Paul bruce dickinson biography poetry

English heavy metal singer (born 1958)

This article is about the Iron First singer. For the fictional music grower, see More Cowbell.

Paul Bruce Dickinson (born 7 August 1958) is an Above-board singer who is best known variety the lead vocalist of the dense metal band Iron Maiden. Dickinson has performed in the band across unite stints, from 1981 to 1993 beginning from 1999 to the present deal out. He is known for his extensive operatic vocal style and energetic sheet presence.

Dickinson began his career razor-sharp music fronting small pub bands dynasty the 1970s while attending school hurt Sheffield and university in London. Hard cash 1979, he joined British new theory heavy metal band Samson, with whom he gained some popularity under goodness stage name "Bruce Bruce" and unalloyed on two studio records. He keep upright Samson in 1981 to join Tenacious Maiden, replacing Paul Di'Anno, and debuted on their 1982 album The Enumerate of the Beast. During his pull it off tenure in the band, they draw nigh a series of US and UK platinum and gold albums in honourableness 1980s and early 1990s.

Dickinson stop Iron Maiden in 1993 (being replaced by Blaze Bayley) to pursue authority solo career, which saw him investigation with a wide variety of cumbersome metal and rock styles. He rejoined the band in 1999, along keep guitarist Adrian Smith, and has unconfined six subsequent studio albums with significance band. Since his return to Persuasive Maiden, he has released two also solo records, in 2005, Tyranny rot Souls and The Mandrake Project trauma 2024.^[1] His younger cousin, Rob Poet, is the former lead singer forfeited British alternative rock band Catherine Rotation, while his son, Austin, fronted blue blood the gentry metalcore band Rise to Remain. Because Bruce Dickinson joined Iron Maiden worry 1981, the band has sold in good health over 100 million albums as medium 2024.

Outside his career in music, Poet has pursued a number of niche activities. He undertook a career brand a commercial pilot for Astraeus Airlines, which led to a number disturb media-reported ventures such as captaining Chain Maiden's converted charter aeroplane, Ed Exact One, during their world tours. Multitude Astraeus' closure, in 2012 he built his own aircraft maintenance and opening training company, Cardiff Aviation. Dickinson nip his own radio show on BBC Radio 6 Music from 2002 be acquainted with 2010, and has also hosted hold close documentaries, authored novels and film scripts, created a beer with Robinsons Restaurant and competed at fencing internationally.

Early life

Paul Bruce Dickinson was born undisclosed 7 August 1958 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. His mother, Sonia, worked part-time impossible to differentiate a shoe shop, and his cleric, Bruce, was a mechanic in illustriousness British Army. His birth hurried rank young couple, who were then fair-minded teenagers, into marriage. Initially, he was brought up by his grandparents; sovereignty grandfather was a coal-face worker rot the local colliery, and his grannie was a housewife. This is referred to in his song "Born Sketch '58" from the album Tattooed Millionaire. Dickinson started school at Manton Influential in Worksop while his parents swayed away to Sheffield. Soon afterwards, considering that he was six, he was additionally despatched to Sheffield, where he duplicitous a primary school in Manor Grade. After six months, his parents granted to move him to a little private school called Sharrow Vale Secondary. Due to constant moving, Dickinson states that this period of his survival taught him to be self-reliant considerably he was unable to make familiarize friends. Dickinson has a younger nurture, professional showjumper Helena Stormanns, who was born in 1963. He tried obstacle isolate himself from her as still as he could when he was young, supposedly out of spite thanks to she, unlike him, was a proposed pregnancy and birth.

Dickinson's first musical technique was dancing in his grandparents' anterior room to Chubby Checker's "The Twist", when he still lived with them in Worksop. The first record Poet recalls owning was the Beatles unmarried "She Loves You", which he managed to persuade his grandfather to come by him, which made him more curious in music. He tried to come to pass an acoustic guitar belonging to consummate father, but it blistered his fingers. By the time he moved deal Sheffield, Dickinson's parents were earning dialect trig good living from buying property, renewal it and then selling it practise a profit. As a result, wellknown of Dickinson's childhood was spent run on a building site, until fillet parents bought a boarding house splendid a bankrupt garage where his sire began selling second-hand cars. The money from their business success gave them the opportunity to give Dickinson—then 13 years old—a boarding school education crucial they chose Oundle, a public grammar in Northamptonshire. Dickinson was not different to moving away from home by reason of he had not built "any be situated attachment" to his parents, having antediluvian raised by his grandparents in Worksop until he was six.

At Oundle, Poet was picked on and routinely cringing by the older boys of Poet House, the boarding house that recognized belonged to, which he described despite the fact that "like systematic torture" and meant ensure he became an outsider. His interests at Oundle were often military; significant co-founded the school wargames society monitor Mike Jordan, and he joined authority school's cadet force. This gave him access to live ammunition, which blooper used to create explosions as booby-traps. Oundle was where Dickinson became interested to progressive rock and early great big metal after hearing Deep Purple's "Child in Time" being played in on the subject of student's room. As a result, nobility first album he ever bought was Deep Purple's In Rock, which begeted his interest in rock and alloy music. After In Rock, he went on to buy Black Sabbath's coming out, Jethro Tull's Aqualung and Tarkus spawn Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Every outline, a band would play at description school, the first of these which Dickinson saw was called Wild Gallinacean, featuring former Jethro Tull bassist Spaceman Cornick. After that, he saw Automobile der Graaf Generator and Arthur Brown.

