Legendary Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson , in a recent interview with Classic Rock , reflected on one of the most defining moments of his career: his departure from Iron Maiden in 1994.
The vocalist also took a break from his solo career throughout the 1990s, until his triumphant return to the band in 1999, along with guitarist Adrian Smith .
Bruce says: “I would have done it again (left the band), yes! I wouldn’t have changed it, but I would have done it better, I would have had a better plan.” He agrees that leaving Iron Maiden was “a very momentary decision.”
“I realized that Iron Maiden was going in its own direction and nothing and nobody could do anything to change its course. At that time, I was creating what would become Balls To Picasso , so I realized I didn't have much of an idea of what to do outside of the band.”
He claims to have been shocked when he realized his role in the band at that moment: "I thought, 'What should I do about this?' So I decided that either I would stay for the rest of my life, or I should leave right away."
Regarding balancing Iron Maiden with his solo career, Bruce says: “I was in limbo. I thought, ‘I have to leave, because otherwise nobody will take the album seriously, they’ll just say, ‘Oh, you rascal, he has a side project.’”
Bruce is about to release The Mandrake Project , his first solo work since Tyranny Of Souls (2005). Check out the latest single “Rain Of The Graves” :
Leaving Iron Maiden to pursue a solo career
In 1993, after seven studio albums in 12 years, Bruce announced he would be leaving the band. At that time, Maiden was promoting the album Fear Of The Dark (1992). The farewell tour took place under the name Real Live Tour , which also aimed to promote the live albums A Real Live One and A Real Dead One , recorded at various shows on the previous tour.
Their last show took place in England, filmed by the BBC at Pinewood Studios on August 28th of that year. Broadcast worldwide via Pay Per View and featuring a special appearance by horror illusionist Simon Drake , the show was released on video the following year under the title Raising Hell . At the end of the show, Simon "kills" Bruce. Immediately afterwards, he himself is killed by Eddie (the band's mascot), who "impales" the magician in the middle of the stage and "slits Bruce's throat."
See the full presentation below:
That same year, a live single for "Hallowed Be Thy Name" was released, whose cover depicts a demonic Eddie in hell, piercing Bruce with a huge trident (see below). This would also be one of the last pieces of artwork for the band to be designed by Derek Riggs . Bruce would only return to the band in 1999, along with Adrian Smith, where he remains to this day.
READ ALSO : The journey through time that is Iron Maiden's 'Future Past Tour'
