Dickinson switches to telling stories
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has worn many hats and even “some incredibly ridiculous trousers,” as he puts it. Rock star, airline pilot and cancer survivor are some of what has defined him. Now he can add spokenword performer.
Dickinson has resumed his spoken-word U.S. tour, in which he speaks about his life, being a rock star and a host of other topics, including his bout with throat cancer. Then, after a short break, he’ll load up Iron Maiden’s plane — a 747 called “Ed Force One,” named after the band’s iconic demonic mascot, Eddie — and embark in May on a world tour playing festivals, arenas and stadiums.
This interview with Dickinson has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: What are the spoken-word shows like?
A: There’s no script, per say, and there’s no auto cue or anything else like that. I do have some images. I start to tell stories around the picture and then you just go off on a tangent about how I learned to sing and how I didn’t become a drummer and the weirdness of being in an English boarding school where you might have met Boris Johnson in another life and how I ended up wearing the world’s most ridiculous trousers on stage with Iron Maiden. It’s like, “How did that happen?” So, it’s kind of that story.
Q: Is it like stand-up?
A: I do use some kind of stand-up techniques and a bit of physical comedy, impressions of people and stuff like that. But that’s not my main modus operandi . ... As an entertainer, as a performer, I want to use all the little tricks I can to give people a
rollicking good evening.
Q: You talk about some really personal stuff ?
A: I get everybody laughing about cancer. Because cancer is a big taboo. You know, about 50% of us are going to get it during our lifetime, and we are scared witless of it. The very word sends us into a tailspin … And of course, I had my bout with throat cancer, as thousands of men do around the world every week. So that doesn’t make me special, but what I try and bring into it is my individual take on it. You know, “How do you deal with it?” Well, I don’t know how you deal with it, but here’s how I do deal with it.
Q: Some rock stars have gotten their pilot’s license, but I can’t think of another that flies for a commercial airline, or the Boeing 747 that the band uses for touring.
A: What’s even more interesting than Ed Force One is how the hell did I end up being an airline pilot in the first place?
And secondly, how do you become an airline pilot whilst you’re singing in a rock ’n’ roll band? I’ve got more crazy airline stories than rock ’n’ roll stories because, trust me, the days of the airline were way more rock ’n’ roll than Iron Maiden is on-stage. Well, off-stage, rather.
Q: Speaking of a world tour, are you piloting Ed Force One again?
A Oh, no, no, no, no. We’re going to be flying, and I’m going to be in the back. Hey, look, I’m 63 — I’m 64 in August. … So, I’m going to be sitting in the back being the back-seat driver.
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