Do Iron Maiden hate the Irish/burn Irish flags?

AARRRGH

Hey,

I remember as a kid we all thought Iron Maiden hated Ireland/burnt Irish flags/received death threats from the IRA.

True? Or just kids with a strong imagination??

Pearl666

alls I know is they brought out a english flag when they last played here...but I think they aren't to fond of us

revilegreg

Pure Horse ****. They never burned an Irish Flag, some people have overactive imaginations.

Yes they brought out the Union Jack during the trooper, which they do at every gig they play. Maybe a little insensitive to do it hear though.

bucks

Yeah Dickinson had "that flag" on stage during his last gig for the song The Trooper but the crowd didnt react too well to it and they started the usual booing and fireing stuff on stage.

Doctor J

FFS, shoot them cos they're proud of where they're from :rolleyes:

British people are entitled to wave their flag, the same way we like to wave ours. That doesn't mean they want to poison our potatos or make us live in stone huts and go to school among the bushes.

Newsflash: Iron Maiden weren't responsible for the 800 years :eek:

Creamy Goodness

Doctor J wrote:

FFS, shoot them cos they're proud of where they're from :rolleyes:

British people are entitled to wave their flag, the same way we like to wave ours. That doesn't mean they want to poison our potatos or make us live in stone huts and go to school among the bushes.

Newsflash: Iron Maiden weren't responsible for the 800 years :eek:

have to agree with Doc on this one. Although i'm not a big fan of theirs i was shocked to hear they were booed when they showed a union jack whilst playing in ireland.

jesus, like we watch their football teams we watch their tv we drive their cars.

super_furry

Typical small minded Irish crowd reaction I'm afraid. The burnt Irish flag story is one that's done the rounds for years about dozens of different bands and is pure horse****e. Paul Weller had to even address it on his website after he was the flavour of the month for that tale.

Zapp Brannigan

Doctor J wrote:

Newsflash: Iron Maiden weren't responsible for the 800 years :eek:

You'd wanna have some solid evidence to back a claim like that up! So where is it? Huh! :eek:

Mr. CooL ICE

When they waved the flag at the dublin gig, i didnt say anything because i just knew that people were going to boo, and i thought it was pretty poor. My friends were saying they shouldnt have done it in ireland and made an exception, but i just thought "why bother?"

tj-music.com

... was there as well. They didnt wave the flag AT people. I think it is a routine during "Trooper". As a matter of fact, I remember hearing Bruce Dickinson saying that they are happy to have a sold out gig @ the point because some people of their record company said there is no market for them in Ireland.

And he promissed to come back more often - and they do apparently: 31.8.05 RDS.

This whole Irish / British thing is so not cool. Everybody is bitching about the Brits but follows Manchester United and so on. So, when Maiden waves the English flag it is hardly an attack on Ireland.

Eye

i could be way off the mark on this one but i think dublindude might be thinking of motorhead, i do remember hearing similar story's of burning flags and threats from the IRA, not sure if it was a load of crap or not but i do remember it was motorhead not iron maiden that i heard it happened too.

astec123

Time to put a spanner in the works here. For those in this country who still retain the racist attitude (and yes it is racist) what the hell does it matter? You dont see the guys at football matches at manchester being beaten up over them having an irish flag, and then the minute a Union Jack is taken out all hell breaks loose here. Ireland needs to buck its ideas up ASAP. By far the most racist place I have been to. I know of people that have been given lots of grief over where they are from and one such example came from a tele2 rep. They phoned up selling their service and when they found out that it was esat BT being used the rep decided to say "you're one of them arn't you". Sorry but buck ideas up people or this place will remain in the stone age.

goin'_to_the_PS

:rolleyes:

BizzyC

Yeah, think the story is BS, I heard it was Def Leopard that did it.....

xzodia

the story behind the burning of the irish flag was Iron Maiden

it happened after dickensons brother was killed by the IRA and he was pissed off at the Irish, but that was a long time ago and most people have got over it, except it seems for a few irish people that dont seem to know what they are on about,

Raiser

Don't be so level-headed about it - we're entitled to be eternally suspicious....

