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What Does This Button Do?: An Autobiography
The first print run of the UK hardback edition will have black sprayed edges. In order to guarantee your copy, pre-order before the 19th October.
A long-awaited memoir from the larger-than-life, multifaceted lead vocalist of Iron Maiden, one of the most successful, influential and enduring rock bands ever.
Pioneers of Britain’s nascent Rock & Metal scene back in the late 1970s, Iron Maiden smashed its way to the top, thanks in no small part to the high-octane performances, operatic singing style, and stage presence of its second, but twice-longest-serving, lead singer, Bruce Dickinson. As Iron Maiden’s front man – first from 1981 to 1993, and then from 1999 to the present – Dickinson has been, and remains, a man of legend.
But OTT front man is just one of the many hats Bruce wears. In addition to being one of the world’s most storied and well-respected singers and songwriters, he is an airline captain, aviation entrepreneur, motivational speaker, beer brewer, novelist, radio presenter, and film scriptwriter. He has also competed as a world-class level fencer. Often credited as a genuine polymath Bruce, in his own words (and handwritten script in the first instance!), sets forth many personal observations guaranteed to inspire curious souls and hard-core fans alike.
Dickinson turns his unbridled creativity, passion, and anarchic humour to reveal some fascinating stories from his life, including his thirty years with Maiden, his solo career, his childhood within the eccentric British school system, his early bands, fatherhood and family, and his recent battle with cancer.
Bold, honest, intelligent and very funny, WHAT DOES THIS BUTTON DO? is an up-close look inside the life, heart, and mind of one of the most unique and interesting men in the world; a true icon of rock.
A long-awaited memoir from the larger-than-life, multifaceted lead vocalist of Iron Maiden, one of the most successful, influential and enduring rock bands ever.
Pioneers of Britain’s nascent Rock & Metal scene back in the late 1970s, Iron Maiden smashed its way to the top, thanks in no small part to the high-octane performances, operatic singing style, and stage presence of its second, but twice-longest-serving, lead singer, Bruce Dickinson. As Iron Maiden’s front man – first from 1981 to 1993, and then from 1999 to the present – Dickinson has been, and remains, a man of legend.
But OTT front man is just one of the many hats Bruce wears. In addition to being one of the world’s most storied and well-respected singers and songwriters, he is an airline captain, aviation entrepreneur, motivational speaker, beer brewer, novelist, radio presenter, and film scriptwriter. He has also competed as a world-class level fencer. Often credited as a genuine polymath Bruce, in his own words (and handwritten script in the first instance!), sets forth many personal observations guaranteed to inspire curious souls and hard-core fans alike.
Dickinson turns his unbridled creativity, passion, and anarchic humour to reveal some fascinating stories from his life, including his thirty years with Maiden, his solo career, his childhood within the eccentric British school system, his early bands, fatherhood and family, and his recent battle with cancer.
Bold, honest, intelligent and very funny, WHAT DOES THIS BUTTON DO? is an up-close look inside the life, heart, and mind of one of the most unique and interesting men in the world; a true icon of rock.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published October 19, 2017
690 people are currently reading
3545 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Dickinson
44 books243 followersPaul Bruce Dickinson is a British singer, airline pilot, radio show host, DJ, Historian, television presenter, fencer and songwriter, best known as the lead singer in the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. According to Allmusic, Dickinson "was the most acclaimed and instantly recognizable vocalist to emerge from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement of the early-'80s".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 882 reviews
November 9, 2017
I eagerly anticipated this, but in the end was a little disappointed. Dickinson is a fine writer, having published a couple of novels earlier in his career as well as being responsible for some of the finest lyrics in metal history, and this is a rare rock autobiography that is self-written and justifiably so. The book has to juggle a number of different objectives: tell Dickinson's personal history, discuss his involvement with Iron Maiden (and music more broadly), and talk about fencing and then piloting as the two extra-musical pursuits he's widely known for. In the end, it does the last of these the best, but those were, for me, the least interesting of the lot. It was always something of a mark of difference to know, even in the 1980s, that the lead singer of a heavy metal band was also a dedicated fencer instead of just a beer-swilling Satanist, and the reader really does get a full picture of how important fencing, and later airplane piloting, filled Dickinson's time away from Maiden. It's certainly more interesting than if he'd spent that time selling life insurance.
That said, for all the detail we get here about the path of his fencing "career" and especially the progression of his piloting career from a single engine prop right through the training to be a full-on commercial airline captain, the trade-off of comparable lack of detail regarding Iron Maiden and his inter-personal life is noticeable. For example, other people in Dickinson's life are conspicuously absent except as an occasional drinking partner and maybe as a bandmate or producer. No relationships are more than superficial in this book and it feels incredibly "thin" in terms of his personal biography. Dickinson freely admits to this approach in the epilogue, but it remains baffling why he would think it improved the book. In particular, the suppression of anything having to do with family life, or of politics, or any number of other issues, largely distorts the discussion of his musical career. Dickinson could be political in the lyrics of his solo material (e.g. "Born in '58"), and I wanted to more about how he arrived at certain views and how they affected his relationships with those around him. Or, I wanted to know much more about why he joined Iron Maiden in the first place. There had to have been something about the music that attracted him, especially given the difference in style that Maiden presented compared to Dickinson's previous band, Samson. And, coming as it does at the beginning of the commercial ascendancy of heavy metal music in the early 1980s, there has to be some interesting discussion about what it was like for him to be in that segment of the music industry at that time. The 1980s were fraught with contestations over which bands could be counted as "metal", and I wanted to know how much of that contestation was felt by the band as they rolled out their mid-80s classic oeuvre. Overall, I wanted to know more about his own aesthetic development aside from the never-ending series of Iron Maiden albums and tours.
Ultimately, Dickinson seems to stand alone in the book, and that's probably how he sees himself, as an independent, "free thinker" of an individual, but that's not actually how people operate in the world. Dickinson, in fact, has children, has been married, has a sister, and has all the usual family and friend relationships. And, most importantly, those relationships have helped shape everything he's done in his (quite remarkable) life. Thus, it's disappointing that so much of that was left out here. I would much rather he explored those things than shared another pages-long anecdote about producer Martin Birch's drunken alter ego, "Marvin."
That said, for all the detail we get here about the path of his fencing "career" and especially the progression of his piloting career from a single engine prop right through the training to be a full-on commercial airline captain, the trade-off of comparable lack of detail regarding Iron Maiden and his inter-personal life is noticeable. For example, other people in Dickinson's life are conspicuously absent except as an occasional drinking partner and maybe as a bandmate or producer. No relationships are more than superficial in this book and it feels incredibly "thin" in terms of his personal biography. Dickinson freely admits to this approach in the epilogue, but it remains baffling why he would think it improved the book. In particular, the suppression of anything having to do with family life, or of politics, or any number of other issues, largely distorts the discussion of his musical career. Dickinson could be political in the lyrics of his solo material (e.g. "Born in '58"), and I wanted to more about how he arrived at certain views and how they affected his relationships with those around him. Or, I wanted to know much more about why he joined Iron Maiden in the first place. There had to have been something about the music that attracted him, especially given the difference in style that Maiden presented compared to Dickinson's previous band, Samson. And, coming as it does at the beginning of the commercial ascendancy of heavy metal music in the early 1980s, there has to be some interesting discussion about what it was like for him to be in that segment of the music industry at that time. The 1980s were fraught with contestations over which bands could be counted as "metal", and I wanted to know how much of that contestation was felt by the band as they rolled out their mid-80s classic oeuvre. Overall, I wanted to know more about his own aesthetic development aside from the never-ending series of Iron Maiden albums and tours.
Ultimately, Dickinson seems to stand alone in the book, and that's probably how he sees himself, as an independent, "free thinker" of an individual, but that's not actually how people operate in the world. Dickinson, in fact, has children, has been married, has a sister, and has all the usual family and friend relationships. And, most importantly, those relationships have helped shape everything he's done in his (quite remarkable) life. Thus, it's disappointing that so much of that was left out here. I would much rather he explored those things than shared another pages-long anecdote about producer Martin Birch's drunken alter ego, "Marvin."
April 8, 2025
I was a bit disappointed with this book. In fairness, my disappointment stems from fact that this is not the book I was I was expecting. Reading the Afterword Bruce states he did this on purpose. If he filled the book with stories, anecdotes, and other people, it would have been an 800-page book. Really, I would have preferred that.
The problem for me with this book is that without all the stories, people, and emotions, Bruce comes across as very robotic. Even from an Iron Maiden fan point of view, the book definitely does not deliver. To the point there are not even any many inside stories. Here are a couple of examples, Bruce is asked to join the band, and he joins the band on his own terms. Facts/statements, not emotions. The impression I got from this book is that the band came together for tours, and then everyone went their own and was in between with no talking between each other. I am sure this is not the case, but this is the way I felt it was in the book.
The subjects I thought Bruce was passionate about are fencing, flying, and peoples suffering. If Bruce wrote more chapters like these, the book would have been much better for me.
It was a disappointingly different book from what I was expecting and even more disappointing for the fact that Bruce experiences, achievements, and writing about the important things are so much better than the sum of this book.
The problem for me with this book is that without all the stories, people, and emotions, Bruce comes across as very robotic. Even from an Iron Maiden fan point of view, the book definitely does not deliver. To the point there are not even any many inside stories. Here are a couple of examples, Bruce is asked to join the band, and he joins the band on his own terms. Facts/statements, not emotions. The impression I got from this book is that the band came together for tours, and then everyone went their own and was in between with no talking between each other. I am sure this is not the case, but this is the way I felt it was in the book.
The subjects I thought Bruce was passionate about are fencing, flying, and peoples suffering. If Bruce wrote more chapters like these, the book would have been much better for me.
It was a disappointingly different book from what I was expecting and even more disappointing for the fact that Bruce experiences, achievements, and writing about the important things are so much better than the sum of this book.
October 24, 2017
Shame he dies in the end.
November 16, 2017
This is NOT your typical rock star biography. This is NOT a story about a talented musician who almost lost everything to drugs and sex. You will not find love affairs, undesired children or the discovery of love. Nor is it the story of the troubled band who disbanded and then got back together again because of money.
