Joe Shooman - Bruce Dickinson--Maiden Voyage: The Biography

BY IAN GILLAN

B ruce Dickinson. What a guy.

The first time I met Bruce Dickinson was on the cusp of the eighties when he turned up at my studio, Kingsway Recorders, during the nascent period of what was to become known as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Here was a singer with a smile and an easy-going manner, but when he opened up those pipes it was clear there was something special going on. He sucked all the air out of the room with his talent and I thought, hey, this kid has something to say.

It was no surprise to me that after Bruce joined Iron Maiden they knocked down audiences all over the world, putting out album after album that explored metal and rock and inspired bands in their turn. Music is a rallying point for like-minded people and to be responsible for the continuation of that creative energy is a privilege and a thrill. Since he came back into Iron Maiden in the late nineties, theyve managed to draw on those NWOBHM roots and branch out in loads of interesting directions. Its not a surprise to me that they are still delighting their millions of devoted fans all over the planet. Bruces familiar stance as he plants his foot on a wedge and gets the crowds screaming is now iconic and four decades in the business speaks for itself. You dont spend that long at the top of your game if you stand still: you need to always move things forward whilst always being true to the fans and yourselves.

Being up front with a band means you are often the focal point and you get caught out pretty damned quick if youre not giving everything to that moment onstage, or in the studio. There aint no place to hide. Despite what those ropey TV talent shows might say, there are no shortcuts to the top. Fame is a secondary effect of following your talent and your dreams and getting out there on the road to tour and develop as a band, as musicians and as people. Bruce is a living example of where a musical gift allied to an extraordinary work ethic can get you.

These days he flies planes and fronts Iron Maiden in the same way he came through my door. He is unnervingly confident, professional and delivers all with an effortless panache. Thats not a noun I care to associate with aviators; thank the heavens he possesses a mellifluous announcing voice imagine finding out hes your captain for the day with one of those familiar screams. Pretty ironic that one of his nicknames is The Air Raid Siren, isnt it? You just know when some people are going places, but they are rarely intelligent. Mostly its bluster and rhino shit, but Bruce is above all that. He has no time for bullshitting when theres a job to get done.

Hes bounced back from that shocking illness with all the vigour and determination of a man who has always taken life by the scruff of the neck and wrung every drop of fun, creativity and adventure out of it.

I am very proud to know him and have watched his career with great interest.

Rock on.

ig

A decade is a long time in rock n roll and when you talk about a phenomenon like Bruce Dickinson, it becomes an aeon. Since I wrote a book with the rather long-winded title Bruce Dickinson: Flashing Metal with Iron Maiden and Flying Solo back in early 2007, there have been more ground-breaking, ambitious, symphonic studio albums; phenomenal worldwide tours; a movie (and book); live DVDs; radio and TV shows; the setting-up of airlines In short, the usual whirlwind of activity weve come to expect from a man who is a true polymath as well as simply one of the greatest singers metal and rock has ever produced. There has also been a shocking illness that, thankfully, the subject of this book faced down and conquered like a true warrior of the road.

Maiden Voyage catches up with the years since 2007 and enhances that original biography with new information and significant new interviews. As with Flashing Metal, the book you now hold in your hand is a journalist and fans look at the career and music of a man and a band that have inspired me over the years. I am very grateful indeed to all those who have contacted my publishers over the years with insights and thoughts on both.

Huge thanks are due to all who have contributed to the original editions as well as the new interviewees. Special thanks to the brilliant Maria Ericksen for her great ancestry research. Thanks also to those brilliant people that have helped with organising said interviews, opened doors, provided transcripts, made sources available or otherwise aided with their own awesome research, ideas, inspiration, tip-offs, photos and information:

Blaze Bayley; Jon Beeston; Chris Dale; Neil Daniels; Paul DiAnno; Alex Elena; Maria Ericksen; Jack Endino; Rob Grain and the estate of Paul Samson; Robin Guy; Jennie Halsall; Mike Hanson; Rob Hodgson; Henrik Johansson; Steve Jones; Dean Karr; Neal Kay; Spencer Leigh; Dave Ling; Erwin Lucas; Bill Liesegang; John McCoy; Joel McIver; Tony Miles; Tony Newton; Keith Olsen; Tom Parker; Tony Platt; Dave Pybus; Raziq Rauf; Matthias Reinholdsson; Doug Sampson; Michelle Ferreira Sanches; Brigitte Schn; Stuart Smith; Starchild Anita; Thunderstick; Karen Toftera; Bernie Torm; Chris Tsangarides; John Tucker; Joakim Stabel.

We have made every effort to credit all sources where available and welcome corrections for future editions.

Thanks to Martin Roach and Dave Hanley for all at IMP over the years plus James Hodgkinson and all at John Blake for letting me loose on this one again. As always, enormous thanks to Suzy for her patience beyond the call of duty. Many thanks, too, to the translators of all the overseas editions over the years, including Ricardo Lira, Helen Ljungmark, Matthias Mader and all the Maiden and Bruce fans who have got in touch over the years with corrections and suggestions. This book is for you.

Special thanks to the incredible Ian Gillan of the mighty Deep Purple for the foreword, and to Phil Banfield for helping it happen.

Up The Irons!