Dreams come true. Well, perhaps some of them do indeed. In this case it was not exactly a fairy tale, but let’s say, a weird tale because the focused band is Iron Maiden. By the way, Iron Maiden are of the bands that have granted a lot of fans’ wishes through their career. To say the least, it’s a civilized way of giving back what fans gave them. It’s not that bands are obliged to, but it’s nice.
There was a British TV show called “Jim’ll Fix It,” whose formula was spread around the globe, specialized in granting people’s wishes. It ran from 1975 to 1994, in which time it became a well-known tradition for British viewers. The host was Jimmy Savile. The episode in focus was one that in 1987, the show responded to a request from a 14-year-old viewer named Dom Lawson who wrote in requesting to meet his favorite heavy metal band, Iron Maiden. The very chance would be when Iron Maiden were to perform a show at Hammersmith Odeon on November 3, 1986. Lawson would then have the chance to assist his favorite band with a complete film crew recording his every movement. Later, Lawson wrote to The Guardian:
“I was greeted by a couple of members of Maiden’s road crew, one of whom immediately pointed out that my T-shirt (bought from Woolworths in Hemel Hempstead) was in a fact “a bloody bootleg”. I was then led to the backstage catering area and introduced to a vast number of people, most of whom I recognised from the photos in the booklet of Maiden’s magnificent “Live After Death” live album. Being shy and self-conscious, I grinned and blushed a lot. I was terrified, yet I could hardly have been happier. Everyone in Maiden’s organisation was friendly and welcoming, including the band themselves: resolutely down-to-earth, they each came and said hello at various points during the day. I remember Steve Harris clocking my West Ham scarf (which I’d worn specifically to attract his attention, natch) and asking if I was a “proper ‘ammer”. I was (and am), and he beamed his approval. I practically wet myself.”
“… During those few hours backstage I got to tune Steve’s bass guitar, play on Nicko McBrain’s insanely huge drum kit, eat in the canteen with the road crew and, best of all, clamber aboard the road crew’s tour bus to film a slightly ludicrous skit which involved me pretending to wake up on the bus, peer through the curtains on my bunk and be given the news that it was time to get to work setting up the band’s gear. I loved every second of it.”
Lawson grew old and now writes to Kerrang! and Metal Hammer.
Watch the video here:
Thanks to Dangerous Minds.
