As lead singer of Iron Maiden, millions were introduced to the powerful, driving voice of Bruce Dickinson. Dickinson left Iron Maiden some time ago for a solo career, and recently took time out to speak with HM regarding Maiden, his new record, Skunkworks, and his spiritual beliefs...
Tell me about the difference between the transition of going from Samson to Iron Maiden, vs. a couple years ago when you left Maiden to venture out for a permanent solo.
"Well, Samson was like a garage band, doing things like . . . we were kind of professional, but when I joined Maiden, it was like, 'Whoa! This is the big deal,' because there were trucks and roadies and tour managers, and things happened when people said they would happen, you know. It was all pretty hard core, you know. Then I kind of got used to that way of working. In a sense, when I left Maiden, it was a big desire on my part to leave behind a lot of that organizational element of it. I felt that the whole thing was that the creativity had to come first -- the music had to come first. There comes a point, particularly with big bands, the bigger a band gets, you know, somebody will issue some kind of edict, 'The album will be released on this date.' And suddenly, the album is going to be released on that date, no matter what it sounds like. So I wanted to move away from that. And the world, thank goodness, is listening to music a lot more critically now. I think kids are a lot more critical about what they listen to."
You've had some personnel changes the last, I guess getting your line-up together . . .
"Well no, not really."
Guitar player?
"That wasn't a band. That wasn't intended to be a band. I borrowed the whole band off the shelf with the intention that I was going to put a band together after it. The band that I put together after it is the band that I'm still playing with now three years later."
For some, it may seem like Balls to Picasso, Live in Studio A and Skunkworks were released in rapid succession. Is there a reason for that?
"Well yeah, Balls to Picasso was there and we put it out. The live album basically because, I mean, I changed record companies. It seemed like a good idea to have a record which almost put a cap on the previous stuff, the previous existing stuff, the band and everything. And now, the next record is gonna be what we do, you know. Although this one says Bruce Dickinson on it, this is very much a Skunkworks record. This is Skunkworks the band that you're hearing on this record. All the songs are co-written by Alex the guitarist and me. I think it represents a really cool new sound. It's very modern, but it retains all the cool classic stuff."
How are you feeling about the direction of your music and the evolution of what we've seen with metal and hard rock in ten years?
"I think what we're doing is absolutely, it's right there at the forefront of it now. I don't think Balls to Picasso was. I think Balls to Picasso, in many ways, was a backwards looking kind of record, just kind of treading water, you know. So Skunkworks, I see as being a huge step forward, the record that'll stand up there in ten years' time and still sound great."
I think you also succeeded in remaining true to form too; not like you went out there and tried to be Stone Temple Pilots . . .
"No, there's no point in trying to do that. What we've got is great tunes and we've got really cool stuff."
I know with songwriting, there can be one of a million different interpretations for a song. You can write a song about your kid, and somebody thinks it's about a teacher -- the can personalize it, in other words. The song "Tears of a Dragon," I saw you on Headbangers' Ball years ago, when you debuted a video. And I remember you kind of ducked the question, and made reference to some girls would maybe figure it out. My own personal interpretation, whether it was your or not is it seems to me you painted a beautiful picture of somebody who they come to a faith in Christ, and they completely surrender to the grace and forgiveness of God, and just are covered up by His forgiveness like the waves of the sea. Is that anywhere near the mark?
"Yeah, I mean, it wasn't specifically about Christ, but the idea of water in terms of being a very powerful symbol of spiritual movement. Something, the idea of allowing yourself to be engulfed, and then discovering that nothing bad happens when you let yourself be swept away be a current that's really cool. Nothing bad happens; it'll look after you. That was the idea I had, because that's what I was going through leaving Maiden. It was basically leaving behind twelve years of my life, and something that represents security for the future. And, you know, I was just walking out on the whole thing on the basis of a hunch, a feeling, that some stuff wasn't quite right."
What are your feelings about Christ?
"Me?"
Yeah.
"Oh, I'm not big on organized religions in general. Although, they do great stuff, and they do good stuff for a lot of people. But the one thing that I can't, that I find impossible is like with Islam and Christianity, if you believe in one religion, then it's mutually exclusive to all other religions. I think that religion and spirituality is something that's much bigger that any one particular religion. People pick religions based on all kinds of different factors. If the character and the personality of Christ appeals to you, then Christianity will be the one for you. If hellfire and brimstone and damnation appeal to you, then it'll be a slightly different kind of Christian religion that appeals to you. So there's all kinds of different shades even within different religions. People pretty much get the religion that they choose."