Well, kind of.
What this is, is the story of Bruce Dickinson's CAREER. He will tell you how he found his love for music and his trajectory to Iron Maiden. Bruce then elaborates on his time with Maiden until his departure, what he was searching for with his solo career and the years after his return. In between the lines he will also tell you how he became an airliner pilot and how he beat cancer. He will not tell you about his wifes, divorce and children and I honestly thought he was single with no children, until he explains that he's chosen not to talk about those things. And, honestly: reading the story of Bruce Dickinson, you notice that you really don't care about those details of his personal life, because they simply don't concern you.
Bruce is that kind of an unique person who is curious, smart, talented and lucky, all at the same time. The title of "What does this button do" alone tells a lot about Bruce: a curious guy who is keen to learning more and more, always. And when he wants to learn, he digs into manuals and bootcamps to really understand how things work, but only if the subject really matters to him. Even though he's got a degree in history, he would take on complete different adventures like learning how to fly 757, 737 and 747s. He's so obsessed with learning that the very reason why he left Iron Maiden was because he felt like the only music he had any contact with was Iron Maiden's. So he had to leave the band in order to grow personally and professionally.
This book also tells a lot about what it takes to become successful. Bruce always worked hard to sell his bands to local bars, knocking door to door and distributing poorly-recorded demo tapes. He chased those things. And when the opportunity came to audition for Iron Maiden, he knew the job was his. So he was lucky for being there at the right time, but he was also well prepared for the audition (they asked him to learn two songs, he learned both albums) and talented enough so that it was an easy choice for Steve Harris to hire him - hence the combination of luck, talent and hard work. This is what it takes. And he's got no problem in saying he's made mistakes and learned from them, so much that he would not change any of the decisions he's made if he had a chance, because of the learnings that life brought to him.
Bruce Dickinson is a real role model for anyone, in any career, or in pursue of any personal goals.
Well, kind of.
What this is, is the story of Bruce Dickinson's CAREER. He will tell you how he found his love for music and his trajectory to Iron Maiden. Bruce then elaborates on his time with Maiden until his departure, what he was searching for with his solo career and the years after his return. In between the lines he will also tell you how he became an airliner pilot and how he beat cancer. He will not tell you about his wifes, divorce and children and I honestly thought he was single with no children, until he explains that he's chosen not to talk about those things. And, honestly: reading the story of Bruce Dickinson, you notice that you really don't care about those details of his personal life, because they simply don't concern you.
Bruce is that kind of an unique person who is curious, smart, talented and lucky, all at the same time. The title of "What does this button do" alone tells a lot about Bruce: a curious guy who is keen to learning more and more, always. And when he wants to learn, he digs into manuals and bootcamps to really understand how things work, but only if the subject really matters to him. Even though he's got a degree in history, he would take on complete different adventures like learning how to fly 757, 737 and 747s. He's so obsessed with learning that the very reason why he left Iron Maiden was because he felt like the only music he had any contact with was Iron Maiden's. So he had to leave the band in order to grow personally and professionally.
This book also tells a lot about what it takes to become successful. Bruce always worked hard to sell his bands to local bars, knocking door to door and distributing poorly-recorded demo tapes. He chased those things. And when the opportunity came to audition for Iron Maiden, he knew the job was his. So he was lucky for being there at the right time, but he was also well prepared for the audition (they asked him to learn two songs, he learned both albums) and talented enough so that it was an easy choice for Steve Harris to hire him - hence the combination of luck, talent and hard work. This is what it takes. And he's got no problem in saying he's made mistakes and learned from them, so much that he would not change any of the decisions he's made if he had a chance, because of the learnings that life brought to him.
Bruce Dickinson is a real role model for anyone, in any career, or in pursue of any personal goals.
January 29, 2022
Pioniri britanske rock i metal scene Iron Maiden s Bruceom Dickinsonom na čelu, kasnih sedamdesetih godina prošlog stoljeća krenuli su vrlo ozbiljno svojim originalnim putem slave. Bruce je bio pjevač grupe u dva navrata gdje se u pauzi između dva razdoblja okušao i u solo karijeri. Od 1999. je drugi put prihvatio ulogu frontmana i do danas ju uspješno obavlja. Što je sve ovaj povučeni individualac proživio i doživio skriva se iza jednostavno pisanih, ali vrlo zanimljivih i duhovitih stranica. „Čemu služi ovaj gumb?” prva je knjiga tematski vezana za Iron Maiden prevedena na hrvatski jezik.
Cijeli osvrt pronađite ovdje: https://knjige-u-svom-filmu.webador.c...
Cijeli osvrt pronađite ovdje: https://knjige-u-svom-filmu.webador.c...
April 16, 2020
Una autobiografia particolare, questa di Bruce Dickinson, con lo stesso autore che nell'epilogo spiega bene o male di aver deciso di taglaire via determinati argomenti dal libro per evitare di produrre un malloppone lungo il doppio.
Scelta condivisibile, certo, che però ha tagliato praticamente tutto l'aspetto relazionale: amicizie, amori, inimicizie, incontri.
Cosa resta?
Resta la storia "professionale" di Bruce.
E l'infanzia, certo, che viene stranamente trattata per bene, dai primi anni di vita insieme ai nonni fino al college (anche se, ovviamente, la sorella viene accennata giusto un paio di volte, per dirne una).
I primi incontri casuali col canto, l'impegno nel teatro, e poi la musica, il canto.
La passione per certi cantanti e generi, le prime esperienze, i salti di qualità fino all'ingresso nei Maiden, il Successo.
E allora tour mondiali, lavorare come pazzi, lo stress e l'adrenalina a mille, l'emozione, la gioia.
Finché non si rende conto che, se non trova un appiglio, qualcosa che lo ancori alla realtà, rischia di perdersi nel ruolo di rockstar dannata, di diventare una macchietta.
Ed è da qui che entrano in scena i due temi che si intersecano con la musica, nella visione di Bruce.
La prima ancora di salvataggio è la scherma, cui era stato introdotto ai tempi della scuola da un insegnante. Torna ad allenarsi, a praticare la disciplina fisica e mentale necessaria per quest'attività, e continua anche in giro per il mondo, con anche rinomati maestri, e partecipando a competizioni ufficiali.
E poi il volo. Una passione fin da bambino, che finalmente corona. Le prime licenze, cui se ne sommano altre a cascata. I voli in solitaria, i voli con passeggeri, i voli commerciali. America e Inghilterra, voli di linea in tutto il mondo. L'Ed Force One.
Le due vie di fuga che gli hanno consentito di rimanere in piedi nell'uragano che era la notorietà dei Maiden.
E poi, chiaramente, l'uscita dai Maiden e il periodo solista, tra alti e bassi, fino al rientro nella band.
Il concerto a Sarajevo durante la guerra.
Il cancro.
Un libro che racchiude tutta l'esperienza professionale di Dickinson, ma che al tempo stesso risulta abbastanza arido: non solo non si parla di amicizie e legami, ma pure nei riguardi dei musicisti si resta cauti, quasi sempre evitando di dare giudizi o di sbilanciarsi.
Si accenna rapidamente a "litigi" nei Maiden, anche ai suoi scontri con Steve Harris nel periodo in cui uscì dal gruppo. I vari gruppi con cui in qualche modo si è trovato a collaborare sono citati in maniera robotica, non si percepisce amicizia con nessuno se non, forse, con Rod e con Roy Z.
Addirittura, da quando intraprende la carriera solista il volo comincia ad assumere più rilevanza del canto, e mentre aumentano le descrizioni di voli, esami e dettagli di aerei, calano le già non particolarmente ricche elucubrazioni su album e canzoni, tecniche e ispirazioni.
Francamente mi aspettavo qualcosa di più, era partito bene ma mi ha perso abbastanza lungo la via.
Ci sono cose interessanti, e mi ha rimesso un po' di voglia di ascoltarmi le sue canzoni, ma mi ha lasciato un po' deluso.
Scelta condivisibile, certo, che però ha tagliato praticamente tutto l'aspetto relazionale: amicizie, amori, inimicizie, incontri.
Cosa resta?
Resta la storia "professionale" di Bruce.
E l'infanzia, certo, che viene stranamente trattata per bene, dai primi anni di vita insieme ai nonni fino al college (anche se, ovviamente, la sorella viene accennata giusto un paio di volte, per dirne una).
I primi incontri casuali col canto, l'impegno nel teatro, e poi la musica, il canto.
La passione per certi cantanti e generi, le prime esperienze, i salti di qualità fino all'ingresso nei Maiden, il Successo.
E allora tour mondiali, lavorare come pazzi, lo stress e l'adrenalina a mille, l'emozione, la gioia.
Finché non si rende conto che, se non trova un appiglio, qualcosa che lo ancori alla realtà, rischia di perdersi nel ruolo di rockstar dannata, di diventare una macchietta.
Ed è da qui che entrano in scena i due temi che si intersecano con la musica, nella visione di Bruce.
La prima ancora di salvataggio è la scherma, cui era stato introdotto ai tempi della scuola da un insegnante. Torna ad allenarsi, a praticare la disciplina fisica e mentale necessaria per quest'attività, e continua anche in giro per il mondo, con anche rinomati maestri, e partecipando a competizioni ufficiali.
E poi il volo. Una passione fin da bambino, che finalmente corona. Le prime licenze, cui se ne sommano altre a cascata. I voli in solitaria, i voli con passeggeri, i voli commerciali. America e Inghilterra, voli di linea in tutto il mondo. L'Ed Force One.
Le due vie di fuga che gli hanno consentito di rimanere in piedi nell'uragano che era la notorietà dei Maiden.
E poi, chiaramente, l'uscita dai Maiden e il periodo solista, tra alti e bassi, fino al rientro nella band.
Il concerto a Sarajevo durante la guerra.
Il cancro.
Un libro che racchiude tutta l'esperienza professionale di Dickinson, ma che al tempo stesso risulta abbastanza arido: non solo non si parla di amicizie e legami, ma pure nei riguardi dei musicisti si resta cauti, quasi sempre evitando di dare giudizi o di sbilanciarsi.
