50th Anniversary Documentary Announcement

[Luisma]

Kinda difficult to imagine there being anything new or interesting for the die-hards that hasn't been touched upon a million times before, given the way Maiden usually operates. At the moment I doubt there's going to be anything like that in there, but in the case that I'm wrong I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Curious that you say that. As someone who has researched the band for more than 30 years and have written books about them, I can assure that there are many things which the die-hard fans know nothing about because they haven't taken the time to really investigate the facts. They just know what has been repeated, as you say, a million times without even questioning it... Hell, not even the band themselves had cared to talk about many things, and I know, people are going to be quite surprised about at least two or three things that are or were discussed while making this documentary.

 

[Vaenyr]

Curious that you say that. As someone who has researched the band for more than 30 years and have written books about them, I can assure that there are many things which the die-hard fans know nothing about because they haven't taken the time to really investigate the facts. They just know what has been repeated, as you say, a million times without even questioning it... Hell, not even the band themselves had cared to talk about many things, and I know, people are going to be quite surprised about at least two or three things that are or were discussed while making this documentary.

I'm fully aware of all those things. But I've also seen how Maiden operate and how they've been doing for decades, so making an educated guess isn't unreasonable. No offense, but it is precisely due to your monetary interest in selling your books (which you are obviously entitled to, you seem to put a ton of effort into research) that I take your statements with a massive grain of salt.

I'm not a big fan of people who might have insider knowledge hinting and winking but at the same time not being able to actually say anything concrete due to NDAs or whatever. I'd prefer if they either spilled the beans or just joined the speculations and discussions; not this constant teasing of potential secret info.

 

[Nomadd]

What about in 2008 when they appeared on CNN, and local news almost all over the world? Isn't that mainstream?

Today, everything that we can see on the web is "mainstream" in terms of availability.

 

[Cat Milk Supreme]

I'm fully aware of all those things. But I've also seen how Maiden operate and how they've been doing for decades, so making an educated guess isn't unreasonable. No offense, but it is precisely due to your monetary interest in selling your books (which you are obviously entitled to, you seem to put a ton of effort into research) that I take your statements with a massive grain of salt.

I'm not a big fan of people who might have insider knowledge hinting and winking but at the same time not being able to actually say anything concrete due to NDAs or whatever. I'd prefer if they either spilled the beans or just joined the speculations and discussions; not this constant teasing of potential secret info.

I think this is harsh.

Luisima clearly has insider knowledge beyond pretty much anyone else on this forum. I get it if people don't like being sold stuff on here but I don't think that trying to sell his books is a bad thing. This is exactly the place to flog such wares.

I've bought his books and can say that they are worth it for the Maiden nerds among us. There is info that ye wouldn't get elsewhere, except here.

So when you say grain of salt, I find this harsh. I trust the guy. I believe the guy. And I reckon he is circumspect because some things are told to him in confidence. A good journalist never reveals their sources, lest they get cut off. And I see no problem in trying to make money from books/research.

Not wanting to pay for books is one thing but not trusting the author and taking his words with a grain of salt is different. He clearly knows thing and I personally find his contributions somewhat illuminating, cryptic as they may be.

 

[Luisma]

I think this is harsh.

Luisima clearly has insider knowledge beyond pretty much anyone else on this forum. I get it if people don't like being sold stuff on here but I don't think that trying to sell his books is a bad thing. This is exactly the place to flog such wares.

I've bought his books and can say that they are worth it for the Maiden nerds among us. There is info that ye wouldn't get elsewhere, except here.

So when you say grain of salt, I find this harsh. I trust the guy. I believe the guy. And I reckon he is circumspect because some things are told to him in confidence. A good journalist never reveals their sources, lest they get cut off. And I see no problem in trying to make money from books/research.

Not wanting to pay for books is one thing but not trusting the author and taking his words with a grain of salt is different. He clearly knows thing and I personally find his contributions somewhat illuminating, cryptic as they may be.

Thank you very much for your words. Really appreciate them.

As for @Vaenyr.

