Bruce Dickinson , lead singer of the British band Iron Maiden , sang "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States, before the NFL game that took place last Sunday, September 14th, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The game was between the Pittsburgh Steelers , the home team, who invited Bruce, against the Seattle Seahawks .
Bruce sang the American national anthem for the first time during his solo show last Wednesday, September 11th, at the House of Blues in Boston, Massachusetts. Before beginning to sing the anthem, the Iron Maiden told the audience [transcription via Blabbermouth ]:
“So, I’m going to tell you a dirty little secret that’s going to happen on Sunday. I’ve been asked to sing the American national anthem at a Pittsburgh Steelers game. Now, I’ve never done that before in my life, and I’m trying to avoid the embarrassment of reading the fucking lyrics off the back of my hand. Look, no writing on the back of my hand, or not being able to read the automatic sign because, damn, there’s no such thing as an automatic sign, right?! So, because today is the kind of—it can’t have escaped your attention that today is September 11th, right? And on this day, that day, I was in New York and witnessed all the shit that happened.”
The tip Bruce Dickinson received during a show in Brazil.
He continued, informing them that he would be rehearsing the American national anthem with the audience that night: “So, normally I sing a little bit a cappella — just me singing alone — a part of 'Revelations' [ an Iron Maiden song ]. But I thought, with your kind permission, that I would try the American national anthem, because it's the only time I'll rehearse it. We were in Brazil [for a performance at The Town, in São Paulo] and I was talking to the punk band, my friends, Bad Religion . And the guy asked: 'Oh, are you going to sing the anthem?'. He replied: 'Damn, make sure you start with a low note'.”
Next, Bruce Dickinson sang a few verses of "The Star-Spangled Banner," accompanied by the fans. The artist continues his tour of the United States with The Mandrake Project Live 2025 .
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