Si accenna rapidamente a "litigi" nei Maiden, anche ai suoi scontri con Steve Harris nel periodo in cui uscì dal gruppo. I vari gruppi con cui in qualche modo si è trovato a collaborare sono citati in maniera robotica, non si percepisce amicizia con nessuno se non, forse, con Rod e con Roy Z.
Addirittura, da quando intraprende la carriera solista il volo comincia ad assumere più rilevanza del canto, e mentre aumentano le descrizioni di voli, esami e dettagli di aerei, calano le già non particolarmente ricche elucubrazioni su album e canzoni, tecniche e ispirazioni.
Francamente mi aspettavo qualcosa di più, era partito bene ma mi ha perso abbastanza lungo la via.
Ci sono cose interessanti, e mi ha rimesso un po' di voglia di ascoltarmi le sue canzoni, ma mi ha lasciato un po' deluso.
September 21, 2018
I haven’t read many autobiography books. This is one that is 100% worth reading!
What’s it about?
The frontman of Iron Maiden (the best band ever) talks about his life and his music.
Why it gets 5 stars:
The story is very interesting. The pre-Maiden stuff is like the origin story of a musical superhero and it is great! The stuff about Iron Maiden is freaking awesome. The stuff that is about things in Bruce’s life outside of Iron Maiden are often interesting too, Dickinson is an interesting man with an exciting life story.
This book is often humorous.
A lot of parts of this book are extremely exciting. The craziest part is definitely HOLY SHIT IT’S ONE OF THE BEST, IF NOT THE BEST MUSIC STORY I EVER HEARD!
I learned more about not only Dickinson, but also Iron Maiden which is what I hoped for so... awesome!
Dickinson is also the narrator of the audiobook and it is fantastic! It is awesome because you are hearing someone tell their story. I’ll put it this way, I normally don’t bother paying extra for an audio edition of a book, even if the narrator does a good job. This one however, if I end up adding it to my collection, which I’m sure I will at some point, I might actually pay extra for the audiobook because it’s so awesome hearing Dickinson tell this story.
Overall:
If you’re an Iron Maiden fan, read this. If you’re not an Iron Maiden fan... uhh... who the hell doesn’t like Iron Maiden?
If I did have any complaints it would be that you can’t have Iron Maiden cranked up while listening to an audiobook. Well, you can, but it would mess up the experience.
So yeah. I highly recommend this one, a must read for fans of Iron Maiden! So I suggest you go to your local bookstore or library and...
(In the tune of Run To The Hills)
RUN TO THE SHELVES!
FOR THIS DELIGHT!
THIS BOOK EARNS MY...
FIVE OUT OF FIVE!
What’s it about?
The frontman of Iron Maiden (the best band ever) talks about his life and his music.
Why it gets 5 stars:
The story is very interesting. The pre-Maiden stuff is like the origin story of a musical superhero and it is great! The stuff about Iron Maiden is freaking awesome. The stuff that is about things in Bruce’s life outside of Iron Maiden are often interesting too, Dickinson is an interesting man with an exciting life story.
This book is often humorous.
A lot of parts of this book are extremely exciting. The craziest part is definitely HOLY SHIT IT’S ONE OF THE BEST, IF NOT THE BEST MUSIC STORY I EVER HEARD!
I learned more about not only Dickinson, but also Iron Maiden which is what I hoped for so... awesome!
Dickinson is also the narrator of the audiobook and it is fantastic! It is awesome because you are hearing someone tell their story. I’ll put it this way, I normally don’t bother paying extra for an audio edition of a book, even if the narrator does a good job. This one however, if I end up adding it to my collection, which I’m sure I will at some point, I might actually pay extra for the audiobook because it’s so awesome hearing Dickinson tell this story.
Overall:
If you’re an Iron Maiden fan, read this. If you’re not an Iron Maiden fan... uhh... who the hell doesn’t like Iron Maiden?
If I did have any complaints it would be that you can’t have Iron Maiden cranked up while listening to an audiobook. Well, you can, but it would mess up the experience.
So yeah. I highly recommend this one, a must read for fans of Iron Maiden! So I suggest you go to your local bookstore or library and...
(In the tune of Run To The Hills)
RUN TO THE SHELVES!
FOR THIS DELIGHT!
THIS BOOK EARNS MY...
FIVE OUT OF FIVE!
October 26, 2017
Bruce Dickinson's autobiography doesn't tell your usual rock'n'roll story. There's little in the way of hedonism here, Bruce is a man who'd rather learn how to fence, pilot a jumbo jet or write a best selling novel in his spare time. As the lead singer of best selling heavy metal band Iron Maiden he's accomplished an awful lot and it's all well told with a good sprinkling of humour here.
He writes at his most passionate when discussing aviation, with memories of his first flights and hair raising trips. For me there was a lot less Iron Maiden than I'd have liked, often new albums and tours are brushed over in a paragraph. I was hoping for some more band anecdotes, and thoughts on the albums themselves. He's chosen to leave out his most personal details, there's nothing here on his marriage, divorce or children and frustratingly little on the relationship with the rest of his band, particularly the fractious time around the early 90s when he left Maiden. He hints at being displeased with the band's direction but I always got the impression from the media at the time that there was a little more going on. So don't expect much dirt to be dished (perhaps not surprisingly considering they're all happily together again now!).
That said, it's a very entertaining read. The best chapters are the time he performed in war torn Bosnia and towards the end, as he battles and overcomes throat cancer. Whilst this may not have given me everything I wanted it is what it is and that's a well written, funny account of a man who has led a fascinating life.
He writes at his most passionate when discussing aviation, with memories of his first flights and hair raising trips. For me there was a lot less Iron Maiden than I'd have liked, often new albums and tours are brushed over in a paragraph. I was hoping for some more band anecdotes, and thoughts on the albums themselves. He's chosen to leave out his most personal details, there's nothing here on his marriage, divorce or children and frustratingly little on the relationship with the rest of his band, particularly the fractious time around the early 90s when he left Maiden. He hints at being displeased with the band's direction but I always got the impression from the media at the time that there was a little more going on. So don't expect much dirt to be dished (perhaps not surprisingly considering they're all happily together again now!).
That said, it's a very entertaining read. The best chapters are the time he performed in war torn Bosnia and towards the end, as he battles and overcomes throat cancer. Whilst this may not have given me everything I wanted it is what it is and that's a well written, funny account of a man who has led a fascinating life.
November 18, 2017
It was written okay, fun to read. But where were the details about how songs were written and the dynamics of the band?
It was essentially ' I learnt how to fly a plane, then we made an album, then I flew a plane again and we made another album and then I got an even bigger plane!' Repeat for 400 pages.
It was essentially ' I learnt how to fly a plane, then we made an album, then I flew a plane again and we made another album and then I got an even bigger plane!' Repeat for 400 pages.
December 2, 2017
This bring back so meny happy public school days for me as I read it.Bruce end up at Oundle public school were he was bullied day in & nights. Unlike me who if anything I was more the bully.
At school I was very popular because I lived in sweet shop & always had tuck box full of stuff from the shop that sold for favours so no one but no want to upset the free sweets.One boy did & I was told the broken nose & two black eyes & broken arm when slipped in the shower was his fault.He was school sneak which made very unpopular with both the boys & the headmaster.
He finally was black balled one night & expelled the next day in front of whole school & cained 6 of the best for been dirty sneak.
He was most unpopular boy ever.An American who only lasted one term who got sent to Coventry for not putting money in the tin for a poppy.
This book brings the t all back.Like time Bruce put two ton of horse shit delivered to his house masters door.
.Sarajevo in middle of war Into The Fire very interesting chapter of what not to do that both Moterhead & Metlaca said no to.They had lot more senses but lot less spunk.
His battle with the big C ends the book.For me I enjoyed this but I think he could like lot of music Bios do changed the record & added few photos of his family & his school.
He only mentions one girl nothing about if he has ever married way doesn't talk about his life you think he was a closet virgin.
At school I was very popular because I lived in sweet shop & always had tuck box full of stuff from the shop that sold for favours so no one but no want to upset the free sweets.One boy did & I was told the broken nose & two black eyes & broken arm when slipped in the shower was his fault.He was school sneak which made very unpopular with both the boys & the headmaster.
He finally was black balled one night & expelled the next day in front of whole school & cained 6 of the best for been dirty sneak.
He was most unpopular boy ever.An American who only lasted one term who got sent to Coventry for not putting money in the tin for a poppy.
This book brings the t all back.Like time Bruce put two ton of horse shit delivered to his house masters door.
.Sarajevo in middle of war Into The Fire very interesting chapter of what not to do that both Moterhead & Metlaca said no to.They had lot more senses but lot less spunk.
His battle with the big C ends the book.For me I enjoyed this but I think he could like lot of music Bios do changed the record & added few photos of his family & his school.
He only mentions one girl nothing about if he has ever married way doesn't talk about his life you think he was a closet virgin.
October 2, 2018
Book Reviewed by Steve on www.whisperingstories.com
Bruce Dickinson is the iconic front-man to heavy metal band Iron Maiden. His journey through life thus far has been filled with adventure and challenges. Not only is Bruce the lead singer of the most famous metal band to come from the UK, but also a world-class fencer, airline pilot, brewer, author (not just this book!), amongst other things. The man is legendary!
If you are looking for a warts-and-all look at Iron Maiden, dishing dirt along the way, you will be disappointed. This book simply isn’t that. Instead, “What Does This Button Do?” provides a tremendous insight into who Bruce Dickinson is. With stories starting from his school days, this autobiography pretty much follows the timeline of his life, showing how he got involved with Iron Maiden, taking you on a journey with the band, even through war-torn Sarajevo for a gig!
In between albums and tours, Bruce learns how to fly, starting out in light planes (almost losing one in bad weather), through to Boeing airlines. Juggling that, the book mentions his attempts to improve his skills as a fencer whenever the opportunity arose.
There is a mention of Bruce’s battle with cancer (throat) towards the end of the book. This is sensitively handled given the subject matter, and I commend him on being so open and honest – many would shy away in the circumstances.