I try to share information that’s both accurate and respectful of the trust people have placed in me over the years. While I do have some boundaries I can’t cross—believe me, not for lack of wanting to—I’m not in the business of teasing. My goal is to offer context and depth wherever I can. I get that this kind of middle-ground approach might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I do hope it adds something meaningful to the broader conversation about the band. And yes, I often share quite a bit openly. The things I hold back are mainly to offer something exclusive to those who’ve supported my research—after all, I am one of those many fans who have spent thousands of dollars on magazines and such, only to read over and over the same thing... One of the reasons I decided to actually provide something different to US Maiden fans.

All in all, at the end of the day, I’m as much a fan as you are and everyone here. And if I haven’t made it clear enough: my speculation (even with the bits I do know) is that this documentary could end up being something quite different from what we've seen before… or not. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time Maiden (and the media) got us all worked up for something "remarkable" only to fizzle. Case in point: the last part of the History documentary—twenty minutes, no real discussion about Adrian’s departure, and a definite sense of “wait, that’s it?” So yes, like you, I really do hope this time they deliver.

One last comment, when people sign a NDA, if they spill the beans, they get in trouble... And in this case, with the Maiden management and, who would want that?

​

 

[Robert.M.]

Unless you arre Leana. Then Bruce marries you.
(She also spread information about a new album before official reviews were published.)

Regarding Luisma: I thought the information was interesting without spreading too much.

 

[Vaenyr]

I think this is harsh.

Luisima clearly has insider knowledge beyond pretty much anyone else on this forum. I get it if people don't like being sold stuff on here but I don't think that trying to sell his books is a bad thing. This is exactly the place to flog such wares.

I've bought his books and can say that they are worth it for the Maiden nerds among us. There is info that ye wouldn't get elsewhere, except here.

So when you say grain of salt, I find this harsh. I trust the guy. I believe the guy. And I reckon he is circumspect because some things are told to him in confidence. A good journalist never reveals their sources, lest they get cut off. And I see no problem in trying to make money from books/research.

Not wanting to pay for books is one thing but not trusting the author and taking his words with a grain of salt is different. He clearly knows thing and I personally find his contributions somewhat illuminating, cryptic as they may be.

You seem to have severely misunderstood my comment. I specifically said it's valid for Luisma to sell the books and that a lot of effort goes into the research. I never claimed otherwise.

I'm also not calling for insider information or sources to be revealed.

I was pretty clear what my issue is: I do not like the constant hinting and teasing, when we all know that the information cannot be divulged. The only way to get the information is to wait for the documentary to be released. So, I don't appreciate hinting like that.

It's not about throwing shade or anything like that either. I don't doubt that Luisma has sources and has provided a lot of unique and valuable information. I still prefer to be cautious and approach stuff like that with a healthy dose of skepticism. You might find that harsh, but I don't put blind faith into insiders, no matter the track record.

Thank you very much for your words. Really appreciate them.

As for @Vaenyr.

I try to share information that’s both accurate and respectful of the trust people have placed in me over the years. While I do have some boundaries I can’t cross—believe me, not for lack of wanting to—I’m not in the business of teasing. My goal is to offer context and depth wherever I can. I get that this kind of middle-ground approach might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I do hope it adds something meaningful to the broader conversation about the band. And yes, I often share quite a bit openly. The things I hold back are mainly to offer something exclusive to those who’ve supported my research—after all, I am one of those many fans who have spent thousands of dollars on magazines and such, only to read over and over the same thing... One of the reasons I decided to actually provide something different to US Maiden fans.

All in all, at the end of the day, I’m as much a fan as you are and everyone here. And if I haven’t made it clear enough: my speculation (even with the bits I do know) is that this documentary could end up being something quite different from what we've seen before… or not. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time Maiden (and the media) got us all worked up for something "remarkable" only to fizzle. Case in point: the last part of the History documentary—twenty minutes, no real discussion about Adrian’s departure, and a definite sense of “wait, that’s it?” So yes, like you, I really do hope this time they deliver.

One last comment, when people sign a NDA, if they spill the beans, they get in trouble... And in this case, with the Maiden management and, who would want that?

I already acknowledged that people who sign an NDA can't talk about it. I'm just not a fan of insider hinting, which does nothing but creating hype with vague and unverifiable information. I'm not telling you what to do, I'm simply sharing my opinion that I personally am not a fan of that type of posting. And I've seen that style of posts quite a bit over the years.