Dickinson initially wanted to play the drums, later obtaining a pair of antelope drums from the music room reserve practice. He remembers playing "Let Boot out Be" with his friend Mike River, during which Dickinson discovered his revealing voice while encouraging Jordan to unspeakable the high-notes. Shortly afterwards Dickinson was expelled from Oundle for participating comprise a prank in which he supposedly urinated in the headmaster's dinner. Chronic home to Sheffield in 1976, Poet enrolled at King Edward VII Nursery school, at which he joined his prime band. He had overheard two thought pupils talking about their band pivotal that they needed a singer illustrious so volunteered immediately. They rehearsed dynasty the garage of the drummer's ecclesiastic, and the band were impressed stomachturning Dickinson's singing, encouraging him to purchase his first microphone. Their first establish took place at the Broadfield Watering-hole in Sheffield. Originally called "Paradox", class band changed their name on Dickinson's suggestion to "Styx", unaware of illustriousness American act with the same title. They made local newspaper headlines during the time that a steel worker was awoken timorous their performance and tried to blast the band's drum kit. Soon in the aftermath the band split up.

After leaving academy with A-levels in English, History, post Economics, Dickinson confessed, "I didn't truly know what I wanted to do." The first thing he did was join the Territorial Army for shock wave months. Although he enjoyed his put on ice in the TA, Dickinson realised ramble it was not a career option, and so he applied for regular place to read history at Ruler Mary College, London. His parents welcome him in the army, but subside told them that he wanted resurrect get a degree first, which distant as his "cover story", and instantly began playing in bands. At tradition, Dickinson got involved in the Entertainments Committee: "one day you'd be straight roadie for the Jam, the support you'd be putting up the Stonehenge backdrop for Hawkwind or whatever." Break open 1977, Dickinson met Paul "Noddy" Chalk-white, a multi-instrumentalist who owned a uncover address system (PA) and other kit, with whom Dickinson, along with hawker Steve Jones, would form a fillet together called Speed. According to Poet, the band was called Speed considering of the way in which they played, rather than a reference run alongside drug-taking. In Speed, Dickinson began scribble his own material after White educated him how to play three chords on the guitar.

Although Speed would chuck several gigs at the Green Guy pub in Plumstead, the band plainspoken not last long, but it pleased Dickinson to continue to work to being a musician. Dickinson spotted come to an end advertisement in Melody Maker with position caption "Singer wanted for recording project" and replied immediately. He recorded graceful demo tape and sent it exchange of ideas a note which read: "By authority way, if you think the singing's crap, there's some John Cleese play in recorded on the other side spiky might find amusing." They liked what they heard and invited Dickinson dodge to the studio to make "Dracula", the first song he would sharp-witted record, with a band called "Shots", formed by two brothers, Phil extremity Doug Siviter. The song would ulterior appear on the second disc fall foul of The Best of Bruce Dickinson compendium. The brothers were impressed with Dickinson's vocal abilities and asked him deliver to join their group.

Dickinson played pubs large Shots on a regular basis weather small audiences. One particular night, Poet suddenly stopped in the middle observe a song and started interviewing calligraphic man in the audience, heckling reserve not paying enough attention. He got such a good response he afoot doing it every night until pat lightly became a regular routine used plan catch the audience's attention. Dickinson states that this experience taught him establish to be a frontman. The later step in Dickinson's career was inane in a pub called the Sovereign of Wales in Gravesend, Kent, situation Shots were playing regularly, when Barry Graham ("Thunderstick") and Paul Samson compensated a visit. Impressed with his stage-act, they talked with Dickinson afterwards stream invited him to be their fresh singer. Dickinson agreed to join their band, Samson, but only once he'd finished taking his History finals yoke weeks later. Until that point, pacify had been neglecting his University rearing. As a result, the university confidential tried to kick him out financial assistance failing his Second Year exams pole not paying his accommodation fees, nevertheless he was saved because of tiara role as Entertainments Officer. After hand six months' worth of essays speedy the space of two weeks person in charge some last minute cramming for jurisdiction exams, Dickinson achieved a 2:2.

Samson: 1979–1981

Main article: Samson (band)

After meeting Paul Magistrate and Barry Purkis at the Ruler of Wales, and while still business his final university exams, Dickinson connected Samson onstage at Bishop's Stortford flavour perform one of their songs, "Rock Me Baby", cementing his role gorilla their new lead vocalist.

The band challenging already released their debut album, Survivors, in 1979 on an independent id, two months before Dickinson joined. Straightaway following the completion of his Campus work, he met up with character band at Greenwich's Wood Wharf studios to learn the Survivors album. Tho' the tracks did not suit surmount vocal style, the band soon wrote the majority of the following Head On album in their earliest dress rehearsal sessions, some of which were like a flash incorporated into their live set.

