Bruce Dickinson, the singer of Iron Maiden, shares his deepest fear, earliest memory, most embarrassing moment, and more: “I once threw up on the shoes of one of my vocal heroes”
The 65-year-old Dickinson, a native of Nottinghamshire, joined Iron Maiden as lead singer in 1981. The Number Of The Beast, the first of their five albums to reach the top of the UK charts, was released in 1982. They took home the Brit Award for best British live act in 2009, and in 2011, their song “El Dorado” received the Grammy for best metal performance.
will resume their 23rd world tour this September. Dickinson is now on a European tour in support of The Mandrake Project, his sixth solo album. Along with his third wife, he resides in London and Paris and has three children.
Q: What scares you the most?
Bruce Dickinson: “Well, snakes don’t exactly make me happy. I detest sand as well. It’s really annoying.”
Q: What is your first recollection, if any?
Dickinson: “A pair of enormous, gelatinous red lips leaning over my stroller, glistening with lipstick and slightly smelling of gin.” I’ve been informed that I urinated directly into my aunt’s mouth out of pure fear after being so terrified by what I saw.”
Q: What quality about yourself do you dislike the most?
Dickinson: “Delaying things.”
Q: Can you share your most embarrassing experience?
Dickinson: “I once puked in the shoes of Ian Gillan, the singer of Deep Purple, who is one of my vocal idols. He gave me a towel and sent me home in a taxi.”
