Dr. Disaster

Dr. Disaster was the only canine member of British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The dog, a vicious, mangy Lhasa Apso, toured with the band for a short stint in early 1988 while the band was promoting its experimental album Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Dr. Disaster made his brief appearances on stage when Iron Maiden performed the song "Can I Play with Madness." As soon as frontman Bruce Dickinson would sing the lyrics, "Don't need no key to unlock this door," Dr. Disaster was lowered down to the stage in a flaming steel cage. When Dickinson reached the lyrics, "And the hellfires raged in his eyes," the cage opened and Dr. Disaster would run around the stage and bite at the ankles of the bandmembers.

Dr. Disaster's career with Iron Maiden was short-lived, however. During an April 3, 1988 performance at City of Manchester Stadium, Dr. Disaster caught fire. Although Dr. Disaster initially survived the blaze, he developed complications due to infection. Dr. Disaster was euthanized on July 30, 1988 and is buried in Greenacres Pet Cemetery in Lincolnshire.

References

* [http://www.ironmaiden.com/index.php?categoryid=14 Official Iron Maiden Website]