length | 112:20 (film)[2] 101:28 (concert)[26] | |||
Label | EMI UMe (United States) | |||
Producer | Kevin Shirley (audio) | |||
Iron Maiden video chronology | ||||
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Iron Maiden live albums chronology | ||||
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Iron Maiden: Flight 666 was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 25 May 2009 by EMI.[27] In North America, it was issued on 9 June and by Universal Music Enterprises in the US.[28] In addition to the documentary film, the video contains the full sixteen song setlist from the Somewhere Back in Time World Tour, with each track recorded at a different venue.[29] Alongside the DVD and Blu-ray, a double CD soundtrack album was released simultaneously, featuring the same track listing as the video concert footage.[30] The DVD and Blu-ray release was particularly successful, peaking at No. 1 in 22 countries including the UK and US.[31]
Soundtrack and concert footage track listing
[edit]Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original Album | Length |
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1. | "Churchill's Speech" (1 February 2008, Mumbai, India) | 0:43 | ||
2. | "Aces High" (1 February 2008, Mumbai, India) | Steve Harris | 1984 ~ Powerslave | 4:49 |
3. | "2 Minutes to Midnight" (7 February 2008, Melbourne, Australia) | Adrian Smith, Bruce Dickinson | 1984 ~ Powerslave | 5:57 |
4. | "Revelations" (9 February 2008, Sydney, Australia) | Dickinson | 1983 ~ Piece of Mind | 6:28 |
5. | "The Trooper" (16 February 2008, Chiba, Japan) | Harris | 1983 ~ Piece of Mind | 4:01 |
6. | "Wasted Years" (22 February 2008, Monterrey, Mexico) | Smith | 1986 ~ Somewhere in Time | 5:07 |
7. | "The Number of the Beast" (19 February 2008, Inglewood, United States) | Harris | 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast | 5:07 |
8. | "Can I Play With Madness" (24 February 2008, Mexico City, Mexico) | Smith, Dickinson, Harris | 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | 3:36 |
9. | "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (14 March 2008, East Rutherford, United States) | Harris | 1984 ~ Powerslave | 13:41 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original Album | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Powerslave" (26 February 2008, San José, Costa Rica) | Dickinson | 1984 ~ Powerslave | 7:28 |
2. | "Heaven Can Wait" (2 March 2008, São Paulo, Brazil) | Harris | 1986 ~ Somewhere in Time | 7:35 |
3. | "Run to the Hills" (28 February 2008, Bogotá, Colombia) | Harris | 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast | 3:59 |
4. | "Fear of the Dark" (7 March 2008, Buenos Aires, Argentina) | Harris | 1992 ~ Fear of the Dark | 7:32 |
5. | "Iron Maiden" (9 March 2008, Santiago, Chile) | Harris | 1980 ~ Iron Maiden | 5:26 |
6. | "Moonchild" (12 March 2008, San Juan, Puerto Rico) | Smith, Dickinson | 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | 7:29 |
7. | "The Clairvoyant" (4 March 2008, Curitiba, Brazil) | Harris | 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | 4:38 |
8. | "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (16 March 2008, Toronto, Canada) | Harris | 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast | 7:52 |
Total length: | 101:28 |
Charts
[edit]
Album[edit]
|
Video[edit]
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Certifications
[edit]- Album
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[68] | Gold | 40,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
- Video
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Argentina (CAPIF)[69] | Platinum | 8,000^ |
Australia (ARIA)[70] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[71] | 5× Platinum | 50,000^ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[72] | Gold | 6,046[72] |
France (SNEP)[73] | Platinum | 15,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[74] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[75] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[76] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Credits
[edit]Production and performance credits are adapted from the Blu-ray, DVD and soundtrack album liner notes.[2][26][77]
- Iron Maiden
- Bruce Dickinson – vocals
- Dave Murray – guitars
- Janick Gers – guitars
- Adrian Smith – guitars, backing vocals
- Steve Harris – bass, backing vocals, co-producer (concert audio)
- Nicko McBrain – drums
- Additional musician
- Michael Kenney – keyboards
- Film production
- Scot McFadyen – producer, writer, director
- Sam Dunn – producer, writer, director, narrator
- Rod Smallwood – executive producer, band manager
- Stefan Demetriou – executive producer
- Andy Taylor – executive producer, band manager
- Victoria Hirst – co-producer
- Martin Hawkes – director of photography
- Lisa Grooten Boer – editor
- Wendy Hallum Martin – editor
- Mike Munn – editor
- Concert audio production
- Kevin Shirley – producer, mixing
- Jared Kvitka – assistant
- Ryan Smith – mastering
- Dave Pattenden – live audio recording
- Ian Walsh – assistant
- Johnny Burke – assistant
- Tony Newton – assistant
- Additional personnel
- Peacock – art director, design
- John McMurtrie – photography
- Hangman – stage design
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Iron Maiden Flight 666 Movie Wins Award; Theater Dates Announced". Guitar World. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d Iron Maiden: Flight 666 DVD (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 25 May 2009.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "United Kingdom Box Office 24–26 April 2009". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Sweeting, Adam (15 April 2009). "Flight 666 - Iron Maiden documentary". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ a b Michaels, Sean (21 January 2009). "Iron Maiden to release tour documentary". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ Burrell, Ian (9 March 2009). "Flight 666, Iron Maiden performing at a cinema near you". The Independent. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d Greene, Andy (25 June 2009). "Iron Maiden's Flight 666 : Bruce Dickinson on Airborne Adventure". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d Goodman, Dean (15 April 2009). "Iron Maiden flying to cinemas with Flight 666". Reuters. Los Angeles. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ Bezer, Terry (6 April 2009). "Iron Maiden: Flight 666 Exclusive!". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
- ^ "Iron Maiden: Details Of Buenos Aires, Santiago DVD Shoot Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
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- ^ Smith, Matt (21 April 2009). "Award Winning Iron Maiden Film Hits Cinemas". Sky News. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ a b c "Iron Maiden's Flight 666 Was Biggest-Ever Worldwide Simultaneous Release Of Documentary Film". Blabbermouth.net. 11 May 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ Cracknell, Nick (5 February 2009). "Iron Maiden: The Movie!". MusicRadar. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
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- ^ "The Iron Maiden movie". Brisbane Times. 23 April 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
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- ^ Milas, Alexander (21 April 2009). "Flight 666 Reviews". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ Ruskell, Nick. "Iron Maiden - Flight 666 DVD". Kerrang!: 55. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ "Iron Maiden: Flight 666". Empire. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ Bezer, Terry (23 March 2009). "SXSW award for Flight 666". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ "Juno Winners - 2010 Gala Dinner & Awards". Juno Awards. 18 April 2010. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ "Metal Storm 2009 winners". Metal Storm. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ a b Flight 666 - The Original Soundtrack (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 25 May 2009.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Bezer, Terry (15 April 2009). "Iron Maiden Release Flight 666 DVD Details". Classic Rock. Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ "Iron Maiden: Flight 666 Available in the USA 9 June on Blu-ray, 2-DVD Set and Live Soundtrack Album". Bloomberg L.P. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ Graff, Gary (15 April 2009). "Iron Maiden's Flight 666 Doc Takes Off". Billboard. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ Smith, Jamie (15 April 2009). "Iron Maiden film to get DVD release". MusicRadar. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ a b Bezer, Terry (18 June 2009). "Iron Maiden Hit Number One in Over 20 Countries". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ Monger, James. Iron Maiden - Flight 666 at AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 138.
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- ^ "デス・オン・ザ・ロード". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
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{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)