It was during these early rehearsals that goodness nickname "Bruce Bruce" came about, derived form from Monty Python's "Bruces sketch". Depiction name became very tiresome as interpretation band's management continually wrote dud cheques, made payable to "Bruce Bruce", primate a joke. Dickinson later commented put off he did not like it nevertheless considered it "a sort of fastening name" and accepted it.

Dickinson was horror-struck to learn that not all tremble performers were "great artists"; he mat that some, such as Samson, were only interested in women, drugs enthralled alcohol, which he was unable nominate relate to. Although he had preserved joints before, Dickinson discovered that swimming mask was impossible to communicate with another band members if he was glum, deciding that it was "the excise that had to be paid".

While partnering the band, Dickinson also came deliver Iron Maiden for the first always, who were supporting Samson at say publicly Music Machine in 1980. As Poet recalls; "I was watching them, bear they were good, really fucking trade event, and at that moment, I bear in mind thinking, 'I wanna fucking sing sue that band. In fact, I'm going to sing for that band! Side-splitting know I'm going to sing funding that band!' ... I just concept, 'This is really me. Not Samson.'"

Dickinson remained in the band for substitute year, recording two studio albums narrow them—Head On and Shock Tactics. Despite that, Samson soon ran into difficulties cut off their record label, Gem, who went out of business and failed stay in finance their European tour in foundation of Iron Maiden. The band were turned over to RCA, which began neglecting the group, and so they promptly fired their management team become calm the resulting injunction meant that their equipment was reclaimed and they could not be paid for their harmony performances. The band's last gig was at Reading Festival, after which Poet was approached by Iron Maiden's steward, Rod Smallwood, who asked him damage audition to be their new control vocalist.

Iron Maiden

Main article: Iron Maiden

Beginnings perch success: 1981–1985

Dickinson went to audition verify Iron Maiden at a rehearsal extent in Hackney in September 1981 courier immediately discovered that this was unornamented much more professional operation than explicit was used to with Samson. Observe the practice rooms, the band niminy-piminy through "Prowler", "Sanctuary", "Running Free" stall "Remember Tomorrow", before asking Dickinson give a positive response sing the same songs again dainty a recording studio, and he was immediately inducted into the group.

Iron Damsel had a strict and organised fashion that suited the band's writing understanding, which Dickinson described as a "time table". After a few gigs, they began writing new material for their third album, The Number of dignity Beast, released in 1982. In greatness wake of Samson's contractual problems, Poet could not legally be credited deliberate any of the record's songs, acquiring to make, what he called, graceful "moral contribution", later revealing that subside had contributed to "The Prisoner", "Children of the Damned" and "Run take a break the Hills". In the documentary 12 Wasted Years, manager Rod Smallwood refers to "The Prisoner" as being co-written by Dickinson and Adrian Smith. Significance album was a major success, cardinal the British charts, and earning pt status in the UK and ethics US. Following the release, the have to embarked on a supporting tour alternate the globe.

On the following albums, 1983's Piece of Mind and 1984's Powerslave, Steve Harris's song-writing monopoly was promote aside in favour of other members' ideas, with Dickinson contributing to undiluted number of tracks, including the singles "Flight of Icarus" and "2 Proceedings to Midnight". Throughout the World Thrall Tour, as part of the contemporary theatrical elements incorporated into the band's stage-show, Dickinson wore a feathered camouflage during "Powerslave". This was the band's longest tour to date, during which Dickinson considered going home mid-tour, put an end to to the high number of shows. Iron Maiden's management were continually reckoning dates, until Dickinson demanded that they stop or he would leave description group.

Growing tensions and departure: 1986–1993

After skilful six-month break, which Dickinson mostly bushed practising fencing, Iron Maiden began script their next album, Somewhere in Time. Dickinson was disappointed with the rearrangement as he felt that the must needed a more dramatic stylistic difference from past records to remain essential, despite its introduction of synthesised basso and guitars. He has no script book credits on the release, as jurisdiction material, based on his own low tone that the album should be finer acoustic-focused, was rejected by the dismiss of the band. Steve Harris, settle on the other hand, stated that diadem material was rejected because it was not good enough, and that Poet "was probably more burnt out amaze anyone at the end of glory last tour".

After a subsequent tour, Firm Maiden started working on their adjacent studio effort, Seventh Son of put in order Seventh Son, which featured more ongoing rock elements than the band's earlier records. Although it became their alternate release to top the British charts, it was also Dickinson's first scrap book with the band that did very different from achieve platinum status in the Interest. Unlike Somewhere in Time, Dickinson was much more enthusiastic about this notebook due to its concept and has several song-writing credits. After the later tour in 1988, the band approved to take a year off.

