Bruce Dickinson

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Bruce Dickinson is an English heavy metal singer, born in 1958 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. He grew up in Sheffield, sang in pub bands in the 1970s during his school days and his studies in London, and in 1979 joined Samson, under the stage name Bruce Bruce. In 1981 he left that band to become the singer of Iron Maiden, succeeding Paul Di'Anno. His debut with the group was the album The Number of the Beast in 1982.

Music and breakthrough

During his first period, from 1981 to 1993, Iron Maiden achieved platinum and gold albums in the United States and the United Kingdom in the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1993 he left to go solo, with, among others, Tattooed Millionaire in 1990, Balls to Picasso in 1994 and The Chemical Wedding in 1998. In 1999 he returned to Iron Maiden, together with the guitarist Adrian Smith. Since then the solo albums Tyranny of Souls in 2005 and The Mandrake Project in 2024 have also appeared.

Influence

Dickinson is known for his range and his almost operatic style, and for his energetic performances. Outside music he was a professional pilot and flew Iron Maiden's converted charter plane on tour, presented a radio show on BBC Radio 6 Music, wrote novels and took up fencing. His voice became a hallmark of British heavy metal.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1990Tattooed Millionaire
• 1994Balls to Picasso
• 1996Skunkworks
• 1997Accident of Birth
• 1998The Chemical Wedding
• 2005Tyranny of Souls
• 2024The Mandrake Project
• 2025More Balls to Picasso

See also

• Skunkworks