Yesterday I wrote about the Olympics and how I would miss the coverage that had taken over the viewing schedule in the Baldwin household. Last night though I realised that every cloud has a silver lining. Whilst the TV was bereft of sporting excellence, I could instead start to watch some of the stuff that was recorded and then ignored for the past few weeks.
Mrs Baldwin was going out for a drink with a friend and that allowed me to watch “Behind the Beast” - not a gruesome horror flick, or a dodgy porno movie, but instead an Iron Maiden documentary aired on BBC 4 recently(ish). To add to the pleasure, this was followed by the “En Vivo” concert – more Maiden excellence!
“Behind the Beast” documented the trials and tribulations of the Iron Maiden band members, the event organisers and road crew throughout the Final Frontier world tour. There were some fascinating insights into the challenges faced and the incredible teamwork to bring the tour together– one poignant moment was when Bruce Dickinson was piloting Ed Force 1 and was ten minutes away from landing at Tokyo - the day the earthquake and tsunami hit! Needless to say, the plane was diverted and the Japanese leg of the tour cancelled.
This post hasn’t been crafted as a review of the programme (although I recommend you watch it). My intention is to describe the circumstances around my viewing schedule because there is some amusement value to be had, at least in my opinion.
Last night I put the kids to bed, then set up the ironing board and began to iron my way through a stack of crumpled clothes. So the scenario is me ironing to Iron Maiden whilst the wife is out drinking. Can you imagine anything less ‘heavy metal’ than that?
Parenting, domesticity, financial responsibilities, shirts/ties/cufflinks and age have eclipsed youth, flowing locks, head banging, gig tee shirts, leather jackets, denim and regular concert attendance. It’s okay though because in the 25 years I have been following the band, the members have aged by the same number of years. And as a commercial pilot, I bet even Bruce Dickinson has to iron a shirt from time to time.
So, picture me stood at the ironing board – every so often I couldn’t help myself, I had to put the iron down and get my air-guitar out and shake my head (of short and greying hair) and sing along badly.
I once read Billy Connolly’s book Gullible’s Travels and in it he writes “never trust a man who when left alone in a room with a tea cosy doesn’t put it on his head”. The same thing applies to aging rockers – never trust a rocker who when left alone in a room with the heavy metal blaring doesn’t get his air-guitar out.
Is it, or rather am I, sad? No I say (but then I would wouldn’t I) because the day I stop getting animated when Iron Maiden is playing will be a very sad day indeed – and quite possibly my last!
So, the final comic element of this post is dedicated to the legion of maturing Maiden fans out there - some alternative slogans for your enjoyment.
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Mrs Baldwin was going out for a drink with a friend and that allowed me to watch “Behind the Beast” - not a gruesome horror flick, or a dodgy porno movie, but instead an Iron Maiden documentary aired on BBC 4 recently(ish). To add to the pleasure, this was followed by the “En Vivo” concert – more Maiden excellence!
“Behind the Beast” documented the trials and tribulations of the Iron Maiden band members, the event organisers and road crew throughout the Final Frontier world tour. There were some fascinating insights into the challenges faced and the incredible teamwork to bring the tour together– one poignant moment was when Bruce Dickinson was piloting Ed Force 1 and was ten minutes away from landing at Tokyo - the day the earthquake and tsunami hit! Needless to say, the plane was diverted and the Japanese leg of the tour cancelled.
This post hasn’t been crafted as a review of the programme (although I recommend you watch it). My intention is to describe the circumstances around my viewing schedule because there is some amusement value to be had, at least in my opinion.
Last night I put the kids to bed, then set up the ironing board and began to iron my way through a stack of crumpled clothes. So the scenario is me ironing to Iron Maiden whilst the wife is out drinking. Can you imagine anything less ‘heavy metal’ than that?
Parenting, domesticity, financial responsibilities, shirts/ties/cufflinks and age have eclipsed youth, flowing locks, head banging, gig tee shirts, leather jackets, denim and regular concert attendance. It’s okay though because in the 25 years I have been following the band, the members have aged by the same number of years. And as a commercial pilot, I bet even Bruce Dickinson has to iron a shirt from time to time.
So, picture me stood at the ironing board – every so often I couldn’t help myself, I had to put the iron down and get my air-guitar out and shake my head (of short and greying hair) and sing along badly.
I once read Billy Connolly’s book Gullible’s Travels and in it he writes “never trust a man who when left alone in a room with a tea cosy doesn’t put it on his head”. The same thing applies to aging rockers – never trust a rocker who when left alone in a room with the heavy metal blaring doesn’t get his air-guitar out.
Is it, or rather am I, sad? No I say (but then I would wouldn’t I) because the day I stop getting animated when Iron Maiden is playing will be a very sad day indeed – and quite possibly my last!
So, the final comic element of this post is dedicated to the legion of maturing Maiden fans out there - some alternative slogans for your enjoyment.
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