Iron Maiden on BBC4: "Big in Bangalore, Big in Beijing"
BW&BK reports:"BBC Radio 4 will air a two-part documentary on IRON MAIDEN, beginning on Saturday, May 8th at 10:30 AM.
A description reads: In this two-part series presenter Rajan Datar follows legendary heavy metal band Iron Maiden to Bangalore to find out if the emerging economies of the world offer opportunities for Western music acts.
With the rise of India and China as economic powerhouses, complete with growing middle classes, Rajan investigates if these are now the new territories for bands and artists to target as they seek new audiences.
In the Eighties, with the collapse of the Iron Curtain, Western bands were able to perform to fans in Eastern Europe. Before the collapse many music groups had avoided the region because of difficulties in obtaining permission to perform. Rajan finds out if the East now presents a similarly unexploited opportunity for music bands.
With exclusive access, he hangs out backstage with Iron Maiden singer BRUCE DICKINSON, who not only fronts the band, but pilots the band's tour plane. He speaks to the promoters who are trying to make India the new destination of choice for Western music artists and hears from fans who have travelled for days from all parts of the subcontinent to be at the concert. He also discovers, with surprising results, which musical genres sell in India and which don't. "