The book is very well written and is full of humour – Bruce Dickinson is a very witty man and will make you laugh. The only downside to the book for me is the detail. Many of the subjects are almost glossed-over, but that isn’t all bad, and is very understandable. If he were to go into too much detail, the book would be longer than “War and Peace”! If you like Iron Maiden or have any interest in them at all, you would be a fool not to read it.
Bruce Dickinson is the iconic front-man to heavy metal band Iron Maiden. His journey through life thus far has been filled with adventure and challenges. Not only is Bruce the lead singer of the most famous metal band to come from the UK, but also a world-class fencer, airline pilot, brewer, author (not just this book!), amongst other things. The man is legendary!
If you are looking for a warts-and-all look at Iron Maiden, dishing dirt along the way, you will be disappointed. This book simply isn’t that. Instead, “What Does This Button Do?” provides a tremendous insight into who Bruce Dickinson is. With stories starting from his school days, this autobiography pretty much follows the timeline of his life, showing how he got involved with Iron Maiden, taking you on a journey with the band, even through war-torn Sarajevo for a gig!
In between albums and tours, Bruce learns how to fly, starting out in light planes (almost losing one in bad weather), through to Boeing airlines. Juggling that, the book mentions his attempts to improve his skills as a fencer whenever the opportunity arose.
There is a mention of Bruce’s battle with cancer (throat) towards the end of the book. This is sensitively handled given the subject matter, and I commend him on being so open and honest – many would shy away in the circumstances.
The book is very well written and is full of humour – Bruce Dickinson is a very witty man and will make you laugh. The only downside to the book for me is the detail. Many of the subjects are almost glossed-over, but that isn’t all bad, and is very understandable. If he were to go into too much detail, the book would be longer than “War and Peace”! If you like Iron Maiden or have any interest in them at all, you would be a fool not to read it.
October 28, 2017
Bruce is a great bloke. This book does not detract from that. It's not that scintillating a read, though. The odd chortle or revelation (see what I did?) here and there but not essential reading by any means. I'm a huge fan of Bruce so I did enjoy it but would be hard pushed to recommend it to anyone but a big Maiden fan.
EDIT: I've just started Robert Webb's autobiography following this and it's clarified what i felt about this one. There's not much of Bruce in his biog, oddly. Mainly a dry set of facts. For the most part, there's no emotion in it. Almost nothing about family/friend/band relationships at all.
There's no deeper insight into Maiden either. I think I learned almost nothing new. It's clear that revealing anything about the inner workings of the band was pretty much off the table. I guess this was a condition of him publishing it.
The writing style is pretty uninvolving too. I didn't feel connected to it. In short, this was adequate but fell way below what I had hoped it would be.
EDIT: I've just started Robert Webb's autobiography following this and it's clarified what i felt about this one. There's not much of Bruce in his biog, oddly. Mainly a dry set of facts. For the most part, there's no emotion in it. Almost nothing about family/friend/band relationships at all.
There's no deeper insight into Maiden either. I think I learned almost nothing new. It's clear that revealing anything about the inner workings of the band was pretty much off the table. I guess this was a condition of him publishing it.
The writing style is pretty uninvolving too. I didn't feel connected to it. In short, this was adequate but fell way below what I had hoped it would be.
May 28, 2020
A musician and true artist who also knows how to write a damn good book.
June 1, 2022
Iron Maiden were my absolute favourite band when I was in my late teens, but I never knew much about them as people, so this autobiography by charismatic lead singer Bruce Dickinson was a fascinating insight into both the story of undoubtedly the greatest heavy metal group of all time, but also the diverse career history of an unusually multi-talented artist, pilot, sportsman, author and even brewer! We listened to the audiobook, which he narrates himself, essential in a memoir I think - totally recommended as his delivery was absolutely hilarious - Monty Python eat your heart out. You don’t need to be a rock fan or even know much about the band to enjoy this one, but if you came of age listening to their classic albums, it’s even more eye-opening. Since starting this, I’ve been listening to their early records and remembering why I love their music so much.
Beginning with his childhood in Worksop, England, “What Does This Button Do?” relates a series of anecdotes and early memories - he was initially raised by his grandparents then lived in a series of building sites with his serial-renovator parents. After a tough time at boarding school, Bruce discovers his twin passions - music and fencing. He initially wanted to be a drummer but then worked out that he was better at singing, and pursued this at university in London, joining a series of bands before being shoulder-tapped to join Iron Maiden in the early 80s. Success soon follows, and the rest of the book describes the highs and lows of his forty year career - from performing in front of literally hundreds of thousands of people, to his disillusionment with the relentless touring that led him to quit and pursue a solo career and other interests, then his triumphant return to Maiden, and near the end, his shock cancer diagnosis and excruciating treatment, which happily cured him (I guess that’s a spoiler but you already know he lives to tell the tale - literally!)
I think those who are expecting a warts & all exposé of the band’s secrets, or a typical story of rock & roll excess, may be disappointed. This is a man so driven that he retrained as an airline pilot for fun, and competed in fencing at World Championship level. I did find it odd that he doesn’t mention anything about his relationships or children - in the afterword he explains that he made the decision to leave these aspects out so the book wouldn’t be too long. I actually wouldn’t have minded an 800 page epic as there’s so much more I wanted to know, but I guess he also wanted to keep his family life private. There was quite a lot about his flying career which may be less interesting to those who only want to hear about the music, but I found it kept my interest throughout. He’s generally pretty positive about most of his experiences, and is careful in his comments about his colleagues, understandably.
Some of his anecdotes and comments had me laughing out loud, but there are some very moving moments too - like being in New York on September 11th, or flying servicemen home from the Middle East to their families. I’ll never forget being at the Donington Monsters of Rock in 1988 with 3 male schoolfriends (I was only 17!), where they put on the most amazing show, not revealing until it was over that two fans had died in the crush earlier that day, during the set of an up & coming band called Guns N’ Roses… We got separated from our friend, and were convinced he was one of them, only finding out the next day that he was fine (no cellphones in those days!) It was therefore quite strange to listen to him talk about it here, but good to know it never happened again.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this - even if it does leave me regretting not going to see them when they last toured NZ, as who knows if they’ll ever be back - I didn’t know anyone else who’d be up for it and didn’t want to go on my own - now I wish I had just made my hubby go 😹
4.5 rounded up for the brilliant narration.
Beginning with his childhood in Worksop, England, “What Does This Button Do?” relates a series of anecdotes and early memories - he was initially raised by his grandparents then lived in a series of building sites with his serial-renovator parents. After a tough time at boarding school, Bruce discovers his twin passions - music and fencing. He initially wanted to be a drummer but then worked out that he was better at singing, and pursued this at university in London, joining a series of bands before being shoulder-tapped to join Iron Maiden in the early 80s. Success soon follows, and the rest of the book describes the highs and lows of his forty year career - from performing in front of literally hundreds of thousands of people, to his disillusionment with the relentless touring that led him to quit and pursue a solo career and other interests, then his triumphant return to Maiden, and near the end, his shock cancer diagnosis and excruciating treatment, which happily cured him (I guess that’s a spoiler but you already know he lives to tell the tale - literally!)
I think those who are expecting a warts & all exposé of the band’s secrets, or a typical story of rock & roll excess, may be disappointed. This is a man so driven that he retrained as an airline pilot for fun, and competed in fencing at World Championship level. I did find it odd that he doesn’t mention anything about his relationships or children - in the afterword he explains that he made the decision to leave these aspects out so the book wouldn’t be too long. I actually wouldn’t have minded an 800 page epic as there’s so much more I wanted to know, but I guess he also wanted to keep his family life private. There was quite a lot about his flying career which may be less interesting to those who only want to hear about the music, but I found it kept my interest throughout. He’s generally pretty positive about most of his experiences, and is careful in his comments about his colleagues, understandably.
Some of his anecdotes and comments had me laughing out loud, but there are some very moving moments too - like being in New York on September 11th, or flying servicemen home from the Middle East to their families. I’ll never forget being at the Donington Monsters of Rock in 1988 with 3 male schoolfriends (I was only 17!), where they put on the most amazing show, not revealing until it was over that two fans had died in the crush earlier that day, during the set of an up & coming band called Guns N’ Roses… We got separated from our friend, and were convinced he was one of them, only finding out the next day that he was fine (no cellphones in those days!) It was therefore quite strange to listen to him talk about it here, but good to know it never happened again.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this - even if it does leave me regretting not going to see them when they last toured NZ, as who knows if they’ll ever be back - I didn’t know anyone else who’d be up for it and didn’t want to go on my own - now I wish I had just made my hubby go 😹
4.5 rounded up for the brilliant narration.
April 22, 2019
One morning the LA Times lay strewn about the floor...'Thought for the Day' was a feature I seldom noticed, but on this day I read it. It was a quote from the writer Henry Miller: 'All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without the benefit of experience.' So at that moment I decided to leave Iron Maiden. You can blame Henry Miller.
I was going to begin this review by saying that there's no particular reason to read this book if you're not an Iron Maiden (from this point, affectionately: Maiden) fan, but then it occurred to me that if you're not a Maiden fan it's very unlikely that you would even have known of this book's existence, and that, if anything, my review only increases the likelihood, however infinitesimal, that you will read it.
Then again, there are worse ways to spend your time than in the company of Bruce Dickinson, now 60 years of age, licensed pilot and lead singer of Iron Maiden since 1981. Some of the chapters stand out: traveling through a combat zone to perform at a concert in Sarajevo, his recent experience with tongue cancer (which could've ended his singing career, not to mention his life), and scenes of English childhood that occasionally reminded me of Knausgaard in content if not in style. I even enjoyed passing observations about places he's traveled, Amsterdam for instance, which seemed to him a city of darkness, where no one was what he or she seemed (almost exactly what a co-worker who recently went there on vacation told me, solidifying it in my mind whether or not it's true), as well as references to music he's been influenced by that I wouldn't have expected (Alice in Chains, Soundgarden). Bruce's lyrics tend to be narratives, sometimes drawing from literature, as in the 13-minute 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner' from 1986's Powerslave:
The mariner kills the bird of good omenAnd so it's also not a surprise that he can render entertaining anecdotes, a number of them about the variations of madness of the band's early days:
His shipmates cry against what he's done
But when the fog clears, they justify him
And make themselves a part of the crime
The albatross begins with its vengeance
A terrible curse, a thirst has begun
His shipmates blame bad luck on the mariner
Around his neck, the dead bird is hung!
