HUDDERSFIELD Odeon is to host to a one-night only screening of a documentary about metal band Iron Maiden.

Flight 666 will screen at 500 cinemas across the world tomorrow.

But Iron Maiden’s manager Rod Smallwood is particularly proud that the Odeon at Bradley Mills is among those screening it – as Huddersfield is his home town.

Rod grew up in Salendine Nook and, being Huddersfield born and bred, he loved rugby union and was a regular at the Huddersfield YMCA sports ground.

He left Huddersfield for the rock world after meeting Iron Maiden down the pub 30 years ago.

He said: “It just went from there. We are like family, even the crew.

“Basically it’s a team, but some guys go on stage and others don’t.”

As one of the Maiden ‘family,’ Rod features in the Flight 666 documentary, which charts the band’s Somewhere Back In Time world tour in February and March 2008.

In just 45 days, they travelled 50,000 miles, performed 23 gigs to half a million fans in 13 countries.

It was all made possible because of a specially-built Boeing 757 tour jet, giving them complete control of their schedule.

Singer Bruce Dickinson – a qualified pilot – sourced the huge aircraft.

Flight 666 – made by Canadian duo Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn – charts its transformation and the tour, giving an ‘access all areas’ view of life on the road.

Rod said: “It is a very funny film.

“Scot and Sam approached us, because they said it would be rock and roll history.

“Some of the band were more reluctant than others, because they have very normal lives.

“The guys don’t take themselves seriously and take a dim view of the rock star culture.

“They are in it for the music, fans and concerts and I think that comes across,” he said.

“If you are a fan of any sort of music, there will be something of interest for you.

“It’s rare that you see the workings of a band on tour.”

Even after 30 years of world tours, Rod and the band are still wowed by their fans’ dedication.

In Ecuador, fans carved Iron Maiden into a hillside for the band to see as they taxied into the airport.

Rod said: “My favourite moments have got to be in Latin America.

“For instance, a gig in Chile with 55,000 people. It was the most incredible sight to see heads going up and down like a wave.”

For now, Iron Maiden are having time off before writing their new album at the end of the year.

For Rod, holidays mean two things – time with his four children in Brighton and rugby!

He said: “I hope to go and see the British Lions rugby union team on tour in South Africa and then take the family away.

“It is good to see them now and again.

“I have been on the road a lot, but I can’t deny that it’s always great fun.”