Nobody ever asks cats why they hate water.

I say we get Daniel O'Donnell to play Glastonbury and torch the Union Jack.
- Then just call it quits and be mature about the whole thing.

juno75

One thing I fairly certian is true, as I remember the kerfuffle after it, was Dave Mustane playing Belfast at the hieght of the troubles and gave his 2c on how to sort it all out during a gig, the audience took great offense at that, I dunno what he said though.
I never heard Bruce Dickinson's brother being killed by the IRA - Is that true?!!

Doctor J

Dave mentioned something along the lines of giving Ireland back to the Irish... there's an amusing little bit about it in the Megadeth: Behind The Music dvd.

xzodia

as far as i know it is he was caught in one of there bombing campaigns , just unlucky wrong place wrong time

*Page*

the chillies brought out a usa flag a while ago and noone said anything

Doctor J

Odd, you'd think you'd be able to find something about Bruce Dickinson's brother on google somewhere but I couldn't find anything.

juno75

yeah, thats the first thing I did when I read that.
A lot of Bruce Dickinson's in the world....

super_furry

To be honest I don't believe for a second his brother was killed by the IRA. It's a typical urban myth and in this topic alone there's already been four different bands mentioned as those 'responsible' for the myth.

Sarky

Did you boo when they started waving the Union Jack about for The Trooper?

If you did, you really are a bloody moron. How shocking that someone should wave a British flag during a song that is about the Charge of the Light Brigade! (Note: the last sentance contains sarcasm, for those of you who might not otherwise notice)

I for one cheered, because I know it was part of the song. They do the same thing everywhere else too, you know. And it may astonish some of you to know that Britain invaded far more than this piddly little island. And is there any bad press about it when they wave the flag in America, or Brazil, or Germany?

No. There isn't. So grow the hell up.

McClane

Where was the concert ?

And it may astonish some of you to know that Britain invaded far more than this piddly little island

And that statement just goes to show why everything else you said is meaningless.

As for booing, they're lucky to get away with just that.

Doctor J

McClane wrote:

As for booing, they're lucky to get away with just that.

Why? Do you think Iron Maiden concerts attract a larger percentage of cretins than other events?

Töpher

Doctor J wrote:

Why? Do you think Iron Maiden concerts attract a larger percentage of cretins than other events?

Didn't you go?

In all seriousness, its part of the act. I'd say the actual real fans there would have known this, and anyone would half a pigeon brain wouldn't have booed, its pathetic. They put on a show, and you boo and whinge about it because of the colours on a piece of cloth, fair play!

Sarky

McClane wrote:

And that statement just goes to show why everything else you said is meaningless.

An explanation as to why would be nice. Personally, I think it's quite interesting that Iron Maiden could play, say, Aces High at a concert in Germany, complete with Winston Churchill intro, and recieve nothing but cheers. And America seems to have been able to put all that occupation, oppression, taxation, and war behind them. Why not one tiny little island that's really had it no worse than so many other places Britain had less than spotless relations with?

As for booing, they're lucky to get away with just that.

That, at least, is true. There's no underestimating the stupidity of some bigots.

Doctor J

You have to question the mental capacity of anyone who would pay €50-60 for a ticket to see a band who are blatantly British, from their lyrical content to their artwork and then boo when the band fly a flag in keeping with the imagery of one of their most popular songs which you're pretty much guaranteed they're going to play. The band were no less British before the flags were waved, so what is the issue. Hey, if you don't like British people don't listen to their music, don't go to their gigs and don't speak their language

egan007

Im sure U2 waved enough Irish flags at their recent world tour in England

Doctor J

I recall the Manic Street Preachers bass player often has his amp draped in the Welsh flag, does he get boo'd or have chunks of coal thrown at him, cos he's British too yeah?