Sailing on and on and north across the sea...
Martin [our producer] had an alter ego. We called it Marvin. Over the years Marvin has provided us with hours of entertainment and near-death experiences...[this time] Marvin was out and proud...Or the kind of experience that we should probably all have, just once, at the end of a debauched and phantasmagoric rock tour:
'Sit down, boy', he said.
He flamboyantly hurled the producer's chair on its rollers so it bounced off the rear wall. He put his hands on my shoulders and shoved me into it. I started to feel just a tinge of apprehension.
He slammed the chair up against the mixing desk, wedging me in place, and played Killers till my ears bled.
'Whaddidyathink of that?', he challenged, just audible over the cochlear cataclysm that was my inner ear in shock.
'It's, er, very good', I said.
'Heh, heh. Yeah, yeah- very good.' And he just walked out muttering to himself, and left me alone in the studio with the tapes for the new Iron Maiden album.
After the last show we got very drunk. I was mixing hot sake with cold-beer chasers. Back at the hotel I was hungry. Room service had stopped for the night. I crawled on my hands and knees down a hotel corridor till I found a used room-service tray with two old bread rolls and a slab of butter. I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror by the lift. There is a William Blake painting, Nebuchadnezzar...the king's face looks out in horror as he realizes what he is becoming: he is transforming slowly into a beast. That painting was my reflection.And yet the deeper I got into the book, the more superficial and disconnected many of the anecdotes began to feel. There are quite a lot of chapters about flying, which he is obviously passionate about but which I mostly found dull, while the chapters about Maiden, in particular about their music itself, seem strangely perfunctory. Nor did I ever feel that I got to know the band members as people. What about Steve Harris, bassist and primary songwriter, what's that dude like? We never really find out.
Maiden have been around since the late 70s, including for two albums before Bruce became their singer in 1981, but they are still a younger band than Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, or even Judas Priest (from this point: Sabbath, Zeppelin, Floyd and Priest, respectively). Along with Priest, Maiden were hailed by music critics of the time as pioneers of 'the new wave of British heavy metal', a classification that Bruce never gets tired of referring to sarcastically in interviews. Nevertheless, it's a distinction that might help those who aren't conversant with heavy metal differentiate these groups from, say, Sabbath, who predate Maiden by about ten years (Sabbath's self-titled debut came out in 1970) and are often credited with creating the genre of heavy metal itself (although, according to Wikipedia, it's been suggested that a number of bands were pushing in this direction in the late 60s and early 70s, maybe as part of some collective unconscious, and that if it hadn't been Sabbath it would have been someone else- Zeppelin's 'Immigrant Song' is arguably a heavy metal song). At the age of 33, I still haven't decided whether or not I enjoy Black Sabbath, this is a serious issue, and their excellent Volume 4 doesn't quite erase the memory of all their boring singles that I grew up listening to in heavy rotation on the radio. And yet, listening a couple of weeks ago to 'Under the Sun', the final track on Volume 4, particularly the last 2 1/2 minutes, it occurred to me that in 1972 there was probably nothing else that sounded like this. Maybe I'd been underestimating the degree to which listeners were truly hearing a new sound, a doorway was being opened. I would say The Doors and Pink Floyd did that, as well. Did anything that came before it ever sound remotely like 'The End'?
'Immigrant Song':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqUkP...
'Under the Sun':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B8A1...
'The End'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSUIQ...
I think the same can probably be said of Priest and Maiden. They both owe huge debts to Sabbath, as does every other band that plays music you could regard as 'heavy', but I think that many of those bands in turn owe just as much to Priest and Maiden, both of whom innovated and expanded on Sabbath's sound in their own ways. Sabbath never did anything like Priest's 'Dreamer Deceiver', for example, a song that truly made my jaw drop the first time I heard it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ZDc...
Bruce has appeared on albums at least every 2-3 years or so (and at times more frequently than that, as in Maiden's career-making mid-80s run of Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son), both as Maiden's lead singer and on his own solo albums, for close to 40 years now. Maiden continue to tour (as I confirmed in person during the summer of '17 in Newark, NJ) and put out albums, and their most recent, 2015's The Book of Souls, is easily their best since 2000's Brave New World. The quality of their albums post-80s has varied, but there's still enough great material that I've often wondered what the secret is to being so consistently creative over a long period of time. Bruce describes the geneses of only a few songs, clearly those with special meaning for him, among them 'Powerslave' (from, as you might expect, the album Powerslave) and the 18-minute piano-based epic from The Book of Souls, 'Empire of the Clouds'. Here's how he remembers coming up with the lyrics for 'Powerslave':
...I wrote the song 'Powerslave' as a partial allegory of life as a rock-star pharaoh, taking all the acolytes with him as he goes. In the end it's all just an empty tomb, so what was the point of it all? Bleak magnificence was the sentiment in my heart, and it was starting to become what I would feel at the end of the tour: 'A slave to the power of death...'Sure. Jam a little with the band, sit in front of a window on a rainy day, and you've got one of the most iconic songs in the history of heavy metal. Happens to me all the time. Then again, maybe his lack of neurotic reflection over his art is as good an answer to my question as any.
...The song started life as a little Egyptian-sounding riff on a guitar, and I always loved the image conjured up by the phrase 'slave amplifier.' A bit of daydreaming and staring out the window on a rainy day did the rest.
There's even less here about his personal life, and in fact I'm pretty certain that he doesn't mention anywhere in the book that he has kids, which on one hand may disappoint readers who want to feel they know him as a person, but is also quite refreshing. And at any rate, Maiden's songs have never been about Bruce Dickinson's personal life; instead they are about mystics who open up doors to realms they can't close, the ghosts of navigators, nomads about whom local people whisper sinister rumors, ill-fated duelists, displeased deities, ancient mariners, condemned prisoners questioning God while being led to the firing squad, charismatic demagogues who arise 'through earthquakes and starvation', Paschendale, Alexander the Great, the atomic bomb, descendants of sacred lineages with inexplicable powers, warring factions that unctuously court those descendants' favor, Dune, Brave New World, Stranger in a Strange Land, total eclipses that portend the end of the world, doomed pilots of marvels of modern engineering, doomed crews lost at sea, insomniacs confronted with terrifying hallucinations in the middle of the night that may not truly be hallucinations...yes, none of these songs are about Bruce Dickinson, unless of course all of them are.
Oh- and the live performances are fantastic. Don't take my word for it, though. Start at about the 6:20 mark and enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F3eR...
December 11, 2017
The story of a remarkable and talented human being.
I have been an Iron Maiden fan for over thirty years and I have always enjoyed hearing interviews with Mr. Dickinson. Bruce Dickinson's tale takes you from his early childhood being raised by his grandparents and onto Private School, College, his time in Samson which lead to him joining Iron Maiden, one of the greatest metal bands of all time and his adventures as a pilot which took him all over the world. He tells his tale with humor and courage, even as he addresses his battle with cancer in the final chapter of the book.
I must admit that I was shocked by the lack of debauchery in the book but then again Maiden always seemed a bit above that for the most part. There is some debauchery but not in the excess of Maiden's contemporaries. (Keep in mind that Iron Maiden introduced many young fans to Coleridge with "Rime of the ancient Mariner." Iron Maiden was a band that got kids into literature as opposed to drugs.)
I have been an Iron Maiden fan for over thirty years and I have always enjoyed hearing interviews with Mr. Dickinson. Bruce Dickinson's tale takes you from his early childhood being raised by his grandparents and onto Private School, College, his time in Samson which lead to him joining Iron Maiden, one of the greatest metal bands of all time and his adventures as a pilot which took him all over the world. He tells his tale with humor and courage, even as he addresses his battle with cancer in the final chapter of the book.
I must admit that I was shocked by the lack of debauchery in the book but then again Maiden always seemed a bit above that for the most part. There is some debauchery but not in the excess of Maiden's contemporaries. (Keep in mind that Iron Maiden introduced many young fans to Coleridge with "Rime of the ancient Mariner." Iron Maiden was a band that got kids into literature as opposed to drugs.)
November 23, 2017
Bruce is a multitalented, intelligent character, helping shape Iron Maiden into the unique force it is with his amazing voice and interesting lyrics. A world class fencer, airline pilot, author and brewer I was eagerly awaiting his autobiography with bated breath. While not a bad book, What Does This Button Do? is somewhat of a letdown as Bruce skims over so much of an interesting life and career, while bogging down chapters with unnecessary technical jargon. The writing style is a bit odd, with sentences starting and stopping seemingly randomly at times. A big disappointment was the perfunctory way he went over his and Adrian Smith's return to Maiden in '99. A monumental event, it's covered here in less than a page and a half. Very interesting and mostly well executed, What Does This Button Do? falls short of lofty expectations by not delving into enough detail on life events while overstating the technical aspects of his flying career.
November 7, 2017
I was really hoping that Bruce would dig deeper into his emotions and the way relationships within the band and his family ended up shaping his motivations and professional life. Instead it's a lot of facts about Bruce Dickinson written in his voice.
I'm a huge fan, and enjoyed the book, but it wasn't what I hoped that it would be.
I'm a huge fan, and enjoyed the book, but it wasn't what I hoped that it would be.
January 8, 2018
The most disappointing autobiography I’ve read for a very long time. It’s clear that flying is where Bruce’s passion lies, and this is what seems to fuel the main body of the book.
Is Bruce married? Is he gay? Which of his songs are his favourites? He does he feel about his art? How does he feel about ANYTHING?
...none of these questions have anything even resembling an answer here. Its almost as though he’s embarrassed to be in Iron Maiden, given the paucity of information. It’s the equivalent of Lemmy publishing an autobiography and just discussing his Nazi memorabilia. A real shame, I was looking forward to this for ages. Just disappointed now.