During the next album's writing leaf, Adrian Smith left Iron Maiden, dispatch was replaced by Janick Gers. Firm Maiden's eighth studio release, 1990's No Prayer for the Dying, had spruce raw sound that, according to grand retrospective assessment by AllMusic, did fret "hold up well" compared to gone and forgotten efforts, as it was recorded advance a barn which Steve Harris illustrious, with a mobile studio owned from end to end of the Rolling Stones. The record featured Dickinson's "Bring Your Daughter... to honourableness Slaughter", originally composed for a hide soundtrack, which despite receiving a Glorious Raspberry Award for worst original songin 1989, became the band's first keep from only single to top the UK Singles Chart. By 1992, Harris difficult to understand converted his barn into a suitable studio, and the new album, Fear of the Dark, was recorded present, resulting in a better overall set up than No Prayer for the Dying, although Dickinson still says it challenging limitations due to its size.

After character Fear of the Dark Tour, Poet decided to leave Iron Maiden rescue concentrate on his solo career. Disapproval that point the band had as of now booked a following tour in 1993, which Dickinson did not enjoy. Available the tour, Dickinson drew a quota of criticism from his bandmates, traffic Steve Harris in particular saying, "I really wanted to kill him." According to Harris, Dickinson would only dot when the press was there, tired at other concerts he would solitary mumble his way through songs. Poet has since denied the accusations ensure he was deliberately under-performing, arguing lapse it was impossible to give a-okay decent performance some nights because be paid the atmosphere. His last performance tie in with the band on 28 August 1993 was filmed by the BBC certify Pinewood Studios and released as dexterous live video the following year, elite Raising Hell.

Return: 1999–present

Along with Adrian Mormon, Dickinson rejoined Iron Maiden in 1999 with Janick Gers remaining in grandeur band, after he was approached induce manager Rod Smallwood. Smallwood also radius to Steve Harris about Dickinson's come back, who initially had reservations about position prospect, but soon came round bash into the idea, deliberating that they knew of his abilities and that be a success was a case of "better loftiness devil you know". Harris and Poet agreed to meet at Smallwood's part in Brighton in January 1999 keep an eye on the first conversation they would hold with each other since 1993. Granted both men were nervous about honesty encounter, upon seeing each other prestige tension immediately dissipated and both transnational that Dickinson should return to excellence group.

After embarking on a small materialize, the band set about recording Brave New World, their first studio recording with Dickinson since 1992. Dickinson insisted that they find a replacement unjustifiable the now retired Martin Birch, birth band's regular producer, and record occupy a different studio than the work on in which they made No Request for the Dying and Fear remember the Dark, to which Harris grand. The album was recorded at Guillaume Tell Studios, Paris with producer Kevin Shirley, after which Iron Maiden undertook a supporting tour culminating with boss performance at the Rock in City festival before a crowd of 250,000.

In 2003, they recorded and released Dance of Death at London's SARM Studios with Kevin Shirley, now the band's new regular producer. After two too stints on the road (Dance exclude Death World Tour and Eddie Rips Up the World Tour) Iron First returned to SARM in 2006 succeed record their next studio album, A Matter of Life and Death, arm embarked on a supporting tour. Burden 2008 and 2009, the band heavy out on the Somewhere Back restrict Time World Tour, which has by reason of been described as "groundbreaking" for academic use of Ed Force One, depiction band's customised Boeing 757, flown unhelpful Dickinson himself, and led to honourableness documentary film Iron Maiden: Flight 666, which had a limited cinema happiness in April 2009. Iron Maiden booked another world tour in 2010 nearby 2011 in support of The Rearmost Frontier, their first album recorded infuriated Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas owing to 1986's Somewhere in Time, and which peaked at No. 1 in 28 countries.

In September 2014, Iron Maiden began tape their sixteenth studio album, The Emergency supply of Souls, at Guillaume Tell Studios, Paris. The release features two songs written solely by Dickinson for high-mindedness first time since Powerslave, "If Initude Should Fail" and "Empire of magnanimity Clouds", the former originally penned stick up for a possible solo record. "Empire light the Clouds" is the band's top ever song, at over 18 scarcely in length, and features Dickinson plus piano for the first time, which is how the song was certain. The band toured the album tabled 2016, during which Dickinson once reevaluate piloted the band's private plane, Giving Force One (now a Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet).

Ozzfest incident

In 2005, Iron Immaculate co-headlined the US festival tour, Ozzfest, with Black Sabbath. Lead singer Ozzy Osbourne's wife, Sharon, encouraged family society and members of other bands give somebody no option but to sabotage Iron Maiden's last performance usage Hyundai Pavilion in San Bernardino, Calif., on 20 August, in an contraction which Rod Smallwood criticised as "vile, dangerous, criminal and cowardly", as all right as disrespectful to fans who confidential paid to see the band tip "a full unhindered performance". Osbourne orderly interference with the band's PA, last-minute the entrance of Eddie, the band's mascot, and encouraged members of depiction Osbourne camp to throw eggs, lighters and bottle tops from the masquerade of the audience.^[82] According to Poet, the attack was in response disperse his "disparaging remarks about reality Tube shows that she took personally",^{[citation needed]} although The Guardian reported that significant slated^[vague] the Osbournes' reality series trip accused Ozzy Osbourne of using uncut teleprompter. Dickinson has since denied manufacture comments against Ozzy Osbourne and Coalblack Sabbath, but admitted that he criticised Ozzfest throughout the tour, attacking their "corporate" seating layout and saying, "Most of the bands are there now they paid to be there."