Töpher

Who brings coal to concerts?!

stagolee

i dont really have any interest in iron maiden myself but from reading this thread but it occurs to me that most of the folk booing when they saw a flag onstage had probably heard and believed the same urban myth as the o.p. and thought the english flag was brought out as some sort of reference to it

Doctor J

I had never heard the story before, specific to Iron Maiden. I had heard it at some point in the past but the legend related to a different band altogether. For those who haven't seen it (though I'd suspect the vast amount of Maiden fans know it well), here is the artwork which usually is put into place as the giant backdrop behind the band while this song is played. Hence, when Bruce comes out and waves the flag around in a similar manner (at pretty much every show they play, even in Germany), it shouldn't really be taken as a personal slight, rather than a bit of playful theatrics in keeping with the imagery of the music at hand.

Sarky

God, I love that picture...

McClane

An explanation as to why would be nice. Personally, I think it's quite interesting that Iron Maiden could play, say, Aces High at a concert in Germany, complete with Winston Churchill intro, and recieve nothing but cheers. And America seems to have been able to put all that occupation, oppression, taxation, and war behind them. Why not one tiny little island that's really had it no worse than so many other places Britain had less than spotless relations with?

"piddly little island", shows how you feel about Ireland.

Where was the concert ?

Its one thing to mention Churchill to Germans, its quite another to wave a Union Jack in a Country which until very recently suffered monthly terrorist bombings, killings, etc to do with a conflict between a group on this island which associate themselves with the Union Jack and England who oppose another group on this island associating themselves against the Union Jack and England. (Say what you like but our "nationalism" comes from a root of being anti-British more then it comes from being pro-Irish.)

Maybe your a little young or a little forgetful (Or just from Dublin) but just because the troubles have never affected you personally or anyone you know doesn't mean they don't exist. How do you know that a large number of the crowd at the concert weren't from Derry ? Or from the Falls rd ?

Those people have every right to hate the sight of that flag no matter who flies it.

And just to add another point, i heard there was a concert not so long ago (not U2) where a Union Jack was shown in Croke Park. Is this the Concert in Question ?

If Iron Maiden were playing at Croke Park and showed a Union Jack they're very lucky they made it out of the place, nevermind being booed.

And if you don't know why then you really have no business commenting on this subject.

Sarky

Ah, I see!

That clears absolutely everything up.

And the concert was in the Point, December two years ago.

No, I'm neither young, forgetful, or from Dublin. I've had no troubles arising from the north. In fact my aunt once had lunch at a bus station with some Orangemen out for the parading, and they had a grand old laugh.

I am however able to tell the difference between someone waving a British flag during a British band's song about a major British military event for the sake of theatrics, and some ignorant loyalist yobbo waving a British flag because it'll upset some equally ignorant nationalist yobbo.

Doctor J

I maintain my point. No matter where they're from, if they are sensitive to seeing a Union Jack and they are familiar enough with Iron Maiden's music to pay the money for the ticket, transport and possible overnight stay, then they should know not to go to an Iron Maiden concert, where they are guaranteed to be shown one. If they cannot distinguish between a band with some theatrical imagery and the ****e up North, then they need help.

McClane

I maintain my point. No matter where they're fro ...........

You have no point. You can't say how those people should feel like any more then they can tell you how you should feel.

If you grow up in an environment like that then clearly you are not going to want to see a Union Jack regardless of the source. Iron Maiden should have had more sense then to do that in Ireland. I neither agree nor disagree with the actions myself but clearly its hardly unexpected. It just clearly shows that Iron Maiden didn't know where they were and didn't care enough to realise what they were doing was going to cause insult to people.

Doctor J

Why should they have more sense? What part did they play in the troubles, specifically?

Sarky

Remember Motorhead playing Bomber in, uh, Dresden I think it was?