Is Bruce married? Is he gay? Which of his songs are his favourites? He does he feel about his art? How does he feel about ANYTHING?
...none of these questions have anything even resembling an answer here. Its almost as though he’s embarrassed to be in Iron Maiden, given the paucity of information. It’s the equivalent of Lemmy publishing an autobiography and just discussing his Nazi memorabilia. A real shame, I was looking forward to this for ages. Just disappointed now.
May 6, 2025
First a disclaimer, I’ve never been a fan of Iron Maiden, I stopped listening to heavy metal, after Deep purple and Led Zeppelin. I do have a grudging respect for Iron Maiden, and I used to enjoy discussions about their worth with one of our young programmers, he was a useless programmer but fun talking to , and I had to listen to some Iron Maiden due to that. I read this solely because of the aviation angle. Bruce Dickinson’s career in aviation is nothing short of magical, and his aircraft flown list must be quite a read. To captain a Boeing 757 in airline service requires an enormous dedication and skill.
Here is a Boeing 757 similar to the one he flew, a very elegant airliner in its day.
The musical part of his career is all interesting too, he’s only four years younger than me and, so I was able to relate to the period and school career, he was better than me all the way! And he writes a good deal better too.
This is a must read if you like the combination of music and aviation, and a good read for anyone who likes one or the other
Here is a photo of Mikael Carlson’s Fokker DrI, a better replica than Bruce Dickinson’s, but the same tasteful paint scheme. Note, I’m not complaining about Bruce Dickinson’s Fokker, the Warner engine he uses is a very sensible choice for regular use.
Finally a note about how great it is to read an aviation biography, where every single detail is correct. Thats why he gets a five!
Here is a Boeing 757 similar to the one he flew, a very elegant airliner in its day.
The musical part of his career is all interesting too, he’s only four years younger than me and, so I was able to relate to the period and school career, he was better than me all the way! And he writes a good deal better too.
This is a must read if you like the combination of music and aviation, and a good read for anyone who likes one or the other
Here is a photo of Mikael Carlson’s Fokker DrI, a better replica than Bruce Dickinson’s, but the same tasteful paint scheme. Note, I’m not complaining about Bruce Dickinson’s Fokker, the Warner engine he uses is a very sensible choice for regular use.
Finally a note about how great it is to read an aviation biography, where every single detail is correct. Thats why he gets a five!
December 12, 2020
Viel Spaß, zu wenig Musik, versteckter Generationskonflit
Eigentlich dreieinhalb Sterne, da viiiel zu viiiiieeeel Fliegerlatein, von Airbus bis WWI-Dreidecker des roten Barons lässt das Multitalent nichts aus, gefühlte zwanzig gerade noch mal bewältigte Gefahrenmomente in der Luft, die heiterste Anekdote stammt aus der Zeit als Passagier von Bandkollege Nicko McBrain, der als Flugschüler den Sänger und seinen Fechtkollegen in einer Cessna 140 vom Festland nach Jersey fliegen soll. Passagiere und Gepäck sind so schwer, dass die voll besetzte Maschine erst mal auf dem Heckrad aufsitzt. Auch nach dem Abheben bleibt die extrem untermotorisierte Maschine immer mehr in Bodennähe als Fluglehrer wie Mitfliegern lieb ist. Gipfel der Gefahrenkapitel ist sicher der Gig im unter serbischem Beschuss liegenden Sarajevo, aber alles in allem zu viele Flieger- und zu wenig Musikkapitel, gerade über die Zeit mit den Maidens, die stilistisch vielseitige Solo-Phase, die im Rückblick als Vorlauf zur Wiederbelebung einer kreativ ausgebluteten Band dargestellt wird, ist dagegen überzeugend beschrieben.
Wenn es einen Humor-Preis für Rock-Autobiographien gäbe, wäre Bruce Dickinson Favorit für den ersten Platz, sogar bei ernsten Themen, musste so viel wie lange nicht mehr beim Krebs-Kapitel und der Beschreibungen der Nebenwirkungen der Chemo-Therapie lachen. Ausführlicher gelacht habe ich allenfalls noch beim Buch des Stones-Mitläufers Tony Sanchez über die Missgeschicke von Keith Richards und Co, aber nicht so oft (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...). Relevante Vergleichsgrößen sind die überaus reflektierten, beinahe philosophische Bono-Dialoge von Assayas und die ältere Autobiographie des Vorbildes Ian Gillan, dessen kritisches Portrait in einem Vor-Maiden-Kapitel zum Aha-Erlebnis für mich wurde.
Erwies sich der Erstkontakt mit Speed King auf dem Flur einer Privatschule (mehr zur Schulzeit im Fazit) als Metal-Erweckungserlebnis, so gerät die erste Begegnung mit dem Idol enttäuschend, die Stimme ist ruiniert, Knötchen belehrt der Altmeister den ungläubigen Novizen, lobt beim Wiedersehen den Sänger von Samson für Cool vocals, great Screemer. Die Band hat gerade in seinem Kingsway-Studio ihr jüngstes Album eingspielt. Angesichts des Lobs, das zugleich eine düstere Prophezeiung darstellt, muss sich Bruce erst mal übergeben und bricht anschließend vor der Schüssel zusammen. Gillan geht hinterher und wischt dem Neuling die Kotze aus dem Gesicht und organisiert ein Taxi für die Heimfahrt. Diese spontane Empathie bzw. situativ richtiges Handeln gehört zu den auch von späteren Erzfeinden gelobten Eigenschaften des Deep-Purple-Sängers.
Später gelingen Bruce natürlich noch ganz andere Heldenstücke, aber in diesem relativ früh angesiedelten, aber zuletzt von mir gelesenen Kapitel, machte es plötzlich Klick bei mir.
Denn vor dem Hintergrund der Bio Gillans, der in Sachen Stimmcharakteristik im Guten wie im Schlechten ähnlich klingt, ergeben die ganzen Erfolgsgeschichten außerhalb der Rock-Szene einen Sinn. Gillans Hotel-, Rennsport und Konstruktionsprojekte waren nichts als dilettantische Geldverbrennerei oder teure Sinnsuche im Leben außerhalb des Business. Bruce wird dagegen als Fechter Mitglied der Olympia-Mannschaft und als Fliegertalent entdeckt, das sogar die Lizenz zum Jumbojet bekommt und parallel zum zweiten Rockfrühling im Liniendienst fliegt.
Außerhalb ihrer Stammband machen beide Rockröhren ähnliche Erfahrungen: massiver Bedeutungsverlust in anderen Stilrichtungen, gescheitertes Abtauchen in Bandprojekten ohne das große Namensschild, Rückkehr in Metal-Spin-Off-Bands vor der Rückkehr in die Familie.
Die Strukturen innerhalb Deep Purple sind natürlich vollkommen anders geartet als bei Iron Maiden. Und BD hat, so weit es das Management zuließ, seine Lektionen in Sachen Pflege des extrem anfälligen Instruments gelernt, während der ziemlich undisziplinierte Gillan ein von allen Kollegen bedauerter Fall blieb.
Abgesehen von der Thematik mit dem früheren Vorbild Gillan ist die Bio musikalisch nicht so ergiebig, aber allein der Umstand, dass es Bruce gelingt, seine kommerziell wenig ergiebigen Solo-Exkurse als Teil der Wiederbelebung darzustellen, zeigt, was für ein großartiger Selbstdarsteller Dickinson ist, es gibt keine große Jammerei, weder über (ehemalige) Band-Kollegen noch über Mitschüler oder die Leiden eines Frischlings im Internat. Statt dessen fügt sich nach und nach ein Puzzleteil zum anderen. Die frühe Kindheit beim Flugbegeisterten Opa, im zweiten Weltkrieg Teil des Bodenteams in Malta, der auch für Luftschiffe schwärmt, bis hin zum Ersteigern von Souveniers
des britischen Pendants zur Hindenburg, alles Teil der Vorgeschichte des letzten Maiden-Album Book of Souls, bzw. dessen Finale Empire of the clouds. Das knapp 20-minütige Opus beschreibt den ersten und einzigen Flug der R 101, der zum Schwanengesang für britische Luftschiff-Fahrt wurde.
Fazit: Besser komponiert als die üblichen Musiker-Bios, in gewisser Hinsicht ergibt die ausführlich erzählte Erfolgsgeschichte in anderen Lebensbereichen sogar einen Sinn, gerade in Abgrenzung zu anderen Metal-Größen, hinzu kommen Querverbindungen zur Hochliteratur bei der Schilderungen des Aufenthalts in einer Public School, in der sich seit den Zeiten von Anthony Powells Zeitmusik noch gar nicht so schrecklich viel verändert hat. Anfangs ist der Neuling so etwas wie der Widmerpool, eine gern gemobbte Niete im Sport, - aber eben kein Streber. BD ließ seinem sadistischen Pendant zu LeBas übrigens zwei Tonnen Mist vor die Haustür kippen. Unter der Androhung von Stromsperre gleichbedeutend mit Musikverbot für alle, stellte er sich aber dem Hauslehrer und nahm sämtliche schmerzhfaten Konsequenzen auf sich. Spätere Rache war eine mit reichlich Pisse gefüllte Sherryflasche, als der Meister prominente Gäste bewirtete. Gleichbedeutend mit dem Ende der Zeit auf einer Schule, die eher als Fluchtpunkt zum Elternhaus gedacht war.
Leider sind zwanzig noch glücklich bewältigte Beinahe-Luftunfälle sind doch etwas zu viel für meinen Geschmack. Von daher vier Sterne.