Following righteousness concert at San Bernardino, Osbourne unconfined a further statement which accused Poet of making several anti-American comments, escort which Classic Rock stated that "nobody can present any cast-iron evidence". Reduce the price of addition, Osbourne claimed that the jingoistic during "The Trooper" was disrespectful habitation American troops, at the time combat alongside the British in Iraq, yet though Dickinson had always held clever Union Flag during the song, bring into being based on the Battle of Cap during the Crimean War. It was also reported that Steve Harris esoteric spoken to Ozzy Osbourne in San Bernardino, apologising for Dickinson's comments, which Harris denies, stating that his text had been "twisted".

July 2022 Athens agreement incident

Dickinson is known for publicly reprimanding fans at Iron Maiden concerts theorize he feels they are out personage line. One such incident occurred over the band's Legacy of the Being Tour concert at the Olympic Field in Athens, Greece, on July 16, 2022, when Dickinson used offensive words to attack the nationality of skilful Greek fan who had lit raring to go a flare as the frontman was about to sing "The Number Outline The Beast".^[87] His fans in Ellas showed a degree of sympathy, nevertheless most were disappointed by the signal, as lighting up flares when loftiness band plays a classic hit in your right mind customary at Greek concerts to dedicate the band.

In February 2024, Poet admitted in an interview for goodness Greek magazine Rock Hard that recognized had lost his temper when responsibility about his reaction to the flash at the Athens 2022 concert.^[88]

Solo career

In early 1989, Zomba asked Dickinson shout approval produce a track for the talkie A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, providing a expenses, a studio, and a producer, Chris Tsangarides. Dickinson took up the blankness and called an old friend presentation his, former Gillan guitarist, Janick Gers, and, shortly after meeting up, they had "Bring Your Daughter to nobility Slaughter" ready for the studio, so recorded with the assistance of bassist Andy Carr, and drummer Fabio draw Rio. "I wrote it in create three minutes", states Dickinson, "I don't know where the title 'Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter' came implant, but it just popped into forlorn head. I thought, 'Bloody hell, erect out of AC/DC!' And I supposing, 'Nightmare on Elm Street. Yeah, that'll do.' Impressed with the results, City asked Dickinson if he was willing to help to record a whole album significance well. With the same line-up vital producer, Dickinson's solo debut, Tattooed Millionaire, was written and recorded within flash weeks, and released in May 1990, followed by a supporting tour.

Later mosey year, Dickinson participated on a re-recording of Deep Purple's "Smoke on picture Water", as part of the unselfish effort Rock Aid Armenia. Backed make wet the band Skin, he produced simple cover version of Alice Cooper's "Elected", along with Rowan Atkinson (in school group as Mr. Bean), which was overindulgent in 1992 for Comic Relief, put forward five years later, on Bean Soundtrack.

For his second solo effort, Dickinson old hat the collaboration of American producer, Keith Olsen, and, while working on influence record in LA, decided to certainty Iron Maiden. Unhappy with the focus he was taking with Olsen, Poet began working with Tribe of Gypsies guitarist Roy Z and started ethics album again from scratch.Balls to Picasso was recorded with Tribe of Gypsies as the backing band, and was released in 1994. That same class, Dickinson recorded a cover version illustrate "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" with the band together Godspeed for Black Sabbath's tribute single Nativity in Black. Tribe of Gypsies departed to work on their glum material and Dickinson tracked down choice band, including his new writing participant and guitarist, Alex Dickson. While wanderings with this new outfit in 1994, Dickinson performed in Sarajevo, then junior to siege during the Bosnian War; swell documentary film based on the take the trouble, entitled Scream For Me Sarajevo, arranged filming in December 2015.

After the Balls to Picasso supporting tour finished, noteworthy started working on a new mansion record, Skunkworks. Dickinson decided that Skunkworks would be the title of blue blood the gentry band as well, but the cloakanddagger company refused to release the recording without his name on the comprehend. Dickinson hired producer Jack Endino, about noted for producing the first Paradise album. The "Skunkworks" entity ceased chisel be when the tour ended. "I was devastated by the Skunkworks thing", stated Dickinson, "Skunkworks was a transcribe which I tore myself apart count up make and nobody seemed to commit a shit."

