Attempting to put together five decades of a band’s history in less than two hours might seem like an impossible task. Take for instance even the recently released pop flick ‘Michael’, which is a half biopic, which they now say may have a sequel.

But come to think of it with heavy metal band ‘Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition’ acclaimed filmmaker Malcolm Venville has managed to chronicle theBrit band in an unexpected angle by shifting much of the narrative weight away from the band, getting into its formation, success, lineup changes and its fiercely loyal global following in a crisp and tight formulae.

I was fortunate to have met the current lineup of band members of the band namely founder and bassist Steve Harris, guitarists Dave Murray and Adrian Smith and Janick Gers, vocalist Bruce Dickinson and drummer Nicko McBrain, when they visited Mumbai and Bangalore on their Somewhere Back in Time tour of India in 2007.

So back to the biopic and what we have is a young Steve Harris forming what was to become Iron Maiden playing in pubs and small clubs. The shift moved to their significant rise with the late Paul Di’Anno at the helm, before the legendary Bruce Dickinson joined and shot the group into legendary heights. The film carefully traces the shifting lineup eras, supported by a treasure trove of archival material, rare photographs, performance footage, and candid moments.

As Maiden fans would know, the band had a few lineup changes in their early years. Footage from concerts such as the World Slavery Tour and landmark performances at Rock in Rio, illustrate the scale of eventual success. We also get to see Maiden visiting Poland where the group are absolutely mobbed by fans. The band and their management expected problems at customs, but on the band’s arrival, customs officers lined up for autographs much to the joy of the band members who readily gave in.

The film frames the band’s evolution through the voices of eminent personalities who have directly or indirectly worked with the band. These range from globally recognised musicians such as Gene Simmons, Lars Ulrich, Tom Morello, Scott Ian, Chuck D, Simon Gallup, and Katon De Pena, to actors Javier Bardem and others, alongside professionals and everyday fans. While we see these personalities on screen, sadly, the band members contribute narration and reflections, their present-day appearances are absent, which is a total downer here.

The narrative does not shy away from internal struggles the band faced over the years. Adrian Smith’s battle with depression, the tenure of vocalist Blaze Bayley is seen critically when Maiden faced big challenges when Dickinson exited the band for a solo career in the 1990s. We also get to learn about Dickinson’s tryst with throat cancer and how he made a comeback after recovering. Bayley’s two mediocre albums were well received, but fans wanted the Dickinson sound and after a round of persuasion from Harris, Dickenson was back in the main line up and rocking with his band mates. Not only that, Dickinson piloting the band’s aircraft further demonstrates a commitment to connecting with his band mates and his audiences worldwide.

A lot of time is spent in decoding Maiden’s iconic mascot Eddie and the abundance of love and importance the band put on the mascot which was the face of every Maiden cover.

The curtains draw with the announcement of McBrain’s health problems and exit from the band momentarily.

‘Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition’ is a must watch for any metal fan worth his salt. Here’s their story, in their own words. You surely can’t go wrong with the biggest band in music history.

If you can’t Run to the Hills, run to your favorite movie theatre and watch this biopic as soon as you can.

Starring: Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson, Nicko McBrain, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Janick Gers

Directed by: Malcolm Venville

Duration: 106 minutes

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira