REELZ Profiles Heavy Metal Kings 'Iron Maiden' On Breaking The Band

Breaking the Band, the long-running REELZ music series, details the careers of heavy metal rockers, Iron Maiden, whose dark, controversial style made them a worldwide phenomenon with teenage fans who flocked to concerts and idolized them for their disturbing album covers and incredible live shows.

Despite their success, Iron Maiden’s rise to stardom was not without criticism over their repeated use of supposedly “demonic” themes that flooded their music and cover art in the 1980’s.

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“It was like Satan-imagery and, of course, in America we get very wound-up about these ‘terrible’ things that could affect our children,” music journalist Deborah Frost comments in an interview for the docuseries.

“They were kind of like public enemy number one,” adds Martin Popoff, Iron Maiden’s biographer.

But the heavy metal band's lead singer, Bruce Dickenson, fiercely fought back against the barrage of criticism hedged against them.

“People are saying that we’re a negative influence,” Dickenson argues in a filmed appearance from 1982. “I just wish that people would get a sense of proportion about what’s right and wrong. We say things that kids can relate to.”

However, young Iron Maiden’s fans were seemingly only encouraged by the various attacks on their favorite band.

“They played everywhere, the Eastern Bloc, all of Europe, venues that no one else would play at and the fans loved that,” recalls Iron Maiden’s lighting designer Dave “Lights” Beazley.

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Watch REELZ on DIRECTV 238, Dish Network 299, Verizon FiOS 692, AT&T U-verse 1799 and in HD on cable systems and streaming services nationwide. Find REELZ on your local cable or satellite provider at reelz.com/get-reelz/