IRON MAIDEN bassist and founding member STEVE HARRIS has clarified the nature of the band's new documentary "Burning Ambition," set for a limited theatrical release on May 7, 2026.
In a recent interview, Harris was careful to draw a firm distinction between a band-produced film and this one: "It's about us, but not by us. That's the difference... it's a documentary about IRON MAIDEN, not by IRON MAIDEN, because it's not us."
The film was directed by Malcolm Venville, known for the documentary "Churchill At War," and produced by Dominic Freeman, who was also behind the DEPECHE MODE film "Spirits In The Forest." IRON MAIDEN cooperated by giving interviews but did not hold creative control over the final product — something Harris wanted fans to understand clearly before interpreting the documentary as an official statement from the band.
"Burning Ambition" covers more than 50 years of IRON MAIDEN's history and includes approximately one hour of archival material. Among those offering perspectives on the band's cultural impact are actor Javier Bardem, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich, and Public Enemy's Chuck D — testament to just how far IRON MAIDEN's influence has spread beyond heavy metal.
Since their formation in 1975 in East London, IRON MAIDEN have released 17 studio albums, sold over 100 million records, and performed nearly 2,500 concerts across 64 countries. Earlier this year the band was officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — a recognition that was long overdue for one of the most important acts in metal history.