Eigentlich dreieinhalb Sterne, da viiiel zu viiiiieeeel Fliegerlatein, von Airbus bis WWI-Dreidecker des roten Barons lässt das Multitalent nichts aus, gefühlte zwanzig gerade noch mal bewältigte Gefahrenmomente in der Luft, die heiterste Anekdote stammt aus der Zeit als Passagier von Bandkollege Nicko McBrain, der als Flugschüler den Sänger und seinen Fechtkollegen in einer Cessna 140 vom Festland nach Jersey fliegen soll. Passagiere und Gepäck sind so schwer, dass die voll besetzte Maschine erst mal auf dem Heckrad aufsitzt. Auch nach dem Abheben bleibt die extrem untermotorisierte Maschine immer mehr in Bodennähe als Fluglehrer wie Mitfliegern lieb ist. Gipfel der Gefahrenkapitel ist sicher der Gig im unter serbischem Beschuss liegenden Sarajevo, aber alles in allem zu viele Flieger- und zu wenig Musikkapitel, gerade über die Zeit mit den Maidens, die stilistisch vielseitige Solo-Phase, die im Rückblick als Vorlauf zur Wiederbelebung einer kreativ ausgebluteten Band dargestellt wird, ist dagegen überzeugend beschrieben.
Wenn es einen Humor-Preis für Rock-Autobiographien gäbe, wäre Bruce Dickinson Favorit für den ersten Platz, sogar bei ernsten Themen, musste so viel wie lange nicht mehr beim Krebs-Kapitel und der Beschreibungen der Nebenwirkungen der Chemo-Therapie lachen. Ausführlicher gelacht habe ich allenfalls noch beim Buch des Stones-Mitläufers Tony Sanchez über die Missgeschicke von Keith Richards und Co, aber nicht so oft (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...). Relevante Vergleichsgrößen sind die überaus reflektierten, beinahe philosophische Bono-Dialoge von Assayas und die ältere Autobiographie des Vorbildes Ian Gillan, dessen kritisches Portrait in einem Vor-Maiden-Kapitel zum Aha-Erlebnis für mich wurde.
Erwies sich der Erstkontakt mit Speed King auf dem Flur einer Privatschule (mehr zur Schulzeit im Fazit) als Metal-Erweckungserlebnis, so gerät die erste Begegnung mit dem Idol enttäuschend, die Stimme ist ruiniert, Knötchen belehrt der Altmeister den ungläubigen Novizen, lobt beim Wiedersehen den Sänger von Samson für Cool vocals, great Screemer. Die Band hat gerade in seinem Kingsway-Studio ihr jüngstes Album eingspielt. Angesichts des Lobs, das zugleich eine düstere Prophezeiung darstellt, muss sich Bruce erst mal übergeben und bricht anschließend vor der Schüssel zusammen. Gillan geht hinterher und wischt dem Neuling die Kotze aus dem Gesicht und organisiert ein Taxi für die Heimfahrt. Diese spontane Empathie bzw. situativ richtiges Handeln gehört zu den auch von späteren Erzfeinden gelobten Eigenschaften des Deep-Purple-Sängers.
Später gelingen Bruce natürlich noch ganz andere Heldenstücke, aber in diesem relativ früh angesiedelten, aber zuletzt von mir gelesenen Kapitel, machte es plötzlich Klick bei mir.
Denn vor dem Hintergrund der Bio Gillans, der in Sachen Stimmcharakteristik im Guten wie im Schlechten ähnlich klingt, ergeben die ganzen Erfolgsgeschichten außerhalb der Rock-Szene einen Sinn. Gillans Hotel-, Rennsport und Konstruktionsprojekte waren nichts als dilettantische Geldverbrennerei oder teure Sinnsuche im Leben außerhalb des Business. Bruce wird dagegen als Fechter Mitglied der Olympia-Mannschaft und als Fliegertalent entdeckt, das sogar die Lizenz zum Jumbojet bekommt und parallel zum zweiten Rockfrühling im Liniendienst fliegt.
Außerhalb ihrer Stammband machen beide Rockröhren ähnliche Erfahrungen: massiver Bedeutungsverlust in anderen Stilrichtungen, gescheitertes Abtauchen in Bandprojekten ohne das große Namensschild, Rückkehr in Metal-Spin-Off-Bands vor der Rückkehr in die Familie.
Die Strukturen innerhalb Deep Purple sind natürlich vollkommen anders geartet als bei Iron Maiden. Und BD hat, so weit es das Management zuließ, seine Lektionen in Sachen Pflege des extrem anfälligen Instruments gelernt, während der ziemlich undisziplinierte Gillan ein von allen Kollegen bedauerter Fall blieb.
Abgesehen von der Thematik mit dem früheren Vorbild Gillan ist die Bio musikalisch nicht so ergiebig, aber allein der Umstand, dass es Bruce gelingt, seine kommerziell wenig ergiebigen Solo-Exkurse als Teil der Wiederbelebung darzustellen, zeigt, was für ein großartiger Selbstdarsteller Dickinson ist, es gibt keine große Jammerei, weder über (ehemalige) Band-Kollegen noch über Mitschüler oder die Leiden eines Frischlings im Internat. Statt dessen fügt sich nach und nach ein Puzzleteil zum anderen. Die frühe Kindheit beim Flugbegeisterten Opa, im zweiten Weltkrieg Teil des Bodenteams in Malta, der auch für Luftschiffe schwärmt, bis hin zum Ersteigern von Souveniers
des britischen Pendants zur Hindenburg, alles Teil der Vorgeschichte des letzten Maiden-Album Book of Souls, bzw. dessen Finale Empire of the clouds. Das knapp 20-minütige Opus beschreibt den ersten und einzigen Flug der R 101, der zum Schwanengesang für britische Luftschiff-Fahrt wurde.
Fazit: Besser komponiert als die üblichen Musiker-Bios, in gewisser Hinsicht ergibt die ausführlich erzählte Erfolgsgeschichte in anderen Lebensbereichen sogar einen Sinn, gerade in Abgrenzung zu anderen Metal-Größen, hinzu kommen Querverbindungen zur Hochliteratur bei der Schilderungen des Aufenthalts in einer Public School, in der sich seit den Zeiten von Anthony Powells Zeitmusik noch gar nicht so schrecklich viel verändert hat. Anfangs ist der Neuling so etwas wie der Widmerpool, eine gern gemobbte Niete im Sport, - aber eben kein Streber. BD ließ seinem sadistischen Pendant zu LeBas übrigens zwei Tonnen Mist vor die Haustür kippen. Unter der Androhung von Stromsperre gleichbedeutend mit Musikverbot für alle, stellte er sich aber dem Hauslehrer und nahm sämtliche schmerzhfaten Konsequenzen auf sich. Spätere Rache war eine mit reichlich Pisse gefüllte Sherryflasche, als der Meister prominente Gäste bewirtete. Gleichbedeutend mit dem Ende der Zeit auf einer Schule, die eher als Fluchtpunkt zum Elternhaus gedacht war.
Leider sind zwanzig noch glücklich bewältigte Beinahe-Luftunfälle sind doch etwas zu viel für meinen Geschmack. Von daher vier Sterne.
Read
June 22, 2020Mnogo je manje o onome što sam očekivao, a mnogo više o onome što nisam.
November 14, 2017
Fascinating anecdotes, nicely written and performed. Hey, I'm a fan.
However, for my taste, the book is a little too "clean" and light on details. I know a lot about the stories Bruce tells to his buddies at a birthday party, but I don't really feel I _know_ Bruce now.
However, for my taste, the book is a little too "clean" and light on details. I know a lot about the stories Bruce tells to his buddies at a birthday party, but I don't really feel I _know_ Bruce now.
February 17, 2018
Любимият ми цитат от книгата: "Едно време рождените дни бяха повод за празнуване, особено когато не бяхме толкова стари, че да имаме нужда от радиовъглеродно датиране или броене на пръстените, като дърветата." :)
Това не е типична автобиография, но и Брус Дикинсън не е типична рок-звезда. Професионален летец, авиационен предприемач, сценарист, професионален състезател по фехтовка, писател, сценарист, радиоводещ, пивовар и оратор. Сякаш няма нещо, с което да се е захванал и в което да не е преуспял. И в книгата му всичко изглежда толкова просто, потискащо лесно. Брус не си търси оправдания и не допуска нищо да застане между него и това, което обича да прави. Мъкне шпагата си по турнетата и, където и да отсяда, търси клубове по фехтовка, а по-късно и авиационни школи. Пише роман в свободното си време и вечер го чете на групичка ентусиазирани роудита. Поставя си за цел да пребори рака и го нокаутира само след една химиотерапия. (Бях на концерта на Iron Maiden в София през 2014 и Брус пя като звяр. Малко след това беше диагностициран. С нетърпение очаквам концерта тази година, даже не мога да си представя как ще пее "здравият" Брус, след като "болният" ми отвя капата.)
Книгата впечатлява с още нещо: Брус не вади кирливи ризи и мръсни чаршафи. Избира да остави личния си живот и този на близките си в сянка и да премълчи конфликтите в групата. Защото животът му е достатъчно интересен и без жълтевини. И въпреки че се надявах да намеря за себе си отговора на някои въпроси, като например дали наистина троши с гласа си лампи, дали "Татуираният милионер" наистина е вдъхновен от Ники Сикс, дали Стив Харис действително е Хитлер, както го нарича Пол Ди'Ано и за онзи прословут конфликт на Дикинсън с Ози и Шарън Озбърн, всъщност подходът му ми хареса. И ако трябва да опиша книгата с една дума, то тя ще бъде "вдъхновяваща". Тук някъде ми се искаше да вмъкна и добра дума за чувството за хумор, с което е написана, но се надявам, че цитатът по-горе говори достатъчно.
Това не е типична автобиография, но и Брус Дикинсън не е типична рок-звезда. Професионален летец, авиационен предприемач, сценарист, професионален състезател по фехтовка, писател, сценарист, радиоводещ, пивовар и оратор. Сякаш няма нещо, с което да се е захванал и в което да не е преуспял. И в книгата му всичко изглежда толкова просто, потискащо лесно. Брус не си търси оправдания и не допуска нищо да застане между него и това, което обича да прави. Мъкне шпагата си по турнетата и, където и да отсяда, търси клубове по фехтовка, а по-късно и авиационни школи. Пише роман в свободното си време и вечер го чете на групичка ентусиазирани роудита. Поставя си за цел да пребори рака и го нокаутира само след една химиотерапия. (Бях на концерта на Iron Maiden в София през 2014 и Брус пя като звяр. Малко след това беше диагностициран. С нетърпение очаквам концерта тази година, даже не мога да си представя как ще пее "здравият" Брус, след като "болният" ми отвя капата.)
