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New Iron Maiden Doc Spotlights Eddie as Metallica and Public Enemy Weigh In Ahead of May 7 Release
Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition hits cinemas May 7. A new clip features Chuck D, Lars Ulrich and others praising mascot Eddie, while the film covers the band’s 50-year history as Maiden prepares for its EddFest Knebworth event.
Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition opens in cinemas on May 7, and a newly released exclusive clip features artists including Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich discussing the band’s mascot Eddie.
Directed by Malcolm Venville, the documentary marks Iron Maiden’s 50th anniversary. It combines archive material with new interviews from band members and high-profile fans, including Tom Morello and Javier Bardem, on the group’s long-term impact across heavy music and popular culture.
In the clip, the focus is Eddie, the skeletal character that has appeared on all 17 Iron Maiden studio album covers and remains central to the band’s stage production. Chuck D says, “Eddie could transcend generations… Eddie’s a monument.” Ulrich adds, “It’s hard for me to think of a more recognisable mascot or imagery associated with a hard rock band than Eddie and Iron Maiden.” Former Download Festival chief Andy Copping and KISS frontman Gene Simmons also appear, crediting the character’s role in fan connection and band identity.
The film also revisits Maiden’s early club era in East London, the lineup shift from Paul Di’Anno to Bruce Dickinson, and major pressure points across five decades, including the grunge era, health setbacks, and internal moments where stopping altogether was considered.
The release arrives as Iron Maiden continue their Run For Your Lives tour, which includes a headline show at Knebworth Park on July 11 with support from The Darkness, The Hu, Airbourne, and The Almighty.
That Knebworth date is part of the band’s EddFest weekender. The event includes the Infinite Dreams Museum Experience, a walk-through installation of stage props and historical items tied to the 2025 book Infinite Dreams, plus a July 10 bill of Maiden-connected acts including Stray, Maiden United, Airforce, Tony Moore’s Awake, and Hair Metal Glamageddon on the Maidenville Stage.
Manager Rod Smallwood said Knebworth was selected to build what he called a “Maiden World” for fans. He added that naming the event EddFest reflects the mascot’s central role, saying Eddie is “the true star of the show.”
Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition is in cinemas from May 7.
