The vocalist spoke about the 2011 statement
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson explained the reasons that led him to declare to Metal Hammer in 2011 that Iron Maiden is better than Metallica.
In 2011, Bruce said: “I know I’m going to get in trouble saying we’re better than Metallica… But it’s true. They may be bigger than us and they may sell more tickets than us and they probably have more middle-class, middle-aged people at their shows than we do. But they’re not Maiden. Period. ”
This week, about 6 years after that statement, the Iron Maiden vocalist commented:
"Look, I'm fully aware that when you say things that will be printed, people will end up picking things up. The thing I said about Metallica, to be very honest, was to set the record straight and provoke.".
We have a great relationship with Metallica. I wasn't saying that to attack Metallica. I was saying it to the rest of the world, to say loud and clear, 'We're back and for real! And it's so real that I'm even going to say shocking and provocative things like that. So why don't you come to our show and try to find out if we're better or not? I doubt you have the courage. It's my job. It's what I do.'.