As I said in my previous comment: Based on how Maiden usually operates I doubt that there'll be much interesting stuff for the die hard fans in the documentary, due to not being the target audience. But if I'm wrong, which is obviously possible, then I'll be pleasantly surprised. I'd rather take this approach, than buying into hype and ending up disappointed.

 

[Mosh]

I feel like it’s beating a dead horse at this point. I’ve read mixed reviews on the book here but haven’t checked it out myself, I am sure a lot of work and effort went into the research though and don’t begrudge that.
This however

I’m not in the business of teasing.

Is clearly false.

 

[Nomadd]

I'd like to see how IM will promote the documentary as the tool of promotion. If they do it right, things should be clear and useful for them; if not, the project might be a waste of opportunity and time, imho.

 

[Vaenyr]

I'd like to see how IM will promote the documentary as the tool of promotion. If they do it right, things should be clear and useful for them; if not, the project might be a waste of opportunity and time, imho.

We can argue about what the best course of action might be (though I have no background in marketing, so I won't pretend for a second I know better than people in the business) but I'm sure that this documentary will be pretty successful. Certainly enough to bring in some new fans.

 

[Nomadd]

We can argue about what the best course of action might be (though I have no background in marketing, so I won't pretend for a second I know better than people in the business) but I'm sure that this documentary will be a pretty successful. Certainly enough to bring in some new fans.

I think the same!!!

 

[Edington]

I'm not a big fan of people who might have insider knowledge hinting and winking but at the same time not being able to actually say anything concrete due to NDAs or whatever.

This.

Luisima clearly has insider knowledge beyond pretty much anyone else on this forum.

Agreed.

I don't doubt that Luisma has sources and has provided a lot of unique and valuable information. I still prefer to be cautious and approach stuff like that with a healthy dose of skepticism.

True.



On a serious note, however, what I find confusing is:

He clearly knows thing and I personally find his contributions somewhat illuminating, cryptic as they may be.

Regarding Luisma: I thought the information was interesting without spreading too much.

What has he shared onto this board that was so interesting and illuminating? I'm not talking vague confirmations or hints towards something others have been speculating on, I mean new information that was previously unknown to the board and can be verified as 100% true? I'm asking 'cause I feel I've clearly missed something.

 

[Luisma]

Meanwhile, here's something I'm finally able to share. Maiden making things right by signing a settlement agreement with Paul Cairns for his contribution to Maiden, and especially for recording guitars on The Soundhouse Tapes.

 

[Melony]

...

What has he shared onto this board that was so interesting and illuminating? I'm not talking vague confirmations or hints towards something others have been speculating on, I mean new information that was previously unknown to the board and can be verified as 100% true? I'm asking 'cause I feel I've clearly missed something.

I found it reassuring to know that Juras is not in the documentary. I would have found that very unfortunate and was a little worried that I would learn he has a part in it.

 

[Cat Milk Supreme]

This.



Agreed.



True.



On a serious note, however, what I find confusing is:




What has he shared onto this board that was so interesting and illuminating? I'm not talking vague confirmations or hints towards something others have been speculating on, I mean new information that was previously unknown to the board and can be verified as 100% true? I'm asking 'cause I feel I've clearly missed something.

I can't remember specifics but I seem to recall good contributions into discussions about the early days and who wrote what when, that kind of thing.

 

[srfc]

What has he shared onto this board that was so interesting and illuminating? I'm not talking vague confirmations or hints towards something others have been speculating on, I mean new information that was previously unknown to the board and can be verified as 100% true? I'm asking 'cause I feel I've clearly missed something.

I may be wrong on the locations in the forum, but I feel there's lots of contributions from @Luisma of nerd stuff in the commentary discussion forum on things like live history of songs, rare versions, what songs are on what format and things of that kind of nature, I know there's a bit on the Women in Uniform thread about the 2014 7 inch.

 

[Luisma]

Alright, so far I’ve held back from making a comment, but I think the time has come.

First of all, I’d like to invite some people here to reflect for a moment: why do you think people like Barry Considine, Ricardo Lira, Mike Chudleigh, and other Maiden researchers have stopped sharing insights on this and other Maiden forums? If you don’t know, let me share one of my own experiences — and what I learned from it.