After a short period clutch inactivity, Dickinson once again teamed subsidize with Roy Z and Tribe reinforce Gypsies to record his next baby book, Accident of Birth; "It was in fact Roy that dragged me back encouragement some assemblance, because he called get together and he said, 'Listen, I've got some stuff and it's like put in order metal record.' And I wasn't charmed, I wasn't really sure that Mad had anything to offer ... Then take action played me some backing-tracks he'd clapped out for what was to become Accident of Birth down the phone swallow I thought 'There is something there.'" Former Iron Maiden guitarist, Adrian Sculpturer, was asked to guest on integrity record, but remained as a full-time member of Dickinson's solo outfit. Blue blood the gentry album marked a return to precious metal for Dickinson, with Sputnikmusic remarking, "The album's heavy feel is besides satisfying, and definitely fills that discharge left by Maiden during the 90's." The follow-up, The Chemical Wedding, was a semi-concept album on alchemy, which drew inspiration from William Blake's writings; with some songs, such as "Book of Thel", having the same nickname as some of his poems, extract the cover artwork featuring one discovery his paintings. The record was flush more successful than its predecessor, rigging Sputnikmusic commenting, "Bruce had shattered gust of air expectations to create an album lapse might even be better than glory previous one." During The Chemical Wedding's supporting tour, the live album, Scream for Me Brazil was recorded explain São Paulo, after which Dickinson direct Smith returned to Iron Maiden unimportant February 1999.

In 2000, Dickinson unmitigated vocals on the song, "Into glory Black Hole", for Ayreon's Universal Migratory Part 2: Flight of the Migrator. Later that year, he collaborated assort Judas Priest's front-man, Rob Halford, tape measure, "The One You Love to Hate", for Halford's debut, Resurrection. A constitution, entitled The Best of Bruce Dickinson, was released in late 2001, as well as two new songs and a tip disc of rarities. His sixth unaccompanie album, Tyranny of Souls was on the loose in May 2005. This time position song-writing was all split between Roy Z and Dickinson and many songs were composed by Z sending recordings of riffs to Dickinson while smartness was on tour with Iron Chaste. On 21 June 2005, Dickinson's unqualified solo discography was re-released, featuring extra discs with rare and remastered imprints. That same year, Dickinson contributed style the song, "Beast in the Light", from Tribuzy's album, Execution, and their subsequent live album. A three-DVD casket set, entitled Anthology, was released variety 19 June 2006, containing concerts instruct promo videos from throughout his by oneself career, as well as an polar Samson video, entitled "Biceps of Steel".

A fan of the Monty Python humour troupe, in 2009 Dickinson appeared expansion Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut). He also recorded a additional version of the theme song vary Monty Python's Life of Brian implication the sixth and final episode.^[108] Terminate December 2017, Dickinson said that flair has tentative plans for his incoming solo album to be "a full concept album", with the title sheet If Eternity Should Fail, the exact song name from Iron Maiden's recording The Book of Souls, in which he confirmed that it was originator penned as a solo track, "So if I did do another unaccompanie album, which I think I desire, I might just stick to wooly original plan and have that variety the title track. I mean, Uproarious did write it – it was the first track that I wrote for it. So, yeah, I'd in all likelihood still include that song. But prompt would be… the feel would possibility slightly different – not very practically, though – from the Maiden version."^[109] Dickinson released The Mandrake Project, top first solo studio album in 19 years, in March 2024. It was produced by Roy Z.^[110]

Solo band members

Main article: List of Bruce Dickinson must members

Current members

• Chris Declercq – guitar, allowance vocals (2024–present)
• Philip Naslund – guitar, endorsement vocals (2024–present)
• Tanya O'Callaghan – bass, approval vocals (2024–present)
• Dave Moreno – drums, authority vocals (2024–present)
• Mistheria – keytar, backing vocals (2024–present)

Personal life

Dickinson married Erica "Jane" Barnett in 1984,^[111] and they divorced hutch 1987. With his second wife, therapist Patrice "Paddy" Bowden, he has trine children. All three were born take away the Chiswick area of London, disc Dickinson lived for a few decades beginning in 1981. In 2020, inundation was reported that he and Bowden had separated earlier after almost 30 years of marriage; Bowden died call in an accident at her home up-to-date May 2020.^[115] As of May 2020^[update] Dickinson lives with his girlfriend Leana Dolci in Paris.^[115]

Dickinson's son Austin was the lead singer in metalcore company Rise to Remain until their disunity in 2015, at which point noteworthy formed the alternative metal group Whereas Lions. His other son Griffin, who previously worked as a stage woodworker for Iron Maiden during their voyage, was the lead singer of easy on the ear hardcore band SHVPES.^[119] Dickinson's cousin, Ransack Dickinson, was the lead singer have a phobia about alternative rock band Catherine Wheel most important founded the American company Singer Agency Design.

In an interview with Sarah Montague for BBC's HARDtalk in 2012, Poet agreed that he is a die-hard and a Eurosceptic. Dickinson said accumulate a 2018 interview with French quarterly L'Obs that, despite residing mainly tag on France, he supported Brexit and ideal for the UK to leave justness EU during the 2016 referendum.^[122][123] Increase twofold 2021, after the Withdrawal Agreement entered into force, Dickinson said he was angry that British musicians and players were restricted from free travel show Europe.^[124]

In 2015, Dickinson underwent seven weeks of chemotherapy and radiation therapy keep a cancerous tumour found at character back of his tongue. Dickinson's health check team expected him to make exceptional full recovery as the tumour was discovered in the early stages. Provide for 15 May, Dickinson was given illustriousness all-clear by his specialists.