Книгата впечатлява с още нещо: Брус не вади кирливи ризи и мръсни чаршафи. Избира да остави личния си живот и този на близките си в сянка и да премълчи конфликтите в групата. Защото животът му е достатъчно интересен и без жълтевини. И въпреки че се надявах да намеря за себе си отговора на някои въпроси, като например дали наистина троши с гласа си лампи, дали "Татуираният милионер" наистина е вдъхновен от Ники Сикс, дали Стив Харис действително е Хитлер, както го нарича Пол Ди'Ано и за онзи прословут конфликт на Дикинсън с Ози и Шарън Озбърн, всъщност подходът му ми хареса. И ако трябва да опиша книгата с една дума, то тя ще бъде "вдъхновяваща". Тук някъде ми се искаше да вмъкна и добра дума за чувството за хумор, с което е написана, но се надявам, че цитатът по-горе говори достатъчно.
January 11, 2019
UP THE IRONS!!!!
This book is an autobiography of the lead singer of the greatest metal band (this is a fact and not just an opinion) Iron Maiden. It tells about his time with the band, his love for fencing and piloting, and his battle with cancer.
I have been a fan for the band for many, many years and reading this seemed like a no brainer. I am not the biggest fan of autobiography novels but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I think the aspect that I liked is how Bruce told the story. It wasn't loaded with dates or facts. It was more told as if he was telling me his story over a drink in a local bar. This way of telling the story made Bruce seem like a down to earth person and he seems approachable. I enjoyed that the whole book wasn't about his time with the band and it showed how he is proficient at other things. The only negative I had with this book was I can tell he is passionate about flying and he did seem to dwell on this too long for my taste.
Non-fiction isn't my cup of tea but I enjoyed this. One doesn't have to be a fan of Iron Maiden to enjoy this as his story appeals to all music fans.
This book is an autobiography of the lead singer of the greatest metal band (this is a fact and not just an opinion) Iron Maiden. It tells about his time with the band, his love for fencing and piloting, and his battle with cancer.
I have been a fan for the band for many, many years and reading this seemed like a no brainer. I am not the biggest fan of autobiography novels but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I think the aspect that I liked is how Bruce told the story. It wasn't loaded with dates or facts. It was more told as if he was telling me his story over a drink in a local bar. This way of telling the story made Bruce seem like a down to earth person and he seems approachable. I enjoyed that the whole book wasn't about his time with the band and it showed how he is proficient at other things. The only negative I had with this book was I can tell he is passionate about flying and he did seem to dwell on this too long for my taste.
Non-fiction isn't my cup of tea but I enjoyed this. One doesn't have to be a fan of Iron Maiden to enjoy this as his story appeals to all music fans.
October 10, 2021
Увлекателна история на Брус Дикинсън и част от неговия живот , Мейдън , концертите , войната в Сараево , пилотските премеждия , фехтовката и всичко това на фона на вечните хитове на Мейдън които бяха приятен фон .
February 5, 2018
Such a fantastic memoir! A must-read for every metalhead and fan of Iron Maiden!!
My Rating: 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
September 6, 2019
Dragi Bruce, dragi Maideni , hvala na predivnom koncertu u Areni Zagreb 2018.godine. Biti u toj divnoj gomili i zbog koncerta ostati bez glasa, fantastičan je osjećaj. Također, gledala sam i dokumentarac Scream for Me Sarajevo (preporuka svima koji još nisu gledali) koji prikazuje koliko si zapravo iskren i dobar čovjek, sa srcem djeteta.
Što se tiče knjige, Bruce je ovdje pokazao ono najbolje od sebe. Svoju volju za životom, ljubav prema glazbi , ljubav prema sportu, ali i jedna velika znatiželja koja ga tjera da se okuša u stvarima koje nemaju veze s glazbom , kao što su pilotiranje ili proizvodnja piva.
Što se tiče knjige, Bruce je ovdje pokazao ono najbolje od sebe. Svoju volju za životom, ljubav prema glazbi , ljubav prema sportu, ali i jedna velika znatiželja koja ga tjera da se okuša u stvarima koje nemaju veze s glazbom , kao što su pilotiranje ili proizvodnja piva.
November 19, 2017
Ever since I heard the soaring vocals in the chorus of Iron Maiden's iconic tune Run to the Hills as an impressionable kid in the 80's, Bruce Dickinson has been in my head. I've been eager to read his autobiography, right from when it was announced that one of the most legendary metal vocalists of all time was going to tell of his life and career in his own words.
Bruce is someone who I've always wanted to meet and share an ale and a yarn with, it always seemed to me as though he and I have a number of things in common. Bruce's story confirmed that, and as he explains the major events of his life I could see that we have a similar worldview in lots of ways. One thing that he has in truck loads, and that which I often lack, is confidence. By 'eck, this bloke has some confidence. This is evident from his career as the front man of Iron Maiden and also from his inspiring journey to becoming a commercial airline pilot. As a professional aircraft engineer of 20 years and currently also as a student pilot, I know how fraught with obstacles and trials the aviation industry is. Even so, this guy just walks up and says to himself "F@#k it, I'm gonna do that", and he does so, very successfully.
Now to the book itself. It's written by Bruce's own hand in a very entertaining and vibrant style that reflects his personality and adds a rich layer to the stories. He doesn't go into all that many things in much depth or detail, but when taken as a whole life-story, he does a reasonable job of squeezing a lot into the book. What is noticeably absent from the book is anything of any real substance about other people. There's no relationship details, other than professional, with anybody whether it be band mates or family members. Initially I found this rather disappointing because I was looking forward to learning a bit about Bruce the family man, for example, but there's nothing like this in there anywhere. I've since seen a couple of interviews with Bruce where he addresses the issue and explains why he didn't wish to reveal personal details about others. I can see his point and generally agree with his reasoning, which shows him to quite clearly be a very private person, and all of that stuff is none of my business anyway. That said, this autobiography does seem a little incomplete without at least some of these details.
He does spin some more detailed yarns about his flying exploits, which I found incredibly interesting. Again, I'm impressed with Bruce's confidence and tenacity as he tackles challenge after challenge. He's clearly very into what he does, whether it be flying any number of different aeroplanes, or crafting songs. In a word, inspirational. Toward the end of the book, there is one part of his life where Bruce does get quite candid, and that is the story of his battle with cancer. He opens up about his treatment and recovery enough for us to appreciate the depth of his struggle, and his stubborn grit shines through again as he just gets on with the job of kicking the big C into touch. Again, noticeably missing is where his family fitted into this picture.
In summary, this is a good autobiography about a very interesting person. I enjoyed it immensely and drew inspiration from so many aspects of Bruce's journey through life. Essentially it's a good autobiography recounting Bruce's professional life and career(s), but what would've made it a great autobiography would be more depth to his personal story. For what it is, though, it's pretty solid and well worth a read.
Bruce is someone who I've always wanted to meet and share an ale and a yarn with, it always seemed to me as though he and I have a number of things in common. Bruce's story confirmed that, and as he explains the major events of his life I could see that we have a similar worldview in lots of ways. One thing that he has in truck loads, and that which I often lack, is confidence. By 'eck, this bloke has some confidence. This is evident from his career as the front man of Iron Maiden and also from his inspiring journey to becoming a commercial airline pilot. As a professional aircraft engineer of 20 years and currently also as a student pilot, I know how fraught with obstacles and trials the aviation industry is. Even so, this guy just walks up and says to himself "F@#k it, I'm gonna do that", and he does so, very successfully.
Now to the book itself. It's written by Bruce's own hand in a very entertaining and vibrant style that reflects his personality and adds a rich layer to the stories. He doesn't go into all that many things in much depth or detail, but when taken as a whole life-story, he does a reasonable job of squeezing a lot into the book. What is noticeably absent from the book is anything of any real substance about other people. There's no relationship details, other than professional, with anybody whether it be band mates or family members. Initially I found this rather disappointing because I was looking forward to learning a bit about Bruce the family man, for example, but there's nothing like this in there anywhere. I've since seen a couple of interviews with Bruce where he addresses the issue and explains why he didn't wish to reveal personal details about others. I can see his point and generally agree with his reasoning, which shows him to quite clearly be a very private person, and all of that stuff is none of my business anyway. That said, this autobiography does seem a little incomplete without at least some of these details.
He does spin some more detailed yarns about his flying exploits, which I found incredibly interesting. Again, I'm impressed with Bruce's confidence and tenacity as he tackles challenge after challenge. He's clearly very into what he does, whether it be flying any number of different aeroplanes, or crafting songs. In a word, inspirational. Toward the end of the book, there is one part of his life where Bruce does get quite candid, and that is the story of his battle with cancer. He opens up about his treatment and recovery enough for us to appreciate the depth of his struggle, and his stubborn grit shines through again as he just gets on with the job of kicking the big C into touch. Again, noticeably missing is where his family fitted into this picture.
In summary, this is a good autobiography about a very interesting person. I enjoyed it immensely and drew inspiration from so many aspects of Bruce's journey through life. Essentially it's a good autobiography recounting Bruce's professional life and career(s), but what would've made it a great autobiography would be more depth to his personal story. For what it is, though, it's pretty solid and well worth a read.
November 15, 2017
If you think heavy metal is dead, think again. Bruce Dickinson tells his story of his life as the front man for Iron Maiden and all that goes into it. Including playing in front of crowds 250 thousand strong! (Try that you banjo-playing, whistling hipsters).
He also ties in his growth of becoming an airline captain, a script writer, a fencer, and obviously an author. Bruce is full energy and inspiration and his writing nothing less than brilliant. I recommend the audio book. What delivery!
666 Stars!
He also ties in his growth of becoming an airline captain, a script writer, a fencer, and obviously an author. Bruce is full energy and inspiration and his writing nothing less than brilliant. I recommend the audio book. What delivery!
666 Stars!
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