Two dedicated fans of the legendary heavy metal band Iron Maiden kick off a mission to rescue their hero, launching a crowdfunding campaign to help original vocalist Paul Di’Anno get back on his feet literally, emotionally and professionally. Neglected by the U.K. healthcare system, a wheelchair-bound Di’Anno leaves his home in the middle of the pandemic and relocates to Croatia. What follows is a turbulent, raw emotional rollercoaster: he runs low on funds, navigates intense medical treatments, falls in love and eventually mounts a dramatic, high-stakes return to the stage. Along the way, rock icons including Metallica’s James Hetfield, Kiss’s Gene Simmons, and members of Slayer and Megadeth step up to testify to his massive, enduring impact on heavy metal.
Di’Anno fronted Maiden on their blistering self-titled 1980 debut and 1981’s Killers, injecting a raw, street-level punk sneer into the band’s foundational heavy metal assault before handing the microphone over to Bruce Dickinson. Here, we see his story as told by Wes Orshoski, who also made Lemmy. It features crucial contributions from superfan and organizer Stjepan Juras, promoter Kastro Pergjoni, and bandmates such as former drummer Doug Sampson, guitarist Cliff Evans, and bassist Chris Dale, alongside a historic, emotional reunion with Iron Maiden founder Steve Harris.
Released following Di’Anno’s passing in late 2024, the documentary serves as a heavy, unvarnished look at the physical and psychological toll of a life lived in the trenches of rock ‘n’ roll. It also doesn’t shy away from showing what a jerk Di’Anno could be to those trying to help him.
You can get this from MVD.