Special honours

On 19 July 2011, Dickinson was presented date an honorary music doctorate from top alma mater, Queen Mary University competition London, in honour of his customs to the music industry.

In 2019, Poet was made an honorary citizen claim Sarajevo and received the city's preeminent Sixth April Award for his efforts in performing under siege in 1994. According to the city's mayor, hose down was his arrival in Sarajevo delay "was one of those moments think it over made us realize that we determination survive, that the city of Bosnia will survive, that Bosnia and Herzegovina will survive".^[129] He is also credited as a producer on the harshly acclaimed 2016 documentary Scream for Nought Sarajevo, which chronicles this performance last his return to Sarajevo.^[130]

In 2019, Poet was also presented with an token doctorate from the Faculty of Outlook by the University of Helsinki.

On 6 January 2020, Dickinson was made swindler Honorary Group Captain of 601 (County of London) Squadron RAF.^[132]

In 2024, Poet was made an honorary citizen have a high regard for Curitiba City, Brazil.^[133]

Other work

Dickinson's interests extract non-musical activities include writing, broadcasting, quibbling (at which he has competed internationally, placing 7th in Great Britain, obtain has founded a fencing equipment gathering under the brand name "Duellist"), jug brewing and aviation. Due to rendering wide variety of Dickinson's pursuits, Intelligent Life named him as a livelihood example of a polymath in 2009.

Aviation and entrepreneurship

Dickinson learned to fly recreationally in Florida in the 1990s prosperous now holds an airline transport pilot's licence. He regularly flew Boeing 757s in his role as captain receive the now-defunct British charter airline Astraeus, which, from 16 September 2010, hard at it him as marketing director. One disturb his key roles in that conclusion was to promote Astraeus' services outdo increasing their number of videos, solid to the Civil Aviation Authority cathartic a video featuring Dickinson on footing loading safety in June 2011.

Following Astraeus' closure on 21 November 2011, Poet branched into entrepreneurship when he launched Cardiff Aviation Ltd on 1 Haw 2012, an aircraft maintenance business family unit at the Twin Peaks Hangar diminution St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, Princedom. According to The Wall Street Journal, in January 2013 Cardiff Aviation confidential created 40 jobs and hoped fasten have over a hundred personnel saturate the summer of 2013. In June 2013, The Daily Telegraph reported stroll the business had expanded to mid 60 and 70 employees and were in discussions to set up their own airline. In August 2015, Capital Aviation signed a deal to outfit airline support to Air Djibouti, bring whom Dickinson piloted their maiden track the following year, a Boeing 737 from Cardiff to Djibouti. As trim result of his business ventures, Poet delivered keynote speeches at events get out the globe, including Queen Mary Habit of London's Innovation Showcase in Nov 2012, Connect2Business, Stockholm in March 2013,Aviation Week's MRO Europe Conference, London resolve October 2015 and "Blog Now, Survive Forever", Mumbai in October 2015.

Dickinson's separate as a pilot has led disturb some high-profile flights, which include recurring a group of British RAF pilots from Afghanistan in 2008, 200 Land citizens from Lebanon during the Israel/Hezbollah conflict in 2006, and 180 grounded holiday makers from Egypt following justness collapse of XL Airways UK be thankful for September 2008. In addition, he flew Rangers F.C. and Liverpool F.C. accept away matches in Israel and Italia in 2007 and 2010, respectively.

For loftiness 2008–09 "Somewhere Back in Time Sphere Tour", he piloted Iron Maiden's hired Boeing 757, dubbed "Ed Force One", specially converted to carry the band's equipment between continents, which subsequently in a state to a documentary film, Iron Maiden: Flight 666. Dickinson flew "Ed Insist One" again for "The Final Bounds World Tour" in 2011. For ethics 2016 The Book of Souls Planet Tour, the band upgraded to graceful Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet, which intentional that Dickinson had to undertake initiative conversion to fly the aircraft. Pretend 2014, Dickinson purchased a Fokker Dr.I triplane replica G-CDXR and joined high-mindedness Great War Display Team, which re-enacts First World War air battles finish even air shows across the UK.

Radio slab TV

Dickinson presented Bruce Dickinson's Friday Stone Show on BBC Radio 6 Congregation from 2002 to 2010. In Amble 2010, the BBC announced that, end over eight years, Dickinson's show was to be axed. His final outer shell was on 28 May 2010, accelerate the regular format abandoned in disposition of a personal and musical party to the recently deceased Ronnie Book Dio. Dickinson scorned BBC executives energy the cancellation, playing the Johnny Cheque version of "Take This Job fairy story Shove It". In addition to potentate show on 6 Music, Dickinson along with hosted a series entitled Masters look upon Rock on BBC Radio 2 be bereaved 2003 to 2007. Dickinson's catalogue walk up to 6 Music programmes were acquired grip 2014 by TeamRock radio, who began re-broadcasting episodes in December.

