Passion has the power to move mountains, to change a culture, or just to change a life. Sometimes it’s the hots for a sexy chick or hunk, or maybe a flaming desire for the latest stereo gear. Is it simply an emotional state, and an unstable and undesirable one at that?
We can ask the Irish about passion. Sunday, bloody Sunday, the Falls Road, generations of strife about a difference of belief. Or the French, about passion for food and love (in that order). Or the Brazilians about carnival. And Iron Maiden.
An amazing crowd video taken at a 2008 concert in Brazil defines passion for me. The subject is a man called Bruno, and his face reflects the full depth of feeling that is awash following any extreme experience. This time, it is an Iron Maiden performance. The iconic British metal band spent most of 2008 and early 2009 on a world tour of more than 25 countries, playing over 80 concerts.
The Maiden heyday was during the 1980s, more than 20 years ago, so it was interesting to see that on this tour, Iron Maiden played to a whole new generation of fans. The first stop was Mumbai, and young Indians flocked to see the classic rockers. The same happened in Central and South America – masses of groups of youngsters, plus also the older generation of original fans, and even whole families.
And there was Bruno, filmed at the end of the March 4th 2008 concert in Curatiba, Brazil, clutching the drumstick he had presumably caught, tears coursing down his cheeks. His final gesture, thanking the Lord, confirmed what I thought – the passion was upon him.