Burning Ambition Review

Metal giants Iron Maiden have come out with a documentary spanning their 50-year career. From dive bars to stadiums. The ups and downs and feeling like they’ve had to start again.

I grew up with Iron Maiden. My mom had always been infatuated with them and by proxy, so was I. I got up and out of bed and always saw this amazing photo of Steve Harris on the wall. One that my mom took when she was in her early twenties. She would always say how the picture came to be anytime she caught anyone looking at it. She was on the barrier, got tossed and hurt and the band pulled her on stage and let her sit there for the show. I mean, could you imagine? I’d tell everyone too. She would often joke saying I was Bruce’s kid because of my pin straight brown hair and uncanny ability to scream.

So, obviously, when I heard there was an Iron Maiden movie I had to take my mom. What better Mother’s Day gift could I give? She donned her best Iron Maiden apparel and grabbed her Eddie mask and away we went.

From this point forward there may be some spoilers for the movie. So, if you haven’t seen and want to or have been living under a rock and don’t know much about the band, I’d suggest not reading on.

The movie starts at the bare bones beginning. Steve’s ambition to start a musical career and bringing his mates along. Most fans know that Paul Di’Anno started out as the singer of Iron Maiden. He was an absolute powerhouse that gave Maiden the push they needed to become incredibly popular in the dive bar scene. We actually get to hear from Paul on how he declined while performing. Cancelled shows and drug use, he knew he couldn’t continue and the rest of the band knew as well.

Ron, one of their managers, called up Bruce Dickinson. Bruce was in another band at the time, following a similar path of Maiden. Bruce came to a meeting, they had a chat and boom goes the dynamite. He was in the band. This is exactly the mix that was needed.

Bruce was and is just as driven as Steve. At first, they’re very much like an oil and water mix. Both wanting to be center stage. Both wanting the attention. Both full of energy. Of course this led to a bumping of heads.

We watch how they grow. How Eddie became the massive image head of the band. The introduction of Nicko. How they started to take over the world by word of mouth only. I think that’s the most amazing thing. They had no radio play but grew millions of fans.

Eddie is prominent in the film. While I love Eddie the big downside is it looks as if the animation was done via AI. I did look and it says it was done via CG modeling, but I’m still unsure about that.

Anyway, back to the meat of the film. We see Bruce leave and why. How it impacted the band. Seeing Adrian leave and how that impacted the band. The joining of Janick and Blaze.

We see the fans react, mostly poorly, to Blaze by spitting on him and how that immediately pissed off the band. Especially Steve. Then we see Ron get Bruce and Adrian back.

There’s a touch of tear jerking in the film. Going in depth of Bruce’s throat cancer. Nicko having a stroke. Paul passing away. Honestly, I found myself crying. Again, this band has been in every aspect of my life.

Fifty years…that’s such an amazing career and simply a lifetime to have for the band. Every new venture, every bump and bruise, every fight, argument, and tears that they shed. Iron Maiden has created a family of millions. United by music. That’s what this film delivers. A fan service for the family of millions who are connected by the band.

If you’re a fan of them, this film will bring you to tears. If you’re not a fan, this film will give you insight and hopefully respect for them. If you’re new to the band, you’re absolutely in for a treat.

There are no wasted years here.

~Rook