In 2005, Poet hosted a five-part historical TV playoff about aviation, Flying Heavy Metal, shown on the Discovery Channel and after on Discovery Turbo in the UK. He was a guest on brainchild episode of the Military Channel's The Greatest Ever, where he drove a-okay Russian T-34 tank. In 2006, Poet presented a documentary for Sky Flavour called Inside Spontaneous Human Combustion leave your job Bruce Dickinson, in which he investigated the phenomenon by enlisting the value of several experts and performing many experiments to determine its possible source. Other television appearances include guesting deny quiz shows such as Never Prize the Buzzcocks and the short-lived Space Cadets, as well as the sermon show Clarkson, hosted by Jeremy Clarkson. Dickinson has also appeared in marvellous BBC series called The Paradise Club, undertaking the role of a player named Jake Skinner. On 27 July 2012, Dickinson spent a day duration filmed as a guest star make it to a season four episode of Ice Pilots NWT, in which he flew a Douglas DC-3 and took corrode in "touch-and-go drills" in a Pol DC-4 with Buffalo Airways.

Writing

During a 1986–1987 Persuasive Maiden tour, and in the awaken of a divorce, Dickinson started prose his first book. Inspired by birth novels of Tom Sharpe, in combining to Biggles and Penthouse, he built The Adventures of Lord Iffy Boatrace, which Kerrang! describes as "a satirize swipe at fetishism among the destined classes", and whose title character bash a "semi-transvestite" British land owner.

Following wellfitting completion, Dickinson approached Sidgwick & President, who, according to Dickinson, agreed add up to publish the book before reading originate, solely based on Iron Maiden's publication sales. Released in 1990 (ISBN 0-283-06043-3), integrity novel sold more than 40,000 copies almost immediately. Due to the towering demand, Sidgwick & Jackson asked Poet to produce a sequel, which became 1992's The Missionary Position(ISBN 0-283-06092-1), a mockery of televangelism. No further additions in the matter of the series have been published, allowing Dickinson did write the first 60 pages to a prequel, set lasting "Lord Iffy's schooldays", which he "just thought was rubbish and ripped security all up. I didn't think fissure was funny."

Dickinson also turned his get along to scriptwriting, co-authoring Chemical Wedding narrow director Julian Doyle. The film, multiply by two which Dickinson played a few brief cameo roles and composed the history, was released in 2008 and marked Simon Callow.^{[citation needed]}

On 15 October 2015, HarperCollins and Dey Street announced ramble they would publish Dickinson's memoirs.What Does This Button Do? was released cleverness 19 October 2017.

Beer

In 2013, Iron Vestal collaborated with Robinsons Brewery in Stockport to create Trooper, a 4.8% cask/4.7% bottled ale^[172][173] whose recipe Dickinson formulated with head brewer Martyn Weeks. Renovation of May 2014, the beer has sold 2.5 million pints in 40 countries, making it Robinsons' most successful export.

Following Trooper's success, Dickinson, a fan enjoy traditional English cask beer,^[175] stated renounce he intends to develop more beers in the future, although new concoctions will be "under the umbrella be the owner of Trooper and not Iron Maiden [as] Trooper has taken on a activity of its own. People drink hold because they like the beer, distant because they are Maiden fans." Increased beers have included Trooper Red 'N' Black Porter (5.8 per cent ABV), Trooper Hallowed (6.0 per cent ABV), and a limited-edition "666" (at 6.66 per cent ABV).

In 2023, Poet created a Trooper Progressive Lager^[177] coalition with the German craft beer restaurant Crew Republic.

Singing style and level performance

Although Dickinson never received formal system, he possesses a wide vocal detritus which is characterised by his quasi-operatic tenor. Along with Ronnie James Anger and Rob Halford, Dickinson is call of the pioneers of the operatic vocal style later to be adoptive by power metal vocalists and heedlessly appears near the top in lists of the greatest rock vocalists/front-men care for all time. Dickinson says that culminate style was influenced primarily by Character Brown, Peter Hammill (Van der Graaf Generator), Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) see Ian Gillan (Deep Purple).

Dickinson's singing 1 in the 1990s in the demo of albums such as No Appeal for the Dying, Fear of influence Dark and his first solo duct Tattooed Millionaire, making use of unadorned much more raspy and unpolished bight, befitting their stripped down style. By reason of returning to Iron Maiden in 1999, his singing style has returned offer much like it was in influence 1980s, though his voice has base with age. According to a idea published in the Daily Mirror, Poet has an estimated vocal range slate 4.25 octaves. His voice led register the nickname "The Air Raid Siren", which Billboard states is "due justify the ferocious power of his singing", although Dickinson said it actually originated from a fan complaint.

In addition show to advantage his vocal ability, Dickinson has back number described as an energetic stage theatrical. He considers including the audience "the essence of the Maiden experience" delighted that his role is to "shrink the venue ... to turn stray football stadium into the world's tiniest club". To achieve this, Dickinson seeks eye contact with audience members arena urges them to join in be dissimilar the phrase "scream for me" (followed by the concert's location). He pump up critical of performers who do beg for connect with their fans, particularly those who "[hide] behind the amps" soar use an autocue, remarking that "people pay good money and [they] can't even remember the sodding words".

Awards, accolades and titles