"Bet you haven't seen one of these in a while!"

*Large model B2 drops into view*

Doctor J

"We were going to play a song, but because of a historical situation that is nothing to with us, that we never had any role in, that this song has nothing to do with, that may or may not have affected you in some way, we're going to play this one instead. Oh no, wait, there may be a German in the crowd, we can't do that one. Let's see... we're going to... no, can't do that one..."

Great gig!

McClane

Why should they have more sense? What part did they play in the troubles, specifically?

Because they were playing in a country where flying that flag is a touchy subject! thats why. Its quite bloody obvious isn't it ??

Its why All of Ulster voted against rule 42 (GAA), down here in the South it probably means nothing to most people but up there it is a part of everyday life.

If IM or whoever set up their concert were too stupid to realise that then its their own problem.

You might as well go to play a concert in Harlem (Predominately Black area) and fly the Confederate Flag because the song your singing is about an American Civil War battle.

I guarantee you that booing is the very least your going to get.

oden91

I agree with McClane they should of had more sense than to wave a union jack in Ireland.
i'm not agreeing with the booing but a lot of people are stupid and are livin in the past and they should have predicted the booing

Doctor J

So you're saying art should be censored in specific areas if it deals with matters of a historical or political nature which people who know enough about the band to pay money to see them will know about and be aware there is every opportunity they will be exposed to it in the first place and if they were that incensed by it then why the **** would they buy a ticket in the first place?

McClane

For god sake its hardly rocket science.

The people in the north and a lot of people in Ireland as a whole have very legitimate reasons for hating that flag and what it stands for. It has no business being flown in Ireland.

If anyone is to be blamed its IM's manager etc for not having some common sense.

You don't fly an American flag in Iraq and expect clapping from the crowd, you don't fly a Confederate flag in a black area of America, you don't fly an American flag in North Korea, you don't fly a Communist flag in America and expect anything but boo'ing.

Its actually really simple.

Praetorian

I was at the last gig at the point, peopled booed the British flag, they probably shouldn't have. Then again Iron Maiden could have left that part of the routine out. I spoke to Bruce afterwards and he didn't seem to mind at all, and told me he was looking forward to the next gig in Ireland.

oden91

No i'm saying that there are always gonna be some idiots that will object and they know that Ireland only had its independance for 80yrs so why wave a union jack

magpie

I don't see any of you PC types objecting to Lemmy wandering around in full SS regalia and sticking Iron Crosses all over Motorhead artwork.

you don't fly a Confederate flag in a black area of America

Tell that to The Black Crowes and Lynyrd Skynyrd

you don't fly a Communist flag in America

Tell that to the New York Dolls

Besides which, the song The Trooper, judging by the artwork, is set during the period of the Redcoat which as history buffs among you know ended during the Boer War (1900-1901), at which point the whole of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, therefore the waving of the Union Jack is entirely appropriate as a historical representation of, and possibly homage to, the millions of Irish soldiers who served under that flag in the British Army from Kandahar to Rourke's Drift.

Why don't you ask the good people on the Maiden bulletin boards what they think? http://www.ironmaiden.org/

Sarky

On the contrary, this is the most amusing thread I've wandered into all day.

Doctor J

What it stands for, ahhh now you're getting it. It stands for very different things to different people and the real issue here is perspective, or rather the lack of it. I guarantee to the lads from Iron Maiden it stands for something entirely different than it does for you, or for me, or for a lot of the people in this country. However, the tricolour stands for something entirely different to people in Warrington, or Canary Wharf, or Birmingham, or even Omagh or Enniskillen yet we see no issue waving it about and wearing our green pants and being proud of our heritage no matter where we go. Your issue is with the people behind the flag, who abuse the flag and use it to represent their own agenda, rather than the flag iself. To us the Irish flag represents who we are, so why should the Union Jack mean anything different to a few musicians from London?