Bruce Dickinson is recognized worldwide as the voice of Iron Maiden , despite not being the band's only vocalist , much less part of the original lineup. When Iron Maiden decided to fire Paul Di'Anno in 1981, manager Rod Smallwood decided to make an offer to the young vocalist from Samson .
That's where a partnership that continues to this day began, with only one moment of crisis when Bruce Dickinson left Iron Maiden between 1993 and 1999 to pursue a solo career (revisit it here ). After returning to the band, the vocalist seems to plan to remain in the position until the end of his life, with no plans to retire . "We're going to drop dead on stage," says the singer . But let's go back to the beginning of it all…
The events that led Bruce Dickinson to the invitation that would change his life (and the history of world heavy metal) were narrated by the vocalist himself in his autobiography What Does This Button Do? (2016), according to an excerpt published by Louder Sound and translated by Wikimetal .
Bruce Dickinson had voice problems before joining Iron Maiden.
During the tour promoting Samson's album Head On (1980), Bruce Dickinson was facing vocal problems due to a lack of technique. “We started rehearsing for some shows, but I was hoarse after half an hour. We played at the Marquee Club, but I couldn't speak for the next two days. I was desperate. I had sung on an album that was getting great reactions, but I felt like a fraud. My voice couldn't take it. I was depressed for a few days, crying into my beer, before my subconscious drew my attention to some wise advice I received from my dentist's ex-girlfriend,” he recounted.
The advice stemmed from years of singing lessons the young woman had received at the British boarding school Cheltenham Ladies' College , honing her vocal technique with exercises appropriate for maintaining a healthy voice, something the young Bruce had little explored. "I think you have a very good voice, but you need a little more control," she warned.
And believe it: vocal problems and the need to improve his own singing were essential in paving the way for Bruce Dickinson to become the frontman of Iron Maiden. At first, upon hearing that from the girl, he was annoyed by the comment, but he was interested nonetheless. Realizing he couldn't execute certain tongue movements, the singer began researching in the library to better understand the instrument of the voice, but without actually starting to apply this new knowledge.
“‘Remember those stupid exercises with candles, holding chairs in front of you, pressing your lower back against the walls, and a myriad of other bizarre things to strengthen your diaphragm and develop resonance in your chest voice and head voice?’ my subconscious said. I started paying attention to that. Technique is empty if you don’t apply it,” he continued. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself and be smart. Learn to be you. Teach yourself.”
Over time, the vocalist became increasingly interested in studying and managed to improve his own vocal performance. Record labels began to take an interest in Samson – more specifically, in Bruce – and he sang with “a new voice” on stage at the Reading Festival in 1981. It was after that show that everything changed.
Iron Maiden's manager approached Bruce Dickinson after a show.
After the show with Samson at that event, Rod Smallwood showed up and invited Bruce Dickinson to talk in a more private place. “I was sure he was plotting something,” the singer wrote about that encounter. When the location proved suitable, the Iron Maiden manager got straight to the point: “I’m offering you the chance to audition for Iron Maiden. Are you interested?” was the question.
Bruce's response was a mix of feelings, and the singer decided to go all in. “First of all, you know I’m going to get the job or you wouldn’t invite me. Second, what’s going to happen to Paul, the current singer, and does he know about it? Third, when I get the job – and I will – are you prepared for a totally different style and opinions and someone who won’t back down? I might be a pain in the ass, but for the right reasons. If you don’t want that, tell me now and I’ll leave,” the singer replied.
In the end, everything worked out and a new era began for Iron Maiden. “If Iron Maiden wants to play with the hammer of the gods, then go all out. Otherwise, take a walk and find someone more boring. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for, because you might get it,” Dickinson concluded.
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