I've noticed a lot of your, I mean you've written so many songs and have covered so much material through the years, and sang a lot of songs, that you've probably become familiar with the outcast, or the person who's misunderstood, or the person who becomes a martyr. What do you think of Christ's claims to be "the Way the Truth and the Life -- no one comes to the Father but by Me?"
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I see in too many interviews most artist try to stray away from answering the questions. I love these questions you ask these guys. When well they see CHRIST is not a religion.
Posted by:
Chris on November 20, 2003 03:40 PM
iron maiden is cool. bruce dickinson dodged the questions. their music is cool but i can live without him in my afterlife.
Posted by:
kyle on December 30, 2003 10:54 PM
I'm a person that graduated high school in 1988. I graduated with 7 years of science, 7 years of math, a 3.8 Grade Point Average (on a 4.0 scale) and won many scholarships. My plans of going to Stanford University were taken away! On 4/22/88, I was hit by a VW Beetle while on my 10 speed. After 7 1/2 hours of brain surgery, I wasn't supposed to live!!! I did!!! They predicted so many things against me that it is a joke! (I don't WANT to go into details about it, because it is VERY DEPRESSINGLY GRUESUM!!!)
I was a 'Scientologist' at that time due to my parent's divorce the summer before my 'Freshman' year of high school (1983). After near death, I'm changed. My favorite bands at that time (before the accident) were 'Motley Crue' & 'Guns n Roses' (to name a few)!
After the accident I am a REALLY CHANGED person! I was brought back to live for one purpose! To spread the word! I found out that if it wasn't for my grandma on my mom's side praying for me, I would be dead!
I learned that in all religions (Except Christianity) you got to work your way to HEAVEN, Good vs. Bad. Can you or anybody you know do that, remember all your goods & bads? I sure don't know anyone who can!!! In CHRISTianiy the Main Thing is Believing! As it says in the NEW TESTAMENT, ROMANS 10:9 "If you shall CONFESS with your mouth that JESUS CHRIST is LORD (the Easy part), and BELIEVE in your heart that GOD has Raised HIM from the Dead (the Hard part for some), then you SHALL BE SAVED!!!" Could you please send this letter to the band members of 'Iron Maiden' : Mr. Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, Nicko McBrian, their families, friends, & close associates? I'm praying that they will get this letter! Thank you for this interview! You are a great at writting this story!
Mr. Kelly Leon Thornton
Posted by:
Mr Kelly on January 19, 2004 01:16 AM
I'm a person that graduated high school in 1988. I graduated with 7 years of science, 7 years of math, a 3.8 Grade Point Average (on a 4.0 scale) and won many scholarships. My plans of going to Stanford University were taken away! On 4/22/88, I was hit by a VW Beetle while on my 10 speed. After 7 1/2 hours of brain surgery, I wasn't supposed to live!!! I did!!! They predicted so many things against me that it is a joke! (I don't WANT to go into details about it, because it is VERY DEPRESSINGLY GRUESUM!!!)
I was a 'Scientologist' at that time due to my parent's divorce the summer before my 'Freshman' year of high school (1983). After near death, I'm changed. My favorite bands at that time (before the accident) were 'Motley Crue' & 'Guns n Roses' (to name a few)!
After the accident I am a REALLY CHANGED person! I was brought back to live for one purpose! To spread the word! I found out that if it wasn't for my grandma on my mom's side praying for me, I would be dead!
I learned that in all religions (Except Christianity) you got to work your way to HEAVEN, Good vs. Bad. Can you or anybody you know do that, remember all your goods & bads? I sure don't know anyone who can!!! In CHRISTianiy the Main Thing is Believing! As it says in the NEW TESTAMENT, ROMANS 10:9 "If you shall CONFESS with your mouth that JESUS CHRIST is LORD (the Easy part), and BELIEVE in your heart that GOD has Raised HIM from the Dead (the Hard part for some), then you SHALL BE SAVED!!!" Could you please send this letter to the band members of 'Iron Maiden' : Mr. Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, Nicko McBrian, their families, friends, & close associates? I'm praying that they will get this letter! Thank you for this interview! You are a great at writting this story!
Mr. Kelly Leon Thornton
Posted by:
Mr Kelly on January 19, 2004 01:17 AM
TO KYLE: Quote: "Their music is cool but I can live without him in my afterlife." This is a terribly judgmental and un-compassionate thing to say. Bruce may have "dodged the questions" but he was respectful and polite, and he is obviously an intelligent, well-spoken person. I am praying that he'll come to faith in Christ and that we WILL see him in eternity. TO MR. VAN PELT: I'm always totally impressed with the way you conduct these interviews, and they are my favorite part of the magazine. Keep it up!
Posted by:
Flesheater on February 29, 2004 11:48 AM
