Posted on 05/02/2012 3:05:21 AM PDT by AnAmericanAbroad
Rock star Bruce Dickinson has vowed to create 1,000 jobs at a centre of excellence for British aviation.
The Iron Maiden frontman, a fully qualified pilot, yesterday bought 132,000sq ft of old RAF hangars in South Wales.
He aims to use the site at St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, to service Boeing 737s, train pilots on simulators and, one day, build airships.
His firm, CARDIFF AVIATION, hopes to take on the first 50 to 60 staff this July. Hundreds more would follow as contracts come in.
(Excerpt) Read more at thesun.co.uk ...
Good luck in your venture, Bruce.
Oh, and UP THE IRONS !!
Now this is a prime example of good work. Obviously, he has a passion for flying (as well as music). I admit I don’t know much about their music but what a fanstastic effort. Wow.
(A far cry from an American Bruce (ala Springsteen) who would rather host commie poets and play rock star to loser Presidents)
There is more of that going on than you might think. Rick Nielsen, of Cheap Trick, is heavily involved in local development in his struggling hometown of Rockford, Illinois.
Love maiden!
The human air raid siren is indeed one of the greats, on and off the stage. Considering some of his altruistic actions for Britain and others over the years, he is deserving of the knighthood far more than ‘Sir Elton” and others.
Plus he’s damn good with a sword ;)
There is more of that going on than you might think. Rick Nielsen, of Cheap Trick, is heavily involved in local development in his struggling hometown of Rockford, Illinois.
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That’s very good to hear; it’s nice to know some celebrities out there who give a d@mn about something more than just their fame.
While heavy metal is not for everyone, here’s a clip of Iron Maiden performing “Aces High” at a concert in Mumbai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COvCPJGjaiE&feature=g-hist
The sheer energy these guys have is absolutely epic.
I completely agree; heck, I’d like to see the whole band knighted! Aside from their individual altruistic actions, the band has done a lot to promote British culture and understanding of British history. Personally, I’ve long considered them the U.K.’s unofficial cultural ambassadors.
I understand Duran Duran is going to perform at the upcoming Olympics; to hell with that. Put Iron Maiden on the stage, and start the 2012 Olympics on a truly British note!
Impressed as always with Bruce. Not just another rock star waste case. Love the Maiden seeing them for the 17th time in June. Up the Irons!
But it's not THE Bruce Dickenson.
I was able to meet and talk with Bruce after a show during the World Slavery Tour. I was a young teen at the time and I remember saying bye to him and thinking, “wow, he’s a really nice guy.”
I’ve always been a Maiden fan. Their music may not be for all but the subject matter is historical for the most part.
UP THE IRONS!!!
Up the Irons!
Maiden fan since 81 here.
And had it not been for the music and flying, he would probably have competed on the British Olympic fencing team. He used to be a world class fencer.
Mark
Gak!! My ears! My ears! My day is ruined. I bought a Black Sabbath album once in high school and that was the end of that crap for me. I still regret wasting$3 on that piece of junk vinyl.
Iron maiden wants you for dead! Good to see Bruce doing some good for aviation. Greatest live band.....ever.
The first Maiden song I played in a band was Killers with Frank DiAnno on vocals. They got kind of hokey when they made the line-up changes. But I find the British Metal bands to be more patriotic than the American ones.
Good for them.
The music isn’t for everyone; but what impresses me about Iron Maiden is their lyrics.
“Aces High”; The Battle of Britain
“To Tame A Land:” the novel “Dune”
“Flight of Icarus”; Greek mythology
“Rime of the Ancient Mariner”; the epic poem by Coleridge
“The Trooper”; Tennyson’s ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’
“The Longest Day”; The D-Day Landings
“Phantom of the Opera”; self-explanatory
Granted, the music itself may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but their lyrics reflect a broad range of literary, cinematic, and historic allusions and influences, which, even though you may not be fond of the music itself, is, I hope you will agree, a damned sight better than songs about bitches, ho’s, and shooting up the neighborhood with an AK47 and a Glock.
As an example;
‘Move into fire at the mainstream of bombers
Let off a sharp burst and then turn away
Roll over, spin round and come in behind them
Move to their blindsides and firing again
Bandits at eight o’clock move in behind us
Ten ME-109’s out of the sun
Ascending and turning our Spitfires to face them
Heading straight for them I press down my guns’
Which, I daresay, is very likely far more intelligent than pretty much anything Eminem has ever put to paper.
I credit Iron Maiden for developing in me, at a young age, a taste for classical literature and history, as well as inspiring me to emulate their strong work ethic, their sense of dedication, and their professionalism.
As far as I’m concerned, there are far worse celebrities to serve as role models. I have no kids (though I’m working on that), and if my would-be son, or daughter, ever came to me and said, “I wanna be like Bruce Dickinson or Steve Harris when I grow up!”, I’d probably say, “Oh, thank God.”
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