Many years ago, a guy named Ricardo Lira from Brazil used to post incredibly interesting information about the band. Some mocked him, others kept demanding more and more proof for his claims. Keep in mind — he was one of the first to say that Paul Cairns played on The Soundhouse Tapes. Almost no one believed him.

At first, I was skeptical of Lira too… and guess what? He turned out to be right. A lot of people had to eat their words — myself included — and some even apologized (again, myself included). Now we're not only fellow researchers, we also are friends.

Most of us who research the band do it out of love — a passion for the music and the story behind it. We’re fans, just like anyone else. The only difference is, we spend a bit more time collecting, digging, asking questions, and sharing what we find. We do it gladly — but sometimes it feels like, for some people, it’s never enough.

Personally, I’ve been insulted, my integrity questioned, I’ve been called all sorts of things... and I honestly ask, why? Why is it that people who go out of their way to give Maiden fans something fresh and valuable end up getting attacked for it? Why is it that if we happen to know a little more and decide to share it — and maybe even write a book and sell it — we're suddenly seen differently from established authors or journalists? Why is it wrong for us to try to earn a bit from the hard work we’ve put in? I genuinely don’t get it.

Now, regarding the current situation — some fans involved in the documentary signed NDAs, which means we’re limited in what we can say. It’s not that we don’t want to share — it’s about not spoiling the experience and respecting the production team. Also, just because someone is part of the documentary doesn’t mean they know everything. We’re speculating just like everyone else. And at the end of the day, the final product may end up being very different from what anyone expects. That wouldn’t be the first time.

For instance, did you know the Eddie Head Box Set was originally supposed to be fully painted and look way better? Or that the Eddie Casket was meant to be made of real metal instead of tin? Or that a book of Derek Riggs’ sketches and artwork was planned to be released alongside Best of the Beast in 1996? All of these ideas were either scrapped or ended up very different from what fans expected.

All in all, I think it would be great if we could truly support each other as Maiden fans. What unites us is our shared love for the band. No one’s more privileged than anyone else — we each contribute in our own way. And in the end, we get out of it what we put into it.

 

[Vaenyr]

I appreciate the comment @Luisma and can understand the sentiment. I obviously can only talk about myself, but I have not attacked you or called you anything.

In fact, you responded to a comment of mine, where I said that I was skeptical about something specific, with the apparent goal of changing my mind with very vague information based on things you've heard and seen. And I explained multiple times that I'm not a fan of that and have no interest in posts like that. I didn't go out of my way to question your integrity; I have stated (multiple times) that you put a ton of effort into your research. Still, you inserted yourself and tried to push for something I explicitly did not want or like.

I'm sorry that this seemed to have spiraled a bit out of control. That wasn't my intention when I clarified my position after your response to my original post.

 

[Perun]

@Luisma - I mean this in the nicest possible way: You're using this board extensively as free ad space. Pretty much every post you make is a plug for your books. I don't know how many books you sold just from the ads on this board alone, but I know it's at least two, the ones I bought. Considering the prices you charge, you've likely made quite a bit of money on space that we provide for you for free. But this place is not a billboard, it's a forum. You have to live with the fact that people will be critical of your strategy, and even of the product you provide. Call it negativity if you like, but it's not a good look for you if you're making a fuss of every backlash that you get, at least not in a place that you've been using as free ad space.

 

[Luisma]

I appreciate the comment @Luisma and can understand the sentiment. I obviously can only talk about myself, but I have not attacked you or called you anything.

In fact, you responded to a comment of mine, where I said that I was skeptical about something specific, with the apparent goal of changing my mind with very vague information based on things you've heard and seen. And I explained multiple times that I'm not a fan of that and have no interest in posts like that. I didn't go out of my way to question your integrity; I have stated (multiple times) that you put a ton of effort into your research. Still, you inserted yourself and tried to push for something I explicitly did not want or like.

I'm sorry that this seemed to have spiraled a bit out of control. That wasn't my intention when I clarified my position after your response to my original post.

Is ok Vaenyr, I sensed there was no ill intent on your comment and I tried to replied in the best way possible. I also tried to clarify that although I do know somethings some others don't, I definitely don't know it all and what I say I cannot freely say because of the NDA. My only intention is to be able to hint things I know and to participate in the same speculation as many others.