Bruce Dickinson is known for being outspoken when it comes to heavy metal and especially Iron Maiden’s place in heavy metal. In a new interview with Classic Rock, Dickinson went as far as saying that Iron Maiden was better than Metallica, when he was trying to convince Steve Harris to let him rejoin the band in 1999.
After Blaze Bayley’s tenure in Iron Maiden ended in 1999, Dickinson and Harris sat down to talk after the idea was floated by band manager Rod Smallwood.
“Steve was very suspicious. He said: ‘Why do you wanna come back?’ I actually said, ‘I want to come back, Steve, because, in the words of my mates, “The world needs Iron Maiden” – and secondly I think we can make amazing music.’”
Bruce went on to talk about if he felt that Iron Maiden needed him back.
“Probably. But there was no point in saying that, because it would have sounded like sour grapes. What I said was, ‘We will sweep away the past by doing an amazing future.’
”The first words out of my gobby mouth were, ‘Of course we are better than Metallica!’ People said: ‘You can’t say that.’ I said, ‘I just did!’ Then they started going, ‘Maybe he’s right.’”
From there it was history as Iron Maiden kicked off their reunion with both Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith on the Ed Hunter Tour in 1999, and then released Brave New World in 2000. This current run that Iron Maiden is on, has seen record sales, ticket sales, merchandise sales, and critical acclaim by the truckload.
What Is Iron Maiden Up To In 2024?
Iron Maiden are readying the second leg of their Future Past World Tour in the fall, hitting dates in the US and surrounding areas. Bruce Dickinson is undergoing a solo tour for his upcoming album The Mandrake Project, that includes a comic book and other media tie-ins. It’s a busy year for the Brits, but they’re keeping busy.
Is he right about Iron Maiden being better than Metallica? I’m sure that both bands would have some playful banter about it. At the end of the day, they play pretty radically different styles of heavy metal, and its not really a competition anyway. Both bands were on the bill at Power Trip 2023, with Maiden opening the show, and Metallica closing out the huge American festival.
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Source: Classic Rock
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Metallica hasn’t been good since the Black Album, and even then not very good compared to their Ride The Lightning/Master of Puppets era. I think Cliff Burton was the musical genius in Metallica. When he died, the greatness of Metallica died. Everything both Maiden and Metallica did in the 80’s was great. Master of Puppets is an absolute masterpiece of an album. But every album from Number of the Beast to Seventh Son of a Seventh Son is absofuckinglutely perfect. Maiden’s had some misfires. No Prayer For the Dying and Fear of the Dark were good, but not up to Maiden standards. We don’t need to get into the Blaze Bayley albums (I do think the X-Factor is decent, Virtual XI was a legit stinker.) But Maiden has done consistently great albums since Bruce and Adrian rejoined in 2000. Book of Souls bores me in places. Senjutsu is awesome, Matter of Life and Death is fucking awesome. I even love the Final Frontier. Metallica hasn’t done anything since the early 90’s that isn’t the work of a washed up bunch of sell outs who can’t get their (Dr. Evil quotes) MOJO back because it’s not about music for them anymore. It’s about ego, stature, and money grubbing. They are the worst sell outs in metal history. Iron Maiden has always been a band that does music on their own terms with not nearly as much ego as one would expect, and they have always kept true to their musical integrity. Few bands have the integrity of Iron Maiden and that is what makes them so far above the likes of Metallica.
I remember hearing Metallic as a young man & I JUST COULDN’T get into it. I heard Iron Maiden for the 1st time & I remember EXACTLY where & when. I was mesmerized by the PIECE OF MIND album. Two totally different bands & styles but, I will have Iron Maiden playing at my funeral. “UP